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India could soon require silver jewellery to carry official hallmarks, but only after the necessary infrastructure is in place, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Director General Sanjay Garg said on Tuesday (January 6).
Hallmarking is a certification that guarantees the purity of precious metals such as gold and silver. Each hallmark indicates the metal’s fineness, the BIS logo, the jeweller’s identification mark, and in some cases, a unique Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) number.
For consumers, hallmarked jewellery provides assurance that they are paying for the metal’s declared purity, reducing the risk of fraud or low-quality products.
Speaking at the 79th foundation day of the BIS, Garg emphasised the link between product quality and national development.
“Quality is the single most determining factor between a developed and a developing nation,” he said, noting that developed countries stand out in infrastructure, governance, civic amenities, health services, and hospitality.
Garg said BIS has been working to ensure access to safe and reliable products while supporting industry compliance.
On hallmarking progress, Garg noted that 373 districts now enforce mandatory hallmarking for gold jewellery, with over 58 crore gold pieces hallmarked to date.
“Currently, we are hallmarking more than one crore pieces per month,” he said.
Silver hallmarking has started on a voluntary basis and is gaining momentum.
Since September 1, silver jewellery and articles can be hallmarked under a HUID-based system. More than 23 lakh silver items have been certified so far, allowing buyers to verify purity before purchase.
“There is industry demand to make silver hallmarking mandatory, but we will do so only when the necessary infrastructure is ready,” Garg added.
For consumers, this means that hallmarked silver jewellery is available, giving shoppers a reliable way to ensure quality and avoid under-purity products. Once mandatory, silver hallmarking is expected to cover more districts and retailers, making it easier to identify certified silver across the country.
-With PTI inputs
ALSO READ | Silver outlook 2026: Tata Mutual Fund expects prices to stay bullish, advises staggered investments
Hallmarking is a certification that guarantees the purity of precious metals such as gold and silver. Each hallmark indicates the metal’s fineness, the BIS logo, the jeweller’s identification mark, and in some cases, a unique Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) number.
For consumers, hallmarked jewellery provides assurance that they are paying for the metal’s declared purity, reducing the risk of fraud or low-quality products.
Speaking at the 79th foundation day of the BIS, Garg emphasised the link between product quality and national development.
“Quality is the single most determining factor between a developed and a developing nation,” he said, noting that developed countries stand out in infrastructure, governance, civic amenities, health services, and hospitality.
Garg said BIS has been working to ensure access to safe and reliable products while supporting industry compliance.
On hallmarking progress, Garg noted that 373 districts now enforce mandatory hallmarking for gold jewellery, with over 58 crore gold pieces hallmarked to date.
“Currently, we are hallmarking more than one crore pieces per month,” he said.
Silver hallmarking has started on a voluntary basis and is gaining momentum.
Since September 1, silver jewellery and articles can be hallmarked under a HUID-based system. More than 23 lakh silver items have been certified so far, allowing buyers to verify purity before purchase.
“There is industry demand to make silver hallmarking mandatory, but we will do so only when the necessary infrastructure is ready,” Garg added.
For consumers, this means that hallmarked silver jewellery is available, giving shoppers a reliable way to ensure quality and avoid under-purity products. Once mandatory, silver hallmarking is expected to cover more districts and retailers, making it easier to identify certified silver across the country.
-With PTI inputs
ALSO READ | Silver outlook 2026: Tata Mutual Fund expects prices to stay bullish, advises staggered investments
