New Delhi, September 23, 2026: Buying gold jewellery could become a little more expensive for some consumers after the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) increased the mandatory hallmarking fee for gold articles from ₹45 to ₹75 per article. The revised charge, effective from September 14, comes just ahead of the festive and wedding-buying season when demand for gold jewellery typically increases.
The change represents a 66.7% increase in the prescribed hallmarking fee. However, the revision does not mean that the retail price of gold jewellery will automatically rise by 67%. The charge is paid by jewellers to recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs), and the extent to which any additional cost is reflected in customer bills will depend on individual pricing practices.
What Has Changed in Gold Hallmarking
Under the revised BIS regulations, jewellers are required to pay ₹75 for every gold article submitted for hallmarking. A minimum charge of ₹200 applies to a consignment.
The fee is calculated on a per-article basis rather than according to the weight of the jewellery. As a result, a lightweight gold ring and a considerably heavier jewellery item can attract the same prescribed hallmarking charge if each is treated as a separate article.
For silver, the hallmarking fee remains unchanged at ₹35 per article, subject to a minimum consignment charge of ₹150.
Will Gold Jewellery Become More Expensive?
The key question for consumers is whether the revised hallmarking fee will directly increase the price of jewellery.
The BIS notification changes the fee payable within the hallmarking system; it does not establish a separate ₹75 charge that every jewellery customer must automatically pay. However, jewellers may consider their increased compliance expenses while determining the final price of jewellery.
The overall price of a gold ornament depends on several components, including the prevailing gold price, weight, making charges, wastage, taxes and other applicable costs. Therefore, a 66.7% increase in the hallmarking fee does not translate into a 66.7% increase in the final jewellery price.
Jewellery Industry Seeks Review
The fee increase has also prompted concerns from sections of the jewellery industry. The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) has called for a review of the revised charge.
The industry body has particularly pointed to the impact of a fixed per-article fee on lightweight jewellery. Since the same charge applies irrespective of weight, the additional compliance cost can represent a larger proportion of the value of smaller and lighter ornaments.
The GJC has said that it supports hallmarking as a mechanism for assuring purity but wants the revised fee structure to be examined in consultation with stakeholders.
Why Hallmarking Matters to Consumers
Hallmarking remains an important part of India's system for verifying the purity of precious-metal jewellery. A hallmarked gold article carries the BIS logo, fineness or caratage information and a six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number.
Consumers can use the HUID to verify details through the BIS Care App. BIS also advises buyers to obtain a proper invoice containing relevant information about the jewellery, including its description, weight and purity.
What Gold Buyers Should Check
With the festive season approaching, consumers purchasing gold jewellery should check the hallmark and verify the HUID before completing a purchase. Buyers should also carefully review the invoice and ensure that gold value, making charges, taxes and other applicable components are clearly mentioned.
The revised hallmarking fee is an important change for jewellers, but its impact on customers will ultimately depend on how businesses account for the additional compliance cost. For now, the ₹75 per-article BIS hallmarking fee is the new prescribed charge for gold articles from September 14, 2026.
