The government regulated, Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), has defined gold hallmarking as the “accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles.”
The Centre had announced in November 2019 that hallmarking of gold jewellery would be mandatory from January 15, 2021. But the deadline was extended to June 1, 2021, after jewellers had sought more time due to the pandemic situation.
It was later extended to June 15 and then to June 16, 2021. The government had made gold hallmarking mandatory effective from June 16, 2021, for 14KT, 18KT and 22 KT. Hallmarking is mandatory for all registered jewellers in 288 districts.
Jadau, Kundan and Polki necklaces have been exempted from the hallmarking requirement. A hallmarking fee for gold articles payable to recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres by jewellers shall be Rs. 45/- per article; and the minimum fee for a consignment is Rs. 200/- The hallmarking fee for silver articles payable to recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres by jewellers shall be Rs 35/- per article; and a minimum fee for a consignment is Rs 150/- While the government’s move will help consumers ensure the quality of gold jewellery they are buying, it will also help the country become a hub for buying gold in the world.
“The hallmarking of jewellery/artefacts is required to enhance the credibility of gold jewellery and customer satisfaction through third party assurance for the marked purity/fineness of gold, consumer protection,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution had said in a press release. “This step will also help to develop India as a leading gold market centre in the world,” it had added.
