Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Expands Mandatory Gold Hallmarking to Additional 55 Districts Across India
📜 Official Gazette Notification & Authority Reference
Document Reference: Quality Control Order on Mandatory Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery & Artefacts (Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS Portal))
Verify on Official Government Portal ↗📌 Key Statutory Takeaways at a Glance
- ✓Mandatory gold hallmarking now enforced across 343 total districts nationwide.
- ✓Every piece of gold jewellery must carry three distinct laser-etched marks: BIS Logo, Purity Mark (e.g., 22K916), and 6-digit alphanumeric HUID.
- ✓Selling un-hallmarked gold jewellery in notified districts is a cognizable criminal offense punishable under Section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016.
- ✓Consumers can verify the authenticity, jeweler registration, and testing date of any gold article using the 'BIS Care' mobile app.
- ✓Statutory hallmarking fee capped at ₹45 (plus GST) per gold jewellery article.
In an aggressive regulatory drive to protect retail consumers against purity adulteration and unfair trade practices in the precious metals sector, the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have notified the fourth phase of Mandatory Gold Hallmarking, bringing 55 additional districts across 17 states and UTs under the mandatory certification umbrella.
The Three Mandatory Laser Marks on Every Gold Article
Under revised BIS quality control regulations, old 4-mark and 5-mark hallmarking systems have been superseded. Every retail gold jewelry piece sold by registered jewelers must display exactly THREE laser-inscribed symbols:
How Consumers Can Verify Purity via the 'BIS Care' App
The introduction of the 6-digit HUID empowers ordinary consumers to conduct instant digital forensic verification. By downloading the official BIS Care App on their smartphones and entering the 6-digit HUID engraved on their jewellery, consumers can instantly view:
- The official name and registered license number of the jeweler who manufactured or sold the article.
- The exact Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) that tested the gold alloy.
- The exact date and time of testing and laser hallmarking.
- The certified purity grade (e.g., 22 Karat 916).
Exemptions & Penalties for Violations
The mandatory hallmarking rule applies strictly to commercial jewelers with an annual turnover exceeding ₹40 Lakhs operating within notified districts. Key exemptions include export jewelry, industrial dental gold, and international exhibitions. Jewelers caught selling un-hallmarked gold in notified districts face severe penal prosecution under Section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016, including imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of not less than ₹1,00,000, extending up to five times the value of the goods sold.
🛡️ Actionable Advice When Purchasing Gold
- Always demand a statutory tax invoice explicitly mentioning the 6-digit HUID code, gross weight, net weight, and hallmarking charges (₹45 + GST).
- Ask the jeweler for a 10X optical magnifying loupe to inspect the BIS triangle and 6-digit HUID on the inner surface of rings, bangles, or necklaces.
- Verify the 6-digit HUID on the spot using the 'Verify HUID' tool in the free BIS Care mobile app before paying.
Quick Document Guide: BIS ISI Mark & Gold Hallmarking (Manakonline & HUID)
Mandatory statutory product quality and purity certifications issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (BIS Act) via the Manakonline portal, comprising the ISI Mark (Certification of Manufacturers Scheme I for industrial & consumer goods) and 6-digit alphanumeric HUID Gold Hallmarking for jewellers
View Step-by-Step Guide →