BIS Hallmarking Registration Gold & Silver Jewellery

BIS Hallmarking Registration in India: Complete Guide for Gold & Silver Jewellery

Gold and silver jewellery are not only valuable products but also important purchases where purity, quality and consumer confidence matter. For jewellers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers, proper understanding of BIS Hallmarking Registration is therefore essential for maintaining compliance and building customer trust.

In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) operates the Hallmarking Scheme for precious-metal articles. BIS describes hallmarking as the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate precious-metal content in an article. At present, gold and silver are covered under the Indian hallmarking framework.

For a jeweller planning to sell hallmarked jewellery, understanding BIS Jeweller Registration, HUID, purity grades, hallmarking requirements, applicable exemptions and the role of BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) is important.

Qualitance India provides professional BIS Hallmarking Consultancy to help businesses understand the applicable requirements and complete the registration and compliance process in a structured manner.

What is BIS Hallmarking?

BIS Hallmarking is a system designed to provide third-party assurance regarding the purity or fineness of precious-metal jewellery and artefacts.

The purpose of hallmarking is to:

Protect consumers against incorrect purity claims
Provide assurance regarding the declared fineness of precious metals
Promote quality and transparency in the jewellery sector
Support traceability of hallmarked articles
Help maintain legal standards of fineness

BIS states that hallmarking is covered under the BIS Act, 2016, while the BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018 provide the regulatory framework for jeweller registration, recognition of Assaying & Hallmarking Centres and related activities.

What is BIS Hallmarking Registration for Jewellers?

A jeweller who wants to sell hallmarked gold or silver jewellery/artefacts is required to obtain registration with BIS, subject to the applicable provisions and exemptions.

According to the current BIS jeweller information:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers involved in selling hallmarked precious-metal articles are required to obtain BIS registration.
Artisans or manufacturers working on a job-work basis may be exempt in specified circumstances where they are not directly involved in sale, subject to supporting documentation.
Jewellers having annual turnover up to ₹40 lakh are outside the mandatory hallmarking requirement, but they can obtain BIS registration if they want to sell hallmarked jewellery.
There is currently no BIS fee for grant of jeweller registration.
The registration is granted for lifetime.

This makes BIS Jeweller Registration an important compliance step for businesses dealing in hallmarked jewellery.

Who Needs BIS Hallmarking Registration?

BIS registration is particularly relevant to businesses such as:

1. Gold Jewellery Manufacturers

Businesses manufacturing gold jewellery for sale should evaluate their BIS registration and hallmarking obligations.

2. Silver Jewellery Manufacturers

Businesses dealing in silver jewellery and artefacts should understand the applicable BIS requirements for silver hallmarking.

3. Wholesalers

Wholesalers involved in selling hallmarked precious-metal articles need to comply with applicable BIS requirements.

4. Distributors

Distributors dealing with hallmarked jewellery should ensure appropriate BIS registration and documentation.

5. Retail Jewellers and Showrooms

Jewellery showrooms selling hallmarked gold or silver articles need to understand the BIS registration requirements applicable to their business.

What is HUID in BIS Hallmarking?

HUID means Hallmark Unique Identification Number.

For gold jewellery, BIS explains that the hallmark consists of three components:

BIS Standard Mark
Purity/Fineness of the article
Six-digit alphanumeric HUID number

The HUID is unique to the hallmarked article and provides traceability. Consumers can use the BIS CARE App's “Verify HUID” feature to check relevant information.

This is one of the most important changes in modern BIS hallmarking because consumers can use the HUID system to verify information associated with hallmarked jewellery.

What Does the BIS Hallmark on Gold Jewellery Show?

Under the current HUID-based system, gold jewellery hallmarking includes:

BIS Standard Mark + Purity/Fineness + HUID

For example, commonly encountered gold fineness values include:

Gold Carat	Fineness
14K	585
18K	750
20K	833
22K	916
23K	958
24KS	995

These grades are specified under IS 1417:2016 for gold and gold alloys, jewellery/artefacts—fineness and marking.

BIS Hallmarking for Silver Jewellery

Silver is also covered under India's hallmarking framework.

BIS identifies IS 2112 as the Indian Standard for silver and silver alloys, jewellery/artefacts—fineness and marking. The standard was revised to IS 2112:2025, introducing HUID-based hallmarking for silver jewellery and articles on a voluntary basis from 1 September 2025.

The revised silver hallmarking system includes:

BIS Standard Mark with the word SILVER
Purity grade
HUID

The revised standard specifies silver grades including 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990 and 999.

What is the BIS Hallmarking Process?

The general hallmarking chain can be understood as:

BIS Registered Jeweller → BIS Recognized A&H Centre → Testing/Assaying → Hallmarking → Jewellery returned to Jeweller

A BIS-registered jeweller can approach a BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre for hallmarking. The jewellery is examined for conformity with the declared purity/fineness, and conforming articles are hallmarked.

The process may involve stages such as:

Step 1 – Jewellery Submission

The registered jeweller submits the jewellery to a recognized A&H Centre.

Step 2 – Preliminary Examination

The article is examined and processed according to the applicable requirements.

Step 3 – Testing/Assaying

The precious-metal content is determined using the applicable testing methods.

Step 4 – Purity Verification

The tested fineness is compared with the declared grade.

Step 5 – Hallmarking

Articles meeting the applicable requirements are hallmarked through the prescribed system.

Step 6 – Return to Jeweller

Hallmarked jewellery is returned to the registered jeweller for sale.

If the article does not meet the declared purity requirement, it is rejected rather than simply being marked at a lower grade.

What is an Assaying & Hallmarking Centre (AHC)?

An Assaying & Hallmarking Centre (AHC) is a BIS-recognized facility responsible for testing precious-metal jewellery/artefacts and carrying out hallmarking activities in accordance with applicable requirements.

BIS states that an A&H Centre must meet the requirements of IS 15820:2009 and have appropriate infrastructure, quality-management arrangements and trained competent manpower.

The relevant standards include:

IS 15820:2009 – General requirements for establishment and operation of Assaying & Hallmarking Centres
IS 1417:2016 – Gold and gold alloys, jewellery/artefacts—fineness and marking
IS 1418:2009 – Determination of gold by cupellation/fire assay
IS 2112 – Silver and silver alloys, jewellery/artefacts—fineness and marking
IS 2113:2014 – Assaying of silver and silver alloys

BIS currently lists these standards in its hallmarking FAQs.

BIS Hallmarking Centre Registration

Businesses planning to establish an Assaying & Hallmarking Centre have substantially different requirements from an ordinary jewellery showroom.

The applicant needs to establish the required infrastructure and quality-management system and demonstrate competent manpower in accordance with applicable BIS requirements.

BIS's current guidance states that an A&H Centre established according to IS 15820 can apply online for BIS recognition.

The process can involve:

Business/entity documentation
Premises documentation
Infrastructure development
Required equipment and facilities
Personnel and competency requirements
Testing arrangements
Calibration and related quality requirements
Application submission
BIS scrutiny
Assessment/inspection
Compliance with observations, where applicable
Grant of recognition

BIS has also published revised Guidelines for Recognition & Operation of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres, which should be referred to for the current requirements.

Documents Required for BIS Jeweller Registration

The exact documentation should be checked against the current BIS/NSWS application requirements. Depending on the applicant and business structure, documentation may include information relating to:

Business/entity details
Premises details
Identity and authorization details
GST/business information, where applicable
Contact details
Sales outlet information
Jewellery business details
Other supporting documents required by the applicable registration process

Important: Document requirements and portal procedures can change. Therefore, businesses should verify the latest requirements before submission rather than relying on an old checklist.

BIS Hallmarking Registration Process for Jewellers

The current BIS information states that jeweller registration is applied for online through the National Single Window System (NSWS), which can also be accessed through the BIS/Manak Online route. The registration is granted instantly and is valid for lifetime, with no registration fee currently charged by BIS.

Step-by-Step Overview

Step 1: Identify Applicability
Determine whether your business falls under the applicable BIS hallmarking requirements.

Step 2: Prepare Business Information
Keep the required business and applicant information ready.

Step 3: Online Application
Submit the registration application through the applicable online portal.

Step 4: Application Processing
The application is processed according to the current BIS registration mechanism.

Step 5: BIS Registration
Once granted, the jeweller can operate as a BIS-registered jeweller subject to the applicable conditions.

Step 6: Hallmarking Through Recognized AHC
Jewellery requiring hallmarking is sent to a BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre.

Is BIS Hallmarking Mandatory for Every Jeweller?

Not necessarily in every circumstance.

The mandatory hallmarking framework contains specific exemptions. BIS currently lists exemptions including certain export articles, articles weighing less than 2 grams, jewellery intended for specified exhibitions, special categories such as Kundan, Polki and Jadaau, gold watches and fountain pens, gold bullion and certain other categories. Jewellers with annual turnover up to ₹40 lakh are also outside the mandatory hallmarking requirement, although they may register if they want to sell hallmarked jewellery.

Therefore, simply asking “Is hallmarking mandatory?” is not always sufficient.

The correct question is:

Does my jewellery business, product, transaction and location fall within the current mandatory hallmarking requirements or an applicable exemption?

Because the mandatory hallmarking framework is periodically amended, businesses should check the latest BIS notification before making a compliance decision. BIS's current Mandatory Hallmarking page lists amendments through 3 August 2026.

First Point of Sale and Hallmarking Responsibility

One particularly important concept for jewellery businesses is the first point of sale.

BIS explains that within the chain of manufacturer → wholesaler → distributor → retailer, hallmarking responsibility lies with the party making the first point of sale.

Hallmarking therefore does not necessarily need to be repeated at every stage of the supply chain.

This is an important compliance area for jewellery manufacturers and supply-chain businesses because misunderstanding the first-sale requirement can result in unnecessary operational complications.

Why is BIS Hallmarking Important for Jewellers?

BIS Hallmarking provides several important business and consumer benefits.

Consumer Trust

Customers receive greater assurance regarding the purity/fineness of precious-metal jewellery.

Product Traceability

HUID-based hallmarking provides a mechanism for identifying and tracing hallmarked articles.

Regulatory Compliance

Registration and hallmarking help businesses operate according to applicable BIS requirements.

Brand Credibility

A structured compliance system can strengthen customer confidence in a jewellery business.

Quality Assurance

Testing and hallmarking provide third-party assurance regarding precious-metal purity.

BIS itself identifies consumer protection, quality assurance and development of India's gold market as important objectives of the hallmarking scheme.

BIS Hallmarking Consultancy by Qualitance India

Understanding BIS Hallmarking requirements can be challenging for a jeweller, particularly when the business has multiple outlets, deals in both gold and silver, or needs to understand the interaction between registration, hallmarking and applicable exemptions.

Qualitance India provides BIS Hallmarking Consultancy to help jewellery businesses understand and manage the applicable compliance requirements.

Our consultancy can cover areas such as:

BIS Hallmarking applicability assessment
BIS Jeweller Registration guidance
Gold jewellery hallmarking guidance
Silver jewellery hallmarking guidance
HUID-related compliance guidance
Documentation assistance
Application preparation support
BIS portal/application guidance
A&H Centre-related consultancy
Compliance and regulatory guidance
Support for understanding BIS requirements and notifications

Our objective is to make the compliance journey clear, structured and easier to manage for jewellery businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions About BIS Hallmarking

1. What is BIS Hallmarking?

BIS Hallmarking is a system that provides assurance regarding the purity or fineness of precious-metal articles such as gold and silver jewellery.

2. Who needs BIS Jeweller Registration?

Businesses involved in selling hallmarked precious-metal articles, including applicable manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers, need to obtain BIS registration subject to the applicable provisions and exemptions.

3. Is BIS Jeweller Registration free?

BIS currently states that no fee is charged for grant of jeweller registration.

4. How long is BIS Jeweller Registration valid?

The current BIS information states that jeweller registration is valid for lifetime.

5. What is HUID?

HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification Number. For gold hallmarking, it is a six-digit alphanumeric identification number associated with the hallmarked article.

6. How can a customer verify HUID?

Customers can use the BIS CARE App's Verify HUID feature to check relevant information associated with a hallmarked article.

7. Is silver jewellery covered under BIS Hallmarking?

Yes. Silver is covered under India's hallmarking framework, with IS 2112 governing silver and silver-alloy jewellery/artefacts. The revised IS 2112:2025 introduced HUID-based silver hallmarking on a voluntary basis from 1 September 2025.

8. What is an A&H Centre?

An Assaying & Hallmarking Centre is a BIS-recognized facility responsible for testing/assaying and hallmarking eligible precious-metal articles according to applicable requirements.

9. Is hallmarking mandatory for every gold jewellery article?

Not in every circumstance. The mandatory framework contains specified exemptions, including certain articles and categories. The current BIS notification should always be checked for applicability.

Conclusion

BIS Hallmarking Registration is an important compliance requirement for eligible jewellery businesses in India. From BIS Jeweller Registration and HUID to purity requirements, recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centres and mandatory hallmarking provisions, businesses need to keep themselves updated with the latest BIS requirements.

As BIS regulations and mandatory hallmarking coverage can be amended from time to time, relying on outdated information can create compliance issues. The safest approach is to assess your business against the latest BIS notifications, standards and applicable exemptions before starting or expanding your hallmarking-related operations.

Qualitance India can assist jewellery businesses with professional BIS Hallmarking Consultancy, Jeweller Registration guidance and Hallmarking compliance support.

Contact Qualitance India

Phone: +91 93106 15170
Email: info@qualitanceindia.com
Website: qualitanceindia.com