Yes, BIS hallmarking is mandatory for most gold jewellery and gold artefacts sold in India, with certain exceptions.
Is BIS mandatory for gold?
Yes, BIS hallmarking is mandatory for most gold jewellery and gold artefacts sold in India, with certain exceptions.
What is BIS?
BIS stands for the Bureau of Indian Standards, India’s national standards body. BIS hallmarking certifies the purity of gold jewellery and helps protect consumers from buying under-purity gold.
What does a BIS hallmark include?
A hallmarked gold item typically carries:
- BIS logo
- Purity/Fineness mark (e.g., 22K916, 18K750, 14K585)
- Six-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code
The HUID allows each hallmarked item to be uniquely identified.
Is it mandatory?
Yes. Under the Government of India’s hallmarking regulations:
- Gold jewellery and artefacts sold in notified areas must be BIS hallmarked.
- Jewellers are generally required to sell only hallmarked gold items, except for categories that are exempt.
Common exemptions
BIS hallmarking is generally not mandatory for certain items, such as:
- Gold bullion (bars and coins, unless specifically hallmarked by the manufacturer)
- Very lightweight jewellery below the prescribed weight threshold
- Jewellery intended solely for export
- Certain antique or vintage jewellery
- Medical, dental, or industrial gold items
Common purity marks
| Karat | Fineness Mark | Gold Purity |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 999 | 99.9% |
| 23K | 958 | 95.8% |
| 22K | 916 | 91.6% |
| 18K | 750 | 75.0% |
| 14K | 585 | 58.5% |
Why is BIS hallmarking important?
- Confirms the purity of the gold.
- Reduces the risk of fraud.
- Improves resale and exchange confidence.
- Provides traceability through the HUID.
Conclusion
If you are buying gold jewellery in India, you should look for the BIS hallmark and the HUID code. In most cases, jewellers are legally required to sell hallmarked gold jewellery, making BIS hallmarking an important assurance of purity and authenticity.
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