Gold jewellery purchases this Diwali are set to become slightly more expensive for consumers after the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) significantly raised hallmarking charges. The new rates, which came into effect on September 14, 2026, mark a substantial increase of nearly 67% just before India's peak festive and wedding seasons.
Revised Hallmarking Fees and Their Impact
Under the amended BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2026, jewellers must now pay ₹75 per gold article to certified Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs), up from the previous rate of ₹45. This represents an additional cost of ₹30 per article. While the percentage increase appears steep, the per-article impact is relatively small. For instance, a buyer purchasing five gold ornaments might incur an extra cost of approximately ₹150, assuming the jeweller passes on the full increase.
A minimum fee of ₹200 applies per consignment for jewellers. Additionally, BIS charges the hallmarking centres ₹7.50 per gold article, with a minimum of ₹20 per consignment.
Illustrative Cost Calculation
To understand the impact, consider a 10-gram, 22-carat gold ornament. Assuming a 24K gold rate of ₹12,000 per gram, 10% making charges, and 3% GST, the final bill would see a modest increase due to the revised hallmarking fee. With the new ₹75 fee, the total cost would be approximately ₹1,24,614.36, compared to ₹1,24,584.36 under the old ₹45 fee. This calculation assumes the hallmarking fee is added separately after GST, though actual billing practices may vary.
Understanding Gold Hallmarking and Its Importance
Gold hallmarking is a crucial certification process designed to verify the purity of gold jewellery and articles. In a country like India, where gold holds immense cultural, social, and financial value, hallmarking plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and protecting consumers from adulteration or misrepresentation of gold content.
The BIS regulates India's hallmarking framework under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Mandatory hallmarking was introduced in phases starting June 2021 to standardize purity certification across the industry. Authorized centres employ rigorous testing methods, such as fire assay and X-ray fluorescence, to certify eligible articles.
For consumers, hallmarking provides confidence that their jewellery contains the promised gold content (e.g., 22K gold is approximately 91.6% pure, while 18K is 75%). It also supports fair pricing, enhances resale value, and helps jewellers uphold quality standards.
How to Verify Hallmarked Gold
A BIS hallmark currently includes three key identifiers:
- The BIS logo
- Purity expressed through caratage and fineness
- A six-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number
Consumers can easily verify the HUID using the official BIS Care application. It is also advisable for buyers to request itemised invoices that clearly specify the gold's purity, net gold weight, making charges, GST, and the separate hallmarking fees.
Notably, the hallmarking charges for silver articles remain unchanged at ₹35 per article.