Gold Hallmarking Fee Hiked to ₹75 from ₹45: What Jewellery Buyers Need to Know

The revised BIS hallmarking fee came into effect on September 14, 2026, ahead of the festive season. However, the ₹30 increase does not automatically mean consumers will pay more for every gold jewellery article.

Gold jewellery buyers may see changes in pricing following the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) decision to increase the hallmarking fee for gold articles from ₹45 to ₹75 per article. The fee for silver articles remains unchanged at ₹35.

The revised rates came into effect on September 14, 2026, under the Bureau of Indian Standards (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified in the Official Gazette. The amendment replaces Schedule IV of the BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018.

The increase comes ahead of India`s festive and wedding-buying season, when demand for gold jewellery typically attracts considerable attention. However, consumers should understand that the revised fee is payable by jewellers to recognised hallmarking centres and is not a mandatory additional charge of ₹30 for every customer.

Gold Hallmarking Fee Increases by 67%

Under the amended regulations, jewellers submitting gold jewellery and other gold articles to recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) will pay ₹75 per article, compared with the earlier fee of ₹45.

This represents an increase of ₹30 per article, or approximately 67%. The minimum fee per consignment remains unchanged at ₹200.

For silver articles, the hallmarking fee continues to be ₹35 per article, with a minimum consignment charge of ₹150.

The amendment also specifies the charges payable by AHCs to BIS. For gold, the amount is ₹7.50 per article, subject to a minimum of ₹20 per consignment. For silver, the corresponding fee is ₹3.50 per article, with a minimum of ₹15 per consignment. Applicable taxes are charged separately.

Will Gold Jewellery Prices Increase for Buyers?

The increase in hallmarking fees does not necessarily mean that consumers will have to pay an additional ₹30 for every gold jewellery item they purchase.

The revised ₹75 fee is payable by jewellers to recognised hallmarking centres for the hallmarking service. The notification does not require jewellers to collect a separate ₹75 hallmarking charge from customers.

Jewellers may absorb the additional cost or incorporate it into their overall pricing. The actual impact on consumers will depend on individual pricing practices.

Gold jewellery prices already include several components, such as the prevailing gold rate, making charges and applicable taxes. Therefore, buyers should check the final bill rather than assume that the entire increase will be passed on to them.

The minimum consignment fee is another important consideration. For example, a jeweller submitting just one gold article would be subject to the minimum ₹200 consignment fee rather than paying only ₹75.

Why Is Gold Hallmarking Important?

Hallmarking helps protect consumers by provividing independent assurance of the purity of precious-metal jewellery. According to BIS, hallmarked jewellery offers third-party assurance that the buyer receives the stated purity of gold or silver for the price paid.

When purchasing gold jewellery, consumers should check for the prescribed BIS hallmark markings, including the BIS standard mark, the purity or fineness designation and the six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number.

BIS permits hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts in six grades: 14K (585), 18K (750), 20K (833), 22K (916), 23K (958) and 24KS (995).

How Can Buyers Verify Gold Hallmark Details?

The six-digit HUID number helps consumers verify the hallmarking information associated with a jewellery article. Buyers can check these details instead of relying solely on a jeweller`s verbal assurance of purity.

With the revised hallmarking fee now in effect, consumers planning festive-season gold purchases should focus on checking the jewellery`s purity, verifying its HUID details and reviewing the final bill.

While the higher fee increases the cost paid by jewellers for hallmarking gold articles, its direct impact on retail prices will depend on how businesses manage and pass on the additional expense.