The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution has announced that over 40 crore gold jewellery items have been hallmarked with a unique Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) number in the fourth phase of the Mandatory Hallmarking initiative. This milestone marks a significant step in bolstering consumer confidence and ensuring market transparency.  

The fourth phase of mandatory hallmarking, implemented under the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Amendment Order, 2024, commenced on November 5, 2024. With the inclusion of 18 additional districts equipped with hallmarking centres, the initiative now covers a total of 361 districts nationwide.  

Growth in the Industry  

The government highlighted the rapid pace of hallmarking, with over 4 lakh gold items being hallmarked daily under the initiative. Since the mandatory hallmarking program began, the number of registered jewellers has surged from 34,647 to an impressive 1,94,039, a more than fivefold increase.  

Similarly, the number of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) has grown significantly, rising from 945 to 1,622.  

Phased Implementation  

The journey of mandatory hallmarking began with the first phase on June 23, 2021, which covered 256 districts. This was followed by the second phase, starting April 4, 2022, which added 32 more districts, and the third phase, launched on September 6, 2023, expanding to 55 additional districts.  

Consumer Empowerment  

To further empower consumers, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced the 'BIS CARE' mobile app. This app allows users to verify the authenticity of hallmarked gold jewellery by checking its HUID number, ensuring greater transparency and trust in the market.  

The government’s proactive measures and phased approach to mandatory hallmarking aim to standardize gold jewellery quality across the nation, ensuring that consumers can make informed and confident purchases.