BIS Hallmarking Registration
for Gold in India

BIS Hallmarking Registration for Gold in India

As of the sixth phase, effective 2 March 2026, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has extended mandatory gold hallmarking to 380 districts across India's roughly 766 districts. :- Bureau of Indian Standards

The above data indicates that the value of gold is not limited to jewellery but also includes savings, security, and heritage. However, purity cannot be identified with the naked eye; two rings may look identical yet have very different gold purity levels.

This is why there is a need for BIS Hallmarking Registration for Gold in India. Managed by BIS under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, it is an official certification scheme for gold purity in India. It relies on the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID), a unique alphanumeric code marked on each certified item. It allows the verification of its purity, jeweller, and testing centre via the BIS CARE app in no time.

"Trust is tested before it is given,
Every gold mark is checked and proven;
A hallmark is a promise, plain and true
What's called gold is gold, verified for you."

What Is BIS Gold Hallmarking?

The BIS Hallmark Gold refers to the official stamping of the purity, carried out only in India by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). With the implementation of HUID from July 2021 onwards, every hallmark consists of three components: the BIS Standard Mark, the purity grade (for example, "18K750"), and an alphanumeric HUID, a six-digit code that can be traced instantly through the BIS CARE application.
Gold hallmark License has been made compulsory in all 380 districts (as of March 2026), with fineness ranging from 14K to 24K.

Is BIS Hallmarking Mandatory for Gold Jewellery?

Yes. BIS hallmarking has been mandatory in India since June 2021, and it is now being implemented in 380 districts, with the sixth phase starting on 2nd March 2026. The sale of non-hallmarked gold jewellery in the notified district constitutes non-compliance under the BIS Act, 2016, which attracts penalties, including confiscation of stock, fines, and prosecution.

The six gold caratages that are included in the mandatory hallmarking scheme are 14K, 18K, 20K, 22K, 23K, and 24K. There is one such provision for the 9-karat (9K) hallmarking under the Indian Standard, but the caratage is only optional. A manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer that makes, sells, or exports gold jewellery or articles in the notified district must register as a BIS jeweller, with separate registration required for each showroom. However, there is one exception: jewellers with a yearly turnover of not more than ₹40 lakhs are not included in the mandatory scheme, although they may register optionally.

Understanding the BIS Hallmark — HUID System

Since 1st July 2021, all bis hallmark registration online consists of three components: the BIS logo, the purity grade (caratage and fineness, such as 22 carat gold bis mark “22K916”), and a six-digit alphanumeric HUID. Earlier, hallmarking consisted of five hand-stamped marks, including separate jeweller and testing centre codes, which could be easily forged or mistaken. The HUID consolidated these codes into a single digital database code, thereby requiring only three physical codes to be stamped. One can instantly confirm the authenticity of any HUID through the Verify HUID option in the BIS CARE mobile application, which verifies the purity, jeweller, and testing centre codes.

Applicable Indian Standards for Gold Hallmarking

The gold hallmarking procedure in India is based on a suite of Indian Standards produced by BIS, which cover different aspects of the process, from acceptable purity grades to the operation of the testing centre.

Types of BIS Hallmark Registration

There are two types of registrations offered by BIS: one for jewellers and the other for laboratories that test and hallmark them.

• Registration for Jewellers/ Showrooms: Mandatory per outlet for any business that manufactures or sells gold jewellery. Jewellery must come from A&H Centres recognised by BIS, and hallmarked silver requires separate registration.
• Recognition of Assaying & Hallmarking (A&H) Centres: For laboratories which test and hallmark jewellery as per the infrastructure requirements specified in IS 15820:2009 with NABL accreditation of calibration. It can only be submitted by registered jewellers and not by consumers/artisans.

Eligibility Criteria for Jeweller Registration

All firms or individuals engaged in the manufacture, wholesale, retail, and trade of gold jewellery and artefacts in India must compulsorily register under the BIS Hallmarking Registration at the Bureau of Indian Standards.

• Nature of Business Activity: Any business, including proprietorship, partnership firm, LLP, and private or public limited company, which sells or stores gold jewellery.
• Location-Based Setup: This registration will be done separately for each operational address of the retail outlet or manufacturing firm, but all such addresses can be covered under a single documentation process.
• AHC Partnership: Need to associate with the BIS-certified Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) that will conduct tests on gold and stamp the HUID (6-digit alphanumeric code).

Documents Required for Jeweller Hallmark Registration

• Certificate of Registration / Partnership Deed / Trade Licence (proof of business establishment)
• GST Registration Certificate
• Rent Agreement or Sale/Lease Deed (proof of premises address)
• Latest Property Tax Receipt or Income Tax Assessment Order
• Identity Proof of Signatory (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Driving Licence, or Passport)
• Location Map of the Premises
• Proof of Annual Turnover (GST return or CA-certified statement)
• Showroom Logo
• Letterhead (with registered email ID and contact number)
• Photographs of the Showroom (interior and exterior)

BIS Hallmark Registration Process for Jewellers (Step-by-Step)

Go through the steps to know the complete BIS Hallmark licence procedure for gold:

BIS Recognition Process for Assaying & Hallmarking Centres & How Gold Is Assayed and Hallmarked

The Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) are BIS-approved laboratories authorised to test and hallmark gold, silver, and other precious metal jewellery. The process of obtaining recognition and setting up an AHC involves several steps that ultimately lead to the hallmarking of jewellery.

Fees for BIS Hallmark Registration and Testing

Penalties for Selling Gold Jewellery Without BIS Hallmark

Selling gold jewellery without a compulsory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmark can attract severe legal penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment of the jeweller under the BIS Act 2016. Penalties under Section 29(3) of the BIS Act 2016 (for contravention of Section 17):

How does ERCS Private Limited help with BIS Hallmark Registration?

ERCS Private Limited simplifies BIS Hallmark Registration for jewellers, showrooms, and manufacturers by managing the entire compliance process end-to-end.

Frequently Asked Questions