In India, gold is deeply connected to people’s emotions and savings. People buy gold as a future asset. So, it is important to ensure the gold purity when buying.
On March 2, 2026, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution issued a new order. This order is called the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2026. The BIS hallmarking has become mandatory in many more districts of the country.
So, BIS hallmarked gold Jewellery is now approved for sale in the new districts. This rule aims to protect people from fake or low-quality gold by increasing transparency in the market. In this article, we will discuss the new rules, newly added districts, and the rules required for Jewellers.
What is BIS Gold Hallmarking?
Gold hallmarking is the process of testing the purity of gold Jewellery and giving it an official mark. Looking at this mark, it can be determined whether the quality of the gold is pure.
In India, this entire system is managed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It works as per the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
Usually, Jewellery does not get a hallmark directly. First, the Jewellery is sent to the Assaying and Hallmarking (A&H) Centre. There, the purity of the gold is tested using a special machine. Only if the test results are correct, the BIS hallmark is given to that Jewellery.
Currently, hallmarking is done for 14 carat, 18 carat and 22 carat gold jewellery in India.
A valid BIS hallmark usually has three marks:
- BIS logo: This shows the approval of BIS
- Purity mark: e.g. 22K916
- HUID: A unique 6-digit number
Buyers can easily understand that the Jewellery is genuine and tested with these marks.
Read more – Guide to Obtain 916 Hallmark Certificate In India
What is the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2026?
The Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2026 is a new update from the government. It is introduced and implemented on a larger scale.
Before taking this decision, the government discussed it with the BIS authorities. So, the new amendment, the old Annexure list of the Hallmarking Order of 2020, has been changed.
Now, many more districts of many states and union territories of the country have been added to the new list. Hallmarking is now mandatory for gold Jewellery in these districts.
So, Jewellers in those districts can now sell only BIS hallmarked Jewellery. This will lead to better quality control in the gold market. The protection of buyers will also increase along with this.
This change will bring quality control to the gold market in the country. It will also increase consumer protection and create transparency in the Jewellery business.
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Key Changes Introduced by the 2026 Amendment
The 2026 Amendment has brought some important changes to the gold hallmarking rules. This increases quality control in more areas of the country and makes the gold market more transparent.
The key changes in this amendment are:
- New district list added: Many more districts across various states and union territories are now come under the scope of mandatory hallmarking.
- Old Annexure cancelled: The previous list of districts of the Hallmarking Order 2020 has been completely replaced with a new list.
- Mandatory compliance for Jewellers: Jewellers will have to comply with BIS rules if they do business in the listed districts.
- Only BIS-hallmarked Jewellery can be sold: It is legally prohibited to sell non-hallmarked gold in these districts.
- Increased nationwide coverage: A larger part of India is now covered by the hallmarking system, with the new rules.
- Increased quality control and transparency: This ensures the quality of gold and increases buyer confidence.
Complete List of States and Districts under the Amendment
The government has released a new annexure list as per the new amendment. This list includes various states and union territories of the country, along with their districts. Gold hallmarking is now mandatory in all these districts.
So, Jewellers in the listed districts will be able to sell only BIS hallmarked gold Jewellery. This will ensure quality control of gold in many more parts of the country.
This rule is administered by the BIS. The new list includes more than a hundred districts. So, a large part of India has now come under the hallmarking system.
Here is a complete list of States and Districts under the Amendment, see below:
| State / Union Territory | Districts Covered |
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Annamayya, East Godavari, Guntur, Kadapa, Krishna, Kurnool, Nellore, Prakasham, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, West Godavari and others |
| Assam | Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Jorhat, Kamrup Metro, Nagaon, Tinsukia and others |
| Bihar | Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Darbhanga and several other districts |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Chhattisgarh | Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Surguja |
| Delhi | Central Delhi, East Delhi, New Delhi, North Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi and others |
| Goa | North Goa, South Goa |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Jamnagar, Junagadh and many more |
| Haryana | Gurugram, Faridabad, Ambala, Karnal, Rohtak, Sonipat and others |
| Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Srinagar, Udhampur |
| Jharkhand | Bokaro, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Deoghar, Ramgarh |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru Urban, Belagavi, Dharwad, Mysore, Hassan, Raichur and others |
| Kerala | Ernakulam, Kollam, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and others |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Satna and others |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Thane, Kolhapur and others |
| Odisha | Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Sambalpur, Balasore and others |
| Puducherry | Puducherry, Karaikal |
| Punjab | Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Bathinda and others |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Bikaner, Ajmer and others |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli and others |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar and others |
| Tripura | Gomati, North Tripura, West Tripura |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut, Ghaziabad and many others |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri Garhwal |
| West Bengal | Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad and others |
Many more districts are included in this list. So, it can be said that now a large part of India has come under the mandatory BIS hallmarking system.
Read more – How to Obtain Jewellery Hallmark Logo?
Newly Added Districts in the Sixth Phase of Mandatory Hallmarking
Some new districts have been brought under the hallmarking rules in the sixth phase as per the 2026 amendment. Now, it is mandatory to have a BIS hallmark for selling gold Jewellery in these districts.
The table below lists some of the newly added districts:
| State | District |
| Punjab | Rupnagar |
| Uttar Pradesh | Banda |
| Maharashtra | Beed |
| Tripura | Gomati |
| Bihar | Katihar |
| Rajasthan | Beawar |
| Madhya Pradesh | Neemuch |
These districts are now officially part of the mandatory gold hallmarking system. So, Jewellers here will have to do business according to BIS rules.
How does the Hallmarking System Work in India?
Gold hallmarking in India is done through a specific process followed by simple steps. This entire system is managed by the BIS authority.
The process generally works like this:
- Jeweller takes BIS registration
If any jeweller wants to sell hallmarked gold, then firstly, he/she must opt for BIS registration.
- Jewellery is sent for testing
Next, the Jewellery is sent to an Assaying & Hallmarking Centre (A&H).
- Gold purity is tested
The quality of gold is tested using a special device.
- Hallmark is given
If the gold quality is pure in the test, the Jewellery is given a BIS hallmark.
- HUID code is added
Each piece of jewellery is given a unique 6-digit HUID number.
Following the above given process, buyers can be sure that the jewellery is genuine and tested.
Mandatory Requirements for Jewellers in Notified Districts
Jewellers must follow certain rules. The key rules are:
- BIS registration required
Jewellers must register with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) first.
- Only hallmarked jewellery can be sold
It is not legally permissible to sell gold Jewellery without the BIS hallmark.
- HUID code is mandatory
Each piece of Jewellery must have a unique HUID number.
- Business details must be updated
Changes in business address or ownership must be reported to BIS within 30 days.
- Hallmarking must be done in an accredited laboratory
Jewellery testing and hallmarking can only be done in BIS -approved A&H centers.
If a jeweller does not follow this rule, they may be fined, or legal action may be taken against them.
Read more – Requirements to Obtain Hallmark for Gold Necklace
Why Is Gold Hallmarking Important for Consumers?
Gold hallmarking is very important for consumers. It gives a clear idea about the quality of gold. The BIS hallmark ensures gold quality.
The key benefits of gold hallmarking are:
- Ensures the purity of gold – Hallmarking indicates that the quality of the gold is correct.
- Protects against fraud – Reduces the risk of buying fake or low-quality gold.
- Increases trust in the market – Builds trust between the buyers and sellers.
- Traceable through HUID code – Each piece of jewellery has a unique number.
- Provides transparent pricing – It is easy to determine the correct price according to the quality of gold.
- Can be verified with the BIS Care App – Buyers can verify the hallmark information using the app.
How Corpbiz Help with BIS Hallmarking Compliance?
Complying with BIS registration and hallmarking rules can seem a bit complicated for jewellers. It is important to know the correct documents, application processes, and rules. Here, Corpbiz provides various types of support to Jewellers.
Corpbiz can help Jewellers with the following:
- BIS Jeweller Registration: Assistance in the entire process of BIS Hallmark registration.
- Hallmark certification guidance: Proper advice on hallmarking rules and procedures.
- Documentation and application filing: Assistance in preparing the necessary documents and submitting the application.
- Compliance advisory: Guidance on complying with the laws and rules related to hallmarking.
- Business registration and legal support: Business registration and other legal support.
- Regulatory updates and monitoring: Providing regular information about new rules or updates.
Corpbiz simplifies the entire process. So, Jewellers can focus more on their business and comply with all the legal rules.
Read more – How to set up BIS Assaying and Hallmarking Centre?
Conclusion
After the introduction of the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2026, gold hallmarking has now become mandatory in many more districts of India. The main objective of this rule is to ensure that people get genuine and proper quality gold.
The newly added districts of this rule have been introduced; jewellers will now have to sell hallmarked jewellery as per the rules of the BIS. This will maintain the quality of gold and provide more security to the buyers.
If you are a jeweller or gold trader, it is important to follow the BIS registration and hallmarking rules properly. Corpbiz can provide you with the necessary guidance and assistance in this regard.
Always look for the hallmark while buying gold. This will ensure that the jewellery is genuine and tested.
Helpful Questions About BIS Gold Hallmarking
What is BIS gold hallmarking?
BIS gold hallmarking is an official mark given to gold jewellery to check its purity. A Jewellery hallmark indicates the purity of gold. It can confirm the carat and quality of the gold. So, this ensures the buyer that the Jewellery is genuine and of a certain quality.
Is hallmarking mandatory in India?
Hallmarking is not mandatory everywhere in India. This rule is applicable only in the districts listed by the government. Jewellers can only sell BIS hallmarked gold Jewellery in those districts. This maintains the quality of gold and protects the buyers. Many more districts of the country have now come under this rule with the new amendment.
What is the HUID number in gold Jewellery?
HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification. It is a unique number that is given on each hallmarked piece of Jewellery. It is usually a 6-digit code. This number can be used to identify the Jewellery easily. It is possible to verify the authenticity of the Jewellery. It also helps to find out the information using this HUID number.
Which gold Jewellery types require hallmarking?
Hallmarking is mandatory for mainly 14 carat, 18 carat and 22 carat gold Jewellery in India. This Jewellery is tested before being sold. Only if the gold quality is pure in the test, the hallmark will be assigned. Buyers can be sure that the gold they are buying is of the right quality by the rule.
Who needs BIS registration?
Jewellers need to register with the BIS. It is important to get this registration if you do business in districts where hallmarking has been made mandatory. Jewellers can send their Jewellery to an authorized testing centre and get it hallmarked with the help of the BIS hallmark.
How can consumers verify hallmarked gold?
Buyers can easily verify hallmarked gold if they want. For this, the BIS Care App can be used. By entering the HUID number of the Jewellery in this app, the information about that Jewellery can be viewed. This shows whether the Jewellery is really hallmarked or not. So, it is good to use this app while buying gold.
What happens if Jewellers sell non-hallmarked gold?
It is not illegal to sell gold without a hallmark in hallmark-mandatory areas. Legal action can be taken against any violation of the rule. There are chances of being fined or having the license cancelled. So, traders need to follow this rule.
Is BIS jeweller Registration Free?
Yes, there is no separate fee for getting a jeweller registration with the BIS. It is valid for the whole life of the business. But the BIS has to be informed of any kind of change in business information, such as address or ownership.
What is an Assaying & Hallmarking Centre?
An Assaying & Hallmarking Centre is known for checking the quality of gold jewellery. These centres are approved by the BIS. The BIS hallmark is given to that Jewellery when the quality of the gold is correct.
How can Corpbiz help with BIS hallmark registration?
Many jewellers may find the BIS registration and hallmarking process difficult to understand. In this case, Corpbiz provides various types of assistance. They help with the registration process, preparation of necessary documents, and submission of applications. They also advise compliance with hallmarking rules so that the business can run smoothly and in accordance with the rules.
Read more – Complete Overview of BIS Hallmark Registration Process
