Hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts was made mandatory in India with certain exemptions w.e.f. 15th June, 2021 vide the Hallmarking of Gold jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2020. At present, hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts is mandatory in 256 districts and that to for the following three caratages, namely 14, 18 and 22, i.e. gold jewellery and artefacts of 14, 18 and 22 carats only has to be sold compulsorily with Hallmark while remaining caratages/forms of gold jewellery and artefacts can still be sold without hallmark in these 256 districts.
From 1st June, 2022, the second phase of mandatory hallmarking is being implemented by making Hallmarking of gold jewellery/artefacts fully mandatory in existing 256 districts and 32 new districts covered with Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHC), i.e. only 14, 18, 20, 22, 23 and 24 caratages of gold jewellery and artefacts, as per IS 1417:2016, shall be sold in these 288 (256+32) districts and that to compulsorily with Hallmark.
After successful implementation of the above phases of the mandatory hallmarking, the following is also being considered by the Government in the interest of consumers:
i. Revocation of the exemption granted to Kundan, Polki and Jadaau from the scope of mandatory hallmarking, as these categories of jewellery can be hallmarked as per the provisions of IS 1417.
ii. In order to check the duplicate HUID hallmarking, re-enabling of the provision in the system for recording the transfer of HUID hallmarked jewellery from manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer based on the sale.
iii. Making hallmarking mandatory throughout the country, with one-year implementation period.