Indian Government's Mandate: Expanding Mandatory Hallmarking to 55 Additional Districts

The Indian government has announced the expansion of the mandatory hallmarking system to 55 additional districts in India. This brings the total number of districts under mandatory hallmarking to 343.

Mandatory hallmarking is a system that requires all gold jewellery and artefacts to be stamped with a hallmark that certifies their purity and quality. The hallmark also includes a unique identification (HUID) number for tracking purposes.

The expansion of mandatory hallmarking is a significant step towards enhancing consumer protection and trust in the gold jewellery market. It will help to ensure that consumers are not duped by unscrupulous jewellers who sell low-quality or adulterated gold.

The government has also taken steps to increase the number of registered jewellers and Assaying and Hallmarking Centers (AHCs) in the country. As of September 8, 2023, there are over 1.8 lakh registered jewellers and 1,471 AHCs.

To further empower consumers, the government has launched the BIS Care app, which allows users to verify the authenticity and purity of hallmarked gold jewellery items using the HUID number. The app has been downloaded over 12 lakh times since its launch.

The expansion of mandatory hallmarking is a welcome move that will benefit consumers and the gold jewellery industry alike. It will help to create a more transparent and trustworthy market for gold jewellery, and it will give consumers the confidence that they are buying genuine and high-quality products.

Ensuring Quality and Authenticity

Mandatory hallmarking is a pivotal step in ensuring the quality and authenticity of gold jewelry and artifacts. Under this system, all gold jewelry and artifacts must bear a hallmark that certifies their purity and quality. Additionally, the hallmark includes a unique identification (HUID) number, facilitating tracking and traceability.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): The Driving Force

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has played a crucial role in the nationwide implementation of mandatory hallmarking. This initiative was rolled out in phases, with the first phase commencing on June 23, 2021, covering 256 districts. The second phase expanded to include an additional 32 districts from April 4, 2022. During these phases, an impressive average of over 4 lakh gold articles have been hallmarked with HUID each day.

Remarkable Growth in Registered Jewelers

The inception of mandatory hallmarking has witnessed a remarkable surge in the number of registered jewelers, soaring from 34,647 to an astonishing 1,81,590. Furthermore, the network of Assaying and Hallmarking Centers (AHCs) has expanded from 945 to 1,471. Over 26 crore gold jewelry items have already been hallmarked with HUID, underlining the wide-reaching impact of this initiative.

Empowering Consumers: The "Verify HUID" Feature

To empower consumers further and enable them to verify the authenticity and purity of hallmarked gold jewelry items, the government encourages the use of the "verify HUID" feature in the BIS Care app.

This app is readily available for download from the Play Store and has gained significant popularity, with downloads surging from 2.3 lakhs in 2021-22 to a remarkable 12.4 lakhs in the current fiscal year. Impressively, it has recorded over one crore "verify HUID" hits in the past two years, emphasizing its importance as a consumer protection tool.

As the government expands the scope of mandatory hallmarking, it solidifies its commitment to ensuring that consumers can make informed choices and trust the quality of gold jewelry and artifacts, thereby bolstering the integrity of the market.

• The expansion of mandatory hallmarking was announced by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on September 8, 2023.

• The 55 additional districts that are now covered by mandatory hallmarking include:

  • Adilabad, Anantapur, Chittoor, East Godavari, Guntur, Krishna, Kurnool, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and West Godavari in Andhra Pradesh

  • Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, and Yadgir in Karnataka

  • Barwani, Dhar, Jhabua, Mandsaur, Rajgarh, and Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh

  • Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi in Assam

  • Dausa, Jhunjhunu, and Sikar in Rajasthan

  • Kutch, Mehsana, and Surat in Gujarat

  • Nagaon and Sivasagar in Assam

  • Namakkal, Salem, and Tirupur in Tamil Nadu

  • Purulia in West Bengal

  • Saharsa and Siwan in Bihar

• The government has also announced that mandatory hallmarking will be rolled out in the remaining districts of the country by March 2024.

• The expansion of mandatory hallmarking is a significant step towards ensuring the purity and quality of gold jewellery in India. It will help to protect consumers from fraud and ensure that they are getting the best possible value for their money.

• The government has also taken steps to increase awareness of mandatory hallmarking among consumers. The BIS Care app has been a valuable tool in this regard, and it has been downloaded over 12 lakh times since its launch.