BIS Hallmarking: 65 Crore Gold Articles Carry HUID Code
More than 65 crore gold articles carried a HUID number as of 15 October 2026, while BIS-registered jewellers rose from 43,153 to 2,36,624 since 2021.
Why in News
An official account of the Bureau of Indian Standards hallmarking scheme, released on 5 November 2026, reported that over 65 crore gold articles had been given HUID numbers as of 15 October 2026.
The Bureau of Indian Standards runs the hallmarking system that certifies how pure a piece of gold or silver jewellery really is. A fresh account of the scheme shows how far the mark has spread. Since gold hallmarking was made compulsory in 2021, more than 65 crore gold articles had been stamped with a Hallmark Unique Identification number as of 15 October 2026.
From voluntary mark to a national rule
BIS began the scheme for gold as a voluntary one in 2000 and extended it to silver in 2005, acting as the sole agency for it. Gold hallmarking turned mandatory on 23 June 2021, first in 256 districts; as more testing centres opened, the rule now applies in 392 districts. Silver hallmarking is still voluntary, but any silver article hallmarked under the scheme has had to carry a HUID code since 1 September 2025, and over 90 lakh silver items now bear one.
The three marks and the grades
A buyer should look for three things: the BIS standard mark, the purity or fineness mark, and the six-digit alphanumeric HUID. Under IS 1417, gold is hallmarked in seven caratages, written as fineness in parts per thousand: 9K (375), 14K (585), 18K (750), 20K (833), 22K (916), 23K (958) and 24KS (995). The revised IS 2112:2025 allows eight grades for silver, from 800 up to 999. On silver the standard mark also carries the word SILVER.
How the chain is tracked
| Indicator | At the start | Now |
| Registered jewellers | 43,153 | 2,36,624 |
| Assaying and Hallmarking Centres | 948 | 1,565 |
Jewellers register free for life on the National Single Window System portal, and approval is instant. Weighing balances, X-ray fluorescence machines and laser markers feed data straight into central software; the fluorescence machines were linked through an interface from 1 September 2024 to cut out manual entry. Photographs of each article and its automatically recorded weight have been uploaded since 8 June 2026, and a Transfer HUID facility began on 1 June 2026 for gold moving between jewellers. Shoppers can check any code on the free BIS CARE App, offered in 12 languages. BIS also raids and samples: more than 30 enforcement actions were taken in 2025-26, and 1,582 consumer awareness programmes were held between 1 April and 31 October 2026.
Important Facts
| Agency | Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the sole hallmarking agency in India |
|---|---|
| Gold articles hallmarked | Over 65 crore with HUID, as of 15 October 2026 |
| Mandatory from | 23 June 2021, in 256 districts |
| Coverage now | 392 districts |
| Registered jewellers | Up from 43,153 to 2,36,624 |
| Hallmarking centres | Up from 948 to 1,565 |
| HUID | A six-digit alphanumeric code on each article |
| Gold standard | IS 1417, with seven caratages from 9K (375) to 24KS (995) |
| Silver standard | IS 2112:2025, with eight grades of fineness up to 999 |
| Silver HUID compulsory | From 1 September 2025; over 90 lakh articles marked |
| Consumer app | BIS CARE App, free, in 12 languages |
Exam Point of View
Remember that BIS is the sole hallmarking agency, that the gold scheme began voluntarily in 2000 and silver in 2005, that gold hallmarking became mandatory on 23 June 2021 in 256 districts and now covers 392, the six-digit HUID, the seven gold caratages of IS 1417 with 22K at 916, the eight silver grades of IS 2112:2025, the silver HUID rule of 1 September 2025, and the BIS CARE App in 12 languages.
Practice Questions
From which date did hallmarking of gold jewellery become mandatory in India?
- A.1 April 2000
- B.23 June 2021
- C.1 September 2025
- D.8 June 2026
Show answer
On that date gold hallmarking stopped being optional and became compulsory, at first in 256 districts; as more assaying and hallmarking centres came up, the requirement now extends to 392 districts.
Read the full explanation →How many digits does the Hallmark Unique Identification code on a piece of jewellery have?
- A.Four
- B.Six
- C.Eight
- D.Twelve
Show answer
The Hallmark Unique Identification, or HUID, is a six-digit alphanumeric code generated by the Bureau of Indian Standards server for each article once it has been tested at a recognised assaying and hallmarking centre.
Read the full explanation →Under which Indian Standard is gold jewellery hallmarked in seven caratages?
- A.IS 2112:2025
- B.IS 1417
- C.IS 916
- D.IS 995
Show answer
This standard sets out the caratages in which gold jewellery may be hallmarked, with fineness expressed in parts per thousand: 9K at 375, 14K at 585, 18K at 750, 20K at 833, 22K at 916, 23K at 958 and 24KS at 995, which is seven grades in all.
Read the full explanation →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a HUID number on jewellery?
HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification. It is a six-digit alphanumeric code stamped on every hallmarked article, which makes the piece traceable. A buyer can enter it in the BIS CARE App to see the purity, product type, jeweller and the centre that tested it.
Is silver hallmarking compulsory in India?
No. Silver hallmarking remains voluntary. But any silver article hallmarked under the BIS scheme must carry a HUID code, a rule in force since 1 September 2025. More than 90 lakh silver articles have been marked this way, under eight grades of fineness up to 999.
How many caratages of gold can be hallmarked?
Seven, under IS 1417, with the fineness given in parts per thousand: 9K (375), 14K (585), 18K (750), 20K (833), 22K (916), 23K (958) and 24KS (995). A mark such as 22K916 tells the buyer the purity of the article.
Where do jewellers register for hallmarking?
On the National Single Window System portal, which can also be reached through the BIS portal. Registration is granted instantly, costs nothing and is valid for a lifetime. Jewellers then send articles to a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre for testing.
Sources
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2332987 (opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau
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