What Happened
- The government is mandating that jewellers link photographs and physical dimensions to every hallmarked gold jewellery piece, creating a comprehensive digital trail tied to each article's Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number
- This overhaul is aimed at eliminating duplication of hallmarking certificates — a practice where dishonest jewellers reuse a single HUID certificate for multiple pieces with different actual purity
- The new rules require Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) and jewellers to digitally record each piece's image and measurements at the point of hallmarking, which will be visible to consumers through the BIS Care app
- The government has expanded mandatory hallmarking to 380+ districts, covering virtually all urban jewellery markets
Static Topic Bridges
Gold Hallmarking and HUID — Legal Framework and Evolution
Gold hallmarking in India is regulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the BIS Act, 2016 (which replaced the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986). Hallmarking certifies that gold jewellery meets the declared purity standard (e.g., 22 carat = 916 parts per thousand gold).
- BIS began voluntary gold hallmarking in April 2000
- Mandatory hallmarking launched in Phase 1 on June 23, 2021 (notified under the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2022)
- HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) — a unique 6-digit alphanumeric code — was introduced from July 1, 2021; from April 1, 2023, only HUID-based hallmarked jewellery can be sold by BIS-registered jewellers
- Phase 4 of mandatory hallmarking began November 5, 2024, expanding coverage to 361+ districts
- Governing standards: IS 1417 (gold grades and alloys), IS 1418 (assaying of gold), IS 2790 (14/18/22 carat gold alloy guidelines)
- Nodal body: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Connection to this news: The new requirement to attach photographs and dimensions to each HUID closes the key existing loophole — certificate duplication — that undermined the integrity of the existing hallmarking system.
BIS Act, 2016 — Regulatory Framework for Standards
The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 replaced the earlier 1986 Act and significantly expanded BIS's powers, including the ability to mandate certification schemes for goods and services. The Act provides the legal foundation for mandatory hallmarking.
- BIS Act, 2016: Enacted to strengthen India's standards and conformity assessment framework
- Key powers under the Act: Mandatory certification (Section 16 — products notified by Central Government), penalties for non-compliance, market surveillance
- BIS is a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
- Penalties for selling un-hallmarked gold jewellery: Fine up to ₹1 lakh or 5 times the value of the article (whichever is higher), or imprisonment up to 1 year
- The government has also extended HUID-based hallmarking to silver jewellery (from September 2025) and 9-carat (375 purity) gold (from July 2025)
Connection to this news: The proposed photograph-and-dimension requirement will be enforced through BIS's existing digital infrastructure (BIS Care app, HUID portal), leveraging the regulatory powers granted under the 2016 Act.
Consumer Protection Framework — Digital Trail and Grievance Redressal
The stricter hallmarking rules align with India's broader consumer protection architecture, which has been substantially strengthened through the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (replacing the 1986 Act). The 2019 Act introduced provisions for e-commerce regulation, product liability, and a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019: Established CCPA (Central Consumer Protection Authority) with suo motu powers to investigate consumer rights violations
- BIS Care app: Free smartphone application that allows consumers to verify any hallmarked piece by entering or scanning the HUID
- The digital trail (photograph + dimensions) will be visible in the app, enabling instant verification that the physical piece matches the registered record
- India's annual gold consumption: ~700-800 tonnes/year — second only to China globally [Unverified — varies by year]
- India imports approximately 800-900 tonnes of gold annually, making it a major source of current account deficit pressure
Connection to this news: The digital photograph-and-dimension mandate transforms hallmarking from a one-time certification into a persistent, verifiable digital identity for each piece of jewellery, directly empowering consumers to check authenticity post-purchase.
Key Facts & Data
- Voluntary hallmarking began: April 2000
- HUID introduced: July 1, 2021
- Mandatory HUID-only sales enforcement: April 1, 2023
- BIS Act: 2016 (Ministry of Consumer Affairs)
- Hallmarked pieces sold so far: Over 40 crore (as of November 2024)
- Mandatory hallmarking districts covered: 361+ (as of Phase 4, Nov 2024), expanding to 380+ in 2026
- HUID: 6-digit alphanumeric code (e.g., HU8J9K) — unique to each piece
- Penalty for non-compliance: Up to ₹1 lakh or 5× article value, or up to 1 year imprisonment
- BIS verification: via BIS Care app (free, available on iOS and Android)
- Silver hallmarking (HUID): From September 2025
- 9K gold hallmarking mandatory: From July 2025