GJC seeks review of 67% rise in gold hallmarking fee

The Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council has urged the government and BIS to pause and review the increase in gold hallmarking charges from ₹45 to ₹75 per article, citing added compliance costs for jewellers—particularly on lightweight pieces—and calling for action against fake hallmarking.

— Source publishedWed, 16 Sept, 2026, 18:16 IST·First seen Wed, 16 Sept, 2026, 18:25 IST·Source The Hindu BusinessLine

What happened

All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) · GJC has asked the government and BIS to pause and review the 67% increase in gold hallmarking fees, warning

Key facts

  • Gold hallmarking fee increased from ₹45 to ₹75 per article
  • 67% increase
  • Over 60 crore HUID-hallmarked gold articles between July 1, 2021 and March 5, 2026
  • Mandatory hallmarking expanded to 380 districts by March 2026

What changed

GJC has asked the government and BIS to pause and review the 67% increase in gold hallmarking fees, warning of higher jeweller compliance costs, especially for lightweight jewellery, while calling for stronger action against fake and unauthorised hallmarking.

Why this matters

The 67% hallmarking-fee increase raises per-piece compliance costs—especially for lightweight jewellery—pressuring jewellers to revisit pricing, assortment and sourcing controls.

What to watch

  • Formal BIS or Ministry of Consumer Affairs response on fee review, pause, or revised pricing structure.
  • Any exemption or concessional hallmarking rate for lightweight jewellery, small enterprises, or bulk submissions.
  • Notification of enforcement actions against fake hallmarking, unregistered jewellers, or non-compliant assay centres.
  • Changes in hallmarking-centre capacity, turnaround times, and geographic coverage.
  • Retail jewellery making-charge revisions and commentary on lightweight-gold demand.