BIS raises gold hallmarking fee to ₹75 from ₹45 ahead of festive season
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The Bureau of Indian Standards has increased gold hallmarking fees from ₹45 to ₹75 per article. The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council is protesting the hike, demanding a review before the festive season.
BIS Implements Sharp Increase in Gold Hallmarking Fees
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has officially announced a significant revision to the hallmarking charges for precious metals, effective immediately. Under the new BIS (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations, 2026, the fee for hallmarking gold articles has been increased from ₹45 to ₹75 per article. While the fee for silver remains unchanged at ₹35, the adjustment for gold arrives at a critical juncture, directly preceding the peak festive season in India, a time when consumer demand for gold jewellery traditionally reaches its annual zenith.
Structural Changes to Fee Regulations
The amendment to Schedule IV of the regulations introduces a more rigorous cost structure for jewellers. Beyond the per-article increase, the BIS has stipulated a minimum charge of ₹200 per consignment for gold, while silver consignments carry a minimum charge of ₹150. These fees are payable by jewellers directly to recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs), which serve as the authorized verification points for ensuring the purity of precious metals before they reach the consumer market.
Industry Response and Economic Concerns
Following the announcement on September 14, 2026, the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) has voiced strong opposition to the hike. The Council has formally urged the government and the BIS to reconsider the decision, citing concerns over the timing and the financial burden placed on the trade during a period of high volume. The GJC is advocating for a suspension of the new rates, requesting that the authorities initiate a formal stakeholder consultation process before finalizing such a significant operational cost increase.
Broader Implications for the Jewellery Trade
The hallmarking process is a cornerstone of consumer protection, ensuring that the purity of gold and silver is verified and certified to prevent fraud. However, the sudden spike in compliance costs creates a ripple effect throughout the supply chain. For smaller jewellers operating on thin margins, the increased per-article fee, combined with the new minimum consignment thresholds, could lead to inflationary pressure on the final price of jewellery, potentially affecting consumer buying behavior during the festive period.
Historical Context and Future Trends
Historically, the BIS has utilized hallmarking to formalize the unorganized jewellery sector in India, promoting transparency and trust. While the shift toward mandatory hallmarking has been largely successful, the tension between regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders remains a recurring theme. The current friction highlights the ongoing struggle to balance consumer protection and quality assurance with the operational realities of the retail jewellery market. Future trends suggest that if these fees remain in place without industry consensus, there may be increased pressure for digitalized, lower-cost verification technologies to replace manual AHC processes.
Conclusion
The increase in gold hallmarking fees represents a pivotal regulatory shift that pits the BIS’s mandate for quality standardization against the immediate economic concerns of the jewellery industry. As the festive season approaches, the ability of the GJC to negotiate a delay or a tiered implementation will be vital. Whether this increase is absorbed by the trade or passed on to the end consumer remains an open question that will likely define the market dynamics for the remainder of the fiscal year.
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