As an integral part of Indian culture, gold and silver purchased on auspicious occasions have been passed down through generations. To preserve the heritage and safeguard customers, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), India’s national standard body, was established to secure the quality, safety, and reliability of goods, articles, processes, and systems in India. As a part of its initiatives, BIS has announced the mandatory hallmarking of silver jewellery and artefacts from September 1, 2025, ensuring authenticity and purity for buyers.
Understanding the BIS Hallmark Scheme in India
The BIS Hallmarking Scheme is a quality certification system that verifies the purity of precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum jewellery. Under this scheme, jewellery is tested at BIS-recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres to ensure compliance with the prescribed standards. Once approved, the jewellery is stamped with a hallmark, which serves as proof of its fineness and authenticity.
From September 1, 2025, hallmarking will also become mandatory for silver jewellery and artefacts, extending the scheme’s coverage beyond gold and platinum. This step aimed at protecting buyers from adulteration, promoting transparency in the jewellery trade, and ensuring that all silver products meet the prescribed purity standards.
What is Hallmarking?
Hallmarking is an official process of certifying the purity and fineness of precious metals in articles, such as gold, silver, and platinum jewellery. It involves officially testing the metal content in an article and stamping it with specific symbols or marks, known as hallmarks, used as a guarantee of the authenticity of precious metals.
The hallmarking process, which BIS-recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres carry out, tests the jewellery for its proportionate precious metal content. Upon its verification, the article is envisaged with a hallmark that typically includes:
- BIS logo identifying the certifying authority
- Purity/ fitness grade, such as 999, 985, 925 for silver
- Assaying Centre’s mark, a symbol or code of the testing centre
- 6-digit alphanumeric HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification Number)
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BIS to Make Silver Jewellery Hallmarking Mandatory from September
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Highlights of BIS Hallmarking for Silver Jewellery
In a meeting of the gold jewellery association across India, the Deputy Director General for Foreign Certification Registration, Chitra Gupta, BIS, announced the hallmarking of silver jewellery from September 1, 2025. This move is considered a part of a broader initiative to ensure quality assurance and standardization in precious metal items.
As the new rule is set to take effect for silver jewellery and artefacts, the BIS is moving to resolve technical challenges in the HUID-based hallmarking of silver surfaces, which has been introduced from August 1, 2025. Have a look at the following key highlights of BIS hallmarking for silver jewellery, as discussed below:
1. Implementation Date
The Bureau of Indian Standards mandates hallmarking for silver jewellery and artefacts, which comes into effect from September 1, 2025.
2. Regulatory Authority
This scheme is regulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
3. Applicability
The new rule taking effect for silver jewellery and artefacts applies to all domestically manufactured and imported silver jewellery and artefacts in India.
4. HUID-Based Hallmarking
The HUID-Based Hallmarking enables hallmarking silver jewellery and artefacts with a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, transitioning the old system of four purity marks with a unique six-digit alphanumeric HUID code.
Read more: How to Obtain Jewellery Hallmark Logo?
Benefits of Hallmarking Silver Jewellery for Customers
The mandatory hallmarking of silver jewellery offers several advantages to customers, ensuring they get genuine and high-quality silver jewellery as discussed below:
Purity Grades for Silver Jewellery
As per the BIS standards, silver jewellery and artefacts are hallmarked according to specific purity grades. These grades help buyers make informed decisions and choose the right quality for their intended use, as outlined below:
| Type of Silver | Description | Common Usage | Purity Grades |
| Fine Silver | Pure silver, which is soft and prone to scratching, has a brilliant natural shine. | Coins, high-end jewellery, investment-grade bullion | 999 |
| High Purity Silver | Nearly pure silver with minimal impurities, offering high value and lustre. | Premium artefacts | 990 |
| Traditional Silverware | Silver with a slightly lower purity, making it more durable for everyday use. | Utensils | 970 |
| Sterling Silver | It is a combination of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper) with a balance of affordability, durability, and appearance. | Jewellery | 925 |
| Lower Grades | Contain less pure silver, making it more affordable but less valuable. | Decorative items, traditional pieces | 900, 835, 800 |
Why is BIS Making Silver Hallmarking Mandatory?
On the 78th BIS Foundation Day, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, urged the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to fast-track the process of making silver hallmarking mandatory. The following are the key reasons for making silver hallmarking mandatory:
- Ensures Consumer Protection
Mandatory silver hallmarking ensures the safeguard of consumers, preventing them from being cheated with substandard or adulterated products.
2. Uniform Quality Standards
Mandatory silver hallmarking helps maintain uniform quality and compliance standards legally prescribed to check the purity and fineness of silver jewellery and artefacts.
3. Market Transparency
Mandatory silver hallmarking promotes transparency in the jewellery market by offering by clearly certifying the purity and fineness of each item.
4. Regulation of the Jewellery Sector
Mandatory silver hallmarking by the BIS brings the jewellery sector under formal regulation, promoting ethical business practices and compliance with quality standards.
5. Alignment with International Standards
Mandatory silver hallmarking enhances the competitiveness of Indian silver jewellery in global markets by ensuring it meets internationally recognized purity standards.
6. Enhanced Confidence and Credibility
Mandatory securing of the BIS silver hallmark in India acts as an official guarantee of authenticity and fineness, enhancing customers’ confidence and credibility to invest in silver.
BIS hallmark registration is the need of the hour in the current scenario. Going ahead with the registration ensures building brand reputation and winning the trust of customers.
Read more: Requirements to Obtain Hallmark for Gold Necklace
Transition Period for Mandatory Hallmarking of Silver Jewellery
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) provided a transition period to ensure a smooth shift towards mandatory hallmarking of jewellery in India. During this time, they can adapt their production, testing, and Bis certification processes to meet the hallmarking requirements without disrupting business operations. However, BIS gave a transition timeline until August 31, 2025, to either sell existing unhallmarked stock or get it hallmarked.
Conclusion
The BIS decision to extend mandatory hallmarking of silver jewellery is a welcome step for both consumers and the jewellery industry. This move is expected to reduce instances of adulteration and sub-standardization of purity levels across the country. It further brings transparency, improves market credibility, and aligns India’s silver trade with global best practices, ultimately benefiting the entire value chain.
To get expert assistance in BIS Hallmark registration, visit https://corpbiz.io/.
Frequently Asked Questions about hallmarking for silver
Is BIS Hallmark mandatory?
Yes, according to the recent changes made by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), hallmarking of jewellery, such as gold, silver, and platinum, is now mandatory in India.
What is hallmarking?
Hallmarking is an official process of certifying the purity and fineness of precious metals in articles, such as gold, silver, and platinum jewellery. It ensures testing the metal content in an article and stamping it with specific symbols or marks, known as hallmarks, used as a guarantee of the authenticity of precious metals.
Is the government considering mandatory hallmarking for silver?
Yes, the government, after the meeting of the gold jewellery association held across India, is considering the mandatory hallmarking for silver to enhance consumer protection and authenticity standards.
What are the new silver hallmark rules?
The Bureau of Indian Standards has shifted the silver hallmarking to the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) system, starting from September 1, 2025, updating the old four-mark system till August 31, 2025.
When did BIS Hallmark start?
The BIS Hallmark was introduced in 2000 for gold jewellery and in 2005 for silver jewellery in India.
Can Jewellers sell without a Hallmark?
No, the jewellers in India cannot sell gold or silver jewellery without a hallmark after the implementation of the mandatory BIS hallmarking scheme.
What is the BIS certificate for silver?
The BIS certificate for silver is called the Hallmark certificate, which verifies the authenticity and purity of silver jewellery sold in India.
When Pralhad Joshi said BIS should consider mandatory hallmarking of silver?
On the 78th BIS Foundation Day (January 6, 2025), Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, urged that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) consider implementing the mandatory hallmarking for silver and silver artefacts, following the consumer demands.
Does all silver need to be stamped?
No, not all silver in India needs to be stamped.
Is HUID mandatory for every jewellery?
Yes, hallmarking with a six-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number is mandatory for all gold and silver jewellery and artefacts sold in India.
Can I hallmark my jewellery?
No, you cannot hallmark your jewellery. However, hallmarking is a process of verifying the purity and authenticity of precious metals in jewellery, done by an authorized and certified Assaying and Hallmarking (A&H) Centres.
What happens if jewellery is not hallmarked?
In case the jewellery is not hallmarked, its value and potential for resale or loan against can be highly impacted. It creates a benefit of doubt for buyers, offering lower prices for the same.
Read more: How to set up BIS Assaying and Hallmarking Centre?
