Gold Jewellery May Get Costlier? New BIS Hallmarking Fee Explained for Buyers

Gold jewellery buyers in India are heading into the festive and wedding season with a new cost change to keep in mind. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has increased the hallmarking fee charged on gold articles from ₹45 to ₹75 per article, while the fee for silver articles remains unchanged at ₹35.

The revised charges took effect from September 14, 2026, following the BIS (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations, 2026.

But does this mean gold jewellery prices will suddenly rise by ₹30 per item for customers?

Not necessarily. The actual impact on a jewellery bill depends on how jewellers account for the higher compliance cost.

What exactly has changed?

Under the revised structure:

Jewellery	Earlier fee	New fee	Minimum consignment charge
Gold	₹45/article	₹75/article	₹200
Silver	₹35/article	₹35/article	₹150

The gold hallmarking fee has therefore increased by ₹30 per article, or about 66.7%.

The fee is calculated per article rather than according to the weight of the jewellery. That distinction is particularly important for lightweight ornaments.

Why is hallmarking important?

Hallmarking is essentially a purity verification system.

A hallmarked gold jewellery article carries three important identifiers:

• BIS logo
• Purity/fineness marking
• Six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number

The HUID is unique to the individual article and can be checked through the BIS CARE app.

For consumers, the system provides a way to verify whether the jewellery matches the stated purity.

Will customers have to pay an extra ₹30 for every ornament?

This is where the headline needs some context.

The revised ₹75 is the hallmarking fee payable by jewellers to recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres. It does not automatically mean that every customer will see a separate ₹75 hallmarking charge—or exactly ₹30 more—on the final bill.

Jewellery prices contain several components, including the value of gold, making charges, wastage where applicable, taxes and other costs.

BIS itself notes that hallmarking charges are separate from making and wastage charges.

Therefore, the new fee represents an additional compliance cost for jewellers, with the eventual impact on retail pricing depending on how businesses absorb or pass through that cost.

Lightweight jewellery could feel the impact differently

Because the charge is calculated per piece rather than by weight, the increase can have a larger proportional significance for lightweight jewellery.

For example, a ₹75 hallmarking fee represents a much smaller percentage of the value of a heavy gold necklace than it does for a small, lightweight ornament.

The Gem & Jewellery Council has raised concerns about this structure, particularly its impact on lightweight and lower-value jewellery, and has sought a review of the higher fee.

What about silver jewellery?

There is no increase in the silver hallmarking fee under the revised structure.

The charge remains ₹35 per silver article, with a minimum consignment charge of ₹150.

So the latest change specifically puts the spotlight on gold jewellery.

What should gold buyers check before purchasing?

The fee change is also a reminder that buyers should pay attention to the details on their jewellery bill.

BIS advises consumers to obtain an authentic invoice containing relevant details such as:

• Description of the jewellery
• Net precious-metal weight
• Purity and fineness
• Hallmarking charges

Buyers should also check the hallmark and HUID details on the article.

The HUID can be verified through the BIS CARE app, giving consumers another way to check the authenticity of hallmarked jewellery.

The bigger picture for India's jewellery market

The fee increase comes just before India's important festive and wedding buying period, when jewellery demand traditionally becomes a major focus for retailers.

For jewellers, the immediate issue is higher per-piece compliance costs. For consumers, the more important question is whether those additional costs eventually appear in retail pricing.

The answer may differ between retailers and jewellery categories.

The key point is that the BIS fee increase does not automatically translate into a ₹30 increase in the price of every gold jewellery item.

Instead, it adds to the cost structure of the jewellery business, while the final customer impact will depend on pricing decisions by individual jewellers.

Bottom Line

India's gold hallmarking fee has increased from ₹45 to ₹75 per article, effective September 14, 2026. Silver hallmarking remains at ₹35.

For gold buyers, the change is worth knowing about before the festive shopping season, but it should not be interpreted as an automatic ₹30 increase in the price of every jewellery item.

For consumers, checking the BIS hallmark, purity marking, HUID and detailed invoice remains more important than focusing only on the revised hallmarking fee.

Disclaimer: Jewellery prices vary between retailers and depend on gold rates, purity, making charges, taxes and other components. The hallmarking fee change alone does not determine the final retail price.