Proposed move aims to boost consumer confidence, improve purity assurance and bring greater transparency to India’s silver jewellery and artefacts market
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is planning a phased transition towards mandatory hallmarking of silver jewellery and artefacts, a move that could significantly strengthen quality assurance and consumer protection in one of India’s largest precious metals markets.
At present, hallmarking of silver remains voluntary, unlike gold jewellery where hallmarking is mandatory in notified districts. However, industry stakeholders have increasingly backed the introduction of compulsory silver hallmarking to ensure standardisation and transparency across the sector.
According to BIS officials, the standards body is assessing regulatory requirements, testing infrastructure and industry readiness before implementing the measure in phases. The move follows a steady rise in adoption of silver hallmarking since the introduction of the Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID)-based system for silver jewellery and artefacts in September 2025.
Industry data indicates that more than 51 lakh silver articles were hallmarked during 2025, up from around 31 lakh in the previous year, reflecting growing acceptance among jewellers and consumers. Over 20 lakh silver articles have already been marked with HUID, allowing buyers to verify purity and trace products through the BIS database.
The proposed rollout is expected to cover silver jewellery and artefacts initially, with regulators likely to adopt a gradual implementation strategy similar to the phased expansion of mandatory gold hallmarking across the country.
Consumer Trust And Market Transparency
Hallmarking certifies the purity and fineness of precious metal articles through authorised assaying and hallmarking centres. Under the revised silver hallmarking framework introduced last year, every hallmarked silver item carries the BIS logo, fineness grade and a unique HUID code that can be verified through the BIS Care application.
Industry experts believe mandatory hallmarking will reduce the risk of under-purity and fraudulent practices while helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
The move is also expected to create a more organised marketplace by ensuring uniform quality standards and improving accountability across the supply chain. Under BIS regulations, jewellers selling hallmarked products remain responsible for the purity and fineness of the articles offered to consumers.
Challenges For The Industry
While the proposal has received broad support, industry bodies have raised concerns regarding implementation costs and infrastructure capacity. Some trade associations have previously argued that hallmarking requirements could increase compliance costs for jewellers, particularly smaller players, if adequate testing and certification facilities are not available.
The BIS is therefore evaluating the readiness of assaying and hallmarking centres, as well as the availability of testing infrastructure, before finalising the transition timeline.
Boosting Consumer Confidence
If implemented, mandatory silver hallmarking would represent one of the most significant reforms in India’s silver trade. The measure is expected to enhance consumer confidence, improve traceability, curb unfair trade practices and bring silver jewellery standards closer to the regulatory framework already governing gold. It could also accelerate the formalisation of the silver market and strengthen India’s position as one of the world’s largest consumers of precious metals.
