BIS raises gold hallmarking fee 67% to ₹75 per article before festive demand
The Bureau of Indian Standards has increased the mandatory gold hallmarking fee from ₹45 to ₹75 per article, while retaining silver charges at ₹35. Jewellers’ body GJC says the move will raise compliance costs during the festive sales period.
What happened
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) · BIS has raised mandatory gold hallmarking fees to ₹75 per article from ₹45, effective immediately, while retaining silver
Key facts
- Gold hallmarking fee increased to ₹75 per article from ₹45
- Gold consignment minimum charge: ₹200
- Silver hallmarking fee retained at ₹35 per article
- Silver consignment minimum charge: ₹150
- Gold fee increase: nearly 67%
- Amendment Regulations dated September 14, 2026
Why this matters
Higher fixed compliance costs could strengthen the case for consolidation, shared hallmarking logistics or service partnerships among smaller jewellers facing less efficient consignment economics.
What to watch
- BIS clarification on effective date, treatment of existing inventory, and whether any exemptions or transition provisions apply.
- GJC and other jewellery-trade association statements, protests, or formal petitions seeking fee revision.
- Retailers' decisions on explicit surcharge versus absorption in making charges during Dhanteras, Diwali and wedding-season promotions.
- Hallmarking-centre turnaround times, consignment volumes, and any reported bottlenecks as jewellers batch submissions.
- Gold-price direction: a sharp rise in bullion prices would amplify sensitivity to even small non-gold cost increases, especially in lightweight jewellery.
- Comparable silver hallmarking policy changes; silver fees remaining at ₹35 could improve its relative affordability narrative.
- Reprice making-charge menus and communicate hallmarking charges separately or embed them in final jewellery pricing.
- Consolidate hallmarking consignments to minimize the ₹200 minimum charge and reduce per-unit processing costs.
- Accelerate hallmarking of festive inventory where operationally feasible, while monitoring whether the new fee applies to submissions already in the pipeline.
- Use certified-hallmark assurance in marketing, particularly organized chains seeking trust-led conversion from independent retailers.
- Jewellers' associations are likely to seek meetings with BIS and the consumer affairs ministry for a review, exemption, or phased implementation.