The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has announced a significant consumer-protection measure by making Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) mandatory for all hallmarked silver jewellery from September 1, 2025. While hallmarking for silver remains voluntary, the new rule makes the HUID stamp compulsory for any silver article that is hallmarked, in an effort to curb counterfeit hallmarking and strengthen consumer trust.
Since the launch of the silver HUID portal, more than 16 lakh silver jewellery pieces have been hallmarked with HUID, with 925 and 800 purity grades accounting for nearly 90% of all hallmarked items. Consumers can verify HUID details of both gold and silver articles through the BIS Care App, ensuring greater transparency in the market.
BIS has also expanded the reach of mandatory gold hallmarking. An amendment to the Quality Control Order, issued on July 31, 2025, has increased the number of districts covered under mandatory gold hallmarking from 361 to 373, based on the presence of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs).
Responding to market demand, BIS has introduced an additional purity grade for gold—9k (375 fineness)—alongside the existing purity levels. In another major upgrade to the hallmarking ecosystem, BIS launched a pilot project on November 1, 2025, to digitally capture photographs of gold articles, images with HUID marks, and the weight of each item at the time of hallmarking. The initiative currently operates at 25 AHCs across India and aims to ensure that the item sold to the consumer is the exact piece that was originally hallmarked. Over 3 lakh gold articles have already been processed under this pilot.
During the current financial year, the number of BIS‑registered jewellers increased from 1,96,448 to 2,10,802, reflecting a steady rise in industry participation. The number of recognized AHCs saw a slight dip from 1,602 to 1,590, even as 30 off-site centres were granted approval. In total, 12.43 crore articles of gold and silver jewellery and artefacts have been hallmarked so far this year.
BIS continues to extend hallmarking to the bullion sector as well. Under the gold bullion hallmarking scheme—introduced in 2015 for 999 and 995 fineness standards—65 licences have been issued to refineries and the India Government Mint as of November 25, 2025.
To strengthen hallmarking infrastructure in underserved regions, BIS provided central assistance to nine new AHCs this year under the Plan Scheme for Hallmarking. Meanwhile, the organization continues to maintain an extensive certification footprint under its Management Systems Certification Scheme, with 1,501 operative licences recorded as of October 25, 2025.
The series of reforms and technological upgrades are expected to significantly enhance the authenticity, traceability and reliability of hallmarked jewellery in the Indian market, further safeguarding consumer interests and reducing the scope for malpractice.
