The system

The Indian Hallmarking Centre, more formally the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC), is the network of accredited facilities authorised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to conduct gold and silver assay and to apply the BIS hallmark to qualifying jewellery pieces. The system, in its modern form, was established in 2000 with voluntary hallmarking and made mandatory in stages from June 2021 onward.

Coverage and operation

The system comprises approximately one thousand five hundred AHCs across India as of the mid-2020s, distributed across all major retail jewellery centres. The AHCs operate under BIS accreditation, with periodic audits to verify continuing technical capability. The principal services are: assay testing of gold and silver fineness, application of the BIS hallmark to qualifying pieces, maintenance of the unique HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) registration that traces each hallmarked piece, and resolution of disputes about purity claims.

The hallmark elements

The BIS hallmark on a gold jewellery piece comprises four elements: the BIS standards mark (a triangular logo), the gold purity grade (916 for 22 karat, 750 for 18 karat, or 585 for 14 karat), the hallmarking centre identification mark, and the unique HUID number that identifies the specific piece. The full mark is small but provides full traceability of the piece's purity verification.

The HUID system

The HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) system, implemented from 2021, is the most distinctive element of the modern Indian hallmarking framework. Each hallmarked piece receives a unique six-digit alphanumeric code that is registered in the BIS central database. The code identifies the specific piece, the AHC that hallmarked it, the date of hallmarking, the jeweller, and the specific purity. Consumers can verify the HUID through the BIS Care app, providing direct verification of the piece's hallmarking authenticity.

The HUID system has been controversial in the trade, with some unorganised retailers arguing that the per-piece registration cost is burdensome for small operators. The BIS position is that the registration cost is modest relative to the consumer protection benefit, and the system has continued through implementation challenges.

Disputes and remedies

The Indian hallmarking framework includes consumer remedies for purity disputes. A consumer who suspects a hallmarked piece does not meet the marked purity can submit the piece for re-assay at any BIS-accredited centre. If the re-assay finds purity below the marked grade, the consumer is entitled to compensation including refund of the purity differential and additional penalties. The dispute resolution mechanism is one of the principal consumer protections introduced by the modern hallmarking system.