Bureau of Indian Standards Hallmarking

Key Highlights:

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) oversees hallmarking for gold and silver jewellery, ensuring purity and consumer confidence.
• Mandatory gold hallmarking was introduced in 2021, expanding coverage to 392 districts and 7 gold caratages.
• Over 65 crore gold articles received Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) numbers by October 15, 2026.
• HUID-based marking became mandatory for all hallmarked silver articles from September 1, 2025, with over 90 lakh items hallmarked.
• The number of BIS-registered jewellers increased from 43,153 to 2,36,624 during the same period.
• Consumers can verify hallmarked articles digitally using the BIS CARE App.

Detailed Insights:

• Hallmarking certifies the purity of precious metal articles against prescribed standards, protecting consumers from adulteration and misrepresentation.
• The voluntary Hallmarking Scheme was launched for gold in 2000 and for silver in 2005, with BIS as the sole implementing agency.
• HUID is a unique six-digit alphanumeric code marked on each hallmarked jewellery article, enabling end-to-end traceability.
• The hallmarking process involves jeweller registration, submission to Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs), purity testing, and HUID generation.
• Digital initiatives like API integration of XRF machines and automatic weight capture enhance accuracy and reduce manual data entry in AHCs.
• The Transfer HUID facility allows digital transfer of HUID when jewellery changes hands between jewellers, preventing fraudulent hallmarking.
• BIS conducts physical surveillance, regulatory checks, and enforcement activities against violations to strengthen trust in the system.
• Consumer awareness programs are regularly organized by BIS Regional and Branch Offices to help buyers recognize hallmarked articles.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Hallmarking: A consumer protection measure that certifies the purity of precious metal articles against prescribed standards.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): India's National Standards Body responsible for standardisation, marking, and quality certification.
• Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID): A unique six-digit alphanumeric code marked on each hallmarked jewellery article for traceability.
• Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs): BIS-recognized testing centers where jewellery purity is assessed and marked.