BIS TO MAKE HALLMARKING MANDATORY FOR SILVER JEWELLERY FROM SEPTEMBER

INTRODUCTION

The Government of India is taking a significant step forward in ensuring quality assurance in the precious metals sector. Following the success of mandatory hallmarking in gold, a new revolution came with the BIS notification on silver hallmarking. It mandates hallmarking for silver jewellery and will be implemented from September 1, 2025.

This decision, as part of the broader movement to standardize and regulate the jewellery industry, is expected to bring transparency, improve customer confidence, and align India’s silver trade with international standards.

BIS HALLMARKING FOR GOLD AS A PRECEDENT

India has already seen the positive impact of hallmarking in the gold sector. Since June 2021, gold jewellery and artefacts have been certified using a unique six-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code under the BIS hallmarking system. This initiative boosted consumer trust, with over 44.28 crore gold items hallmarked and more than 400,000 pieces being hallmarked daily across the country.

The move to extend this system to silver is a natural progression and comes in response to growing consumer demand for better quality assurance in the silver jewellery segment.

BIS NOTIFICATION ON SILVER HALLMARKING

The announcement for mandatory hallmarking of silver process was made during the 78th Foundation Day of the BIS on January 6, 2025, where Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, urged BIS to explore the feasibility of extending the hallmarking framework to silver. Read the press release here: Press Release: Press Information Bureau

As a result, the BIS notification on silver hallmarking outlines that all silver jewellery and artefacts, whether domestically produced or imported, will need to be hallmarked from September 1, 2025. This will be regulated under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.

WHAT IS SILVER HALLMARK 925 INDIA?

One of the most commonly known standards in silver jewellery is the silver hallmark 925 India, which refers to Sterling Silver. This grade includes 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloyusually copperto provide strength and durability.

Sterling silver is a global standard and widely used for jewellery due to its balance of affordability, aesthetics, and durability. The hallmarking process will help certify such jewellery pieces, offering buyers clear verification of purity.

PURITY GRADES IN SILVER JEWELLERY CERTIFICATION IN INDIA

As part of the upcoming regulation, silver jewellery certification in India will follow specific purity grades, including:

• 999 (Fine Silver) – Used in high-value bullion, coins, and investment-grade pieces.
• 990 (High Purity Silver) – Suitable for premium artefacts.
• 970 (Traditional Silverware) – Ideal for utensils and ceremonial items.
• 925 (Sterling Silver) – Common in everyday and fashion jewellery.
• 900, 835, 800 (Lower Grades) – Used in decorative and traditional items.

These grades will be used in the silver hallmarking process to provide customers with transparent and reliable information on the silver content in their purchases.

INTRODUCTION OF HUID-BASED SILVER HALLMARKING

In line with gold hallmarking, silver items will now be hallmarked using the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) system. Starting August 1, 2025, the process will include affixing a six-digit alphanumeric code on each item, representing its certification details.

This HUID-based system replaces the older format of using only four standard marks and ensures better traceability, accountability, and fraud prevention.

According to BIS Director General Pramod Kumar Tiwari, stakeholder consultations have already been conducted and have shown broad support for implementing the HUID system in silver as well.

SILVER HALLMARKING PROCESS

The silver hallmarking process includes several essential steps:

1. Registration with BIS– Jewellers must register with BIS to become licensed to sell hallmarked silver products.
2. Purity Testing– Silver items are sent to BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) for testing.
3. Issuance of Hallmark– Upon verification, the item receives the HUID mark, which includes:
   • BIS Standard Mark
   • Purity grade (e.g., 925)
   • Assaying centre ID
   • Jeweller’s identification
   • HUID number
4. Sale and Verification – Customers can use the BIS CARE mobile app to verify the hallmark and raise any concerns or complaints if necessary. Visit: BIS Care App | Bureau of Indian Standards

This streamlined and standardised approach aims to bring uniformity and credibility to silver jewellery in the Indian market.

Businesses can work with experienced compliance partners like TMWala to streamline their registration, testing coordination, and reporting processes, helping ensure a smooth transition under the new rules.

SILVER JEWELLERY BUYERS HALLMARKING RULES

As the regulation becomes mandatory, the silver jewellery buyers’ hallmarking rules will require all customers to ensure that the silver items they purchase are hallmarked. Retailers will no longer be allowed to sell silver jewelry or artefacts which is not hallmarked after August 31, 2025.

This transition period allows jewellers to adapt their production and certification processes while clearing or hallmarking their existing unlabelled inventory.

Buyers are strongly encouraged to check for the HUID code, validate it through the BIS app, and only trust BIS-registered jewellers.

INDUSTRY IMPLICATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SCALE-UP

With the shift to mandatory silver hallmarking, jewellers across India must prepare for operational adjustments. These include:

• Registering with BIS
• Training staff
• Setting up logistical coordination with AHCs

The earlier rollout of gold hallmarking resulted in the number of registered jewellers growing from 34,647 in 2021 to 194,039 by the end of 2024. Read: Press Release: Press Information Bureau

Similarly, Assaying and Hallmarking Centres increased from 945 to 1,622 during the same period. A similar expansion is expected to accommodate the silver jewellery certification India requires under the new rules.

STRENGTHENING CONSUMER TRUST AND MARKET INTEGRITY

The hallmarking initiative aligns with the government’s vision of promoting transparency and accountability in the jewellery market. The hallmark not only certifies the purity of silver but also provides traceability that empowers consumers.

As Minister Prahlad Joshi emphasized, the aim is to safeguard consumers from substandard and adulterated products, while also supporting ethical business practices within the jewellery sector.

The move also positions Indian silver jewellery more competitively in international markets, where hallmarking is often a prerequisite for trade.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of BIS hallmarking for silver jewellery from September 1, 2025, represents a transformative moment for the Indian jewellery industry. It sets in motion a new era of transparency, standardization, and trust.

With clear guidelines under the BIS notification on silver hallmarking, jewellers and manufacturers must take proactive steps to register and align with the updated standards. For consumers, this provides a strong assurance of quality, backed by the credibility of a government-mandated certification system.

Whether you’re a manufacturer, retailer, or customer, understanding the silver hallmarking process and adhering to the upcoming regulations is key to participating in a market that values authenticity and integrity.

As silver hallmark 925 India becomes a recognized and trusted label, it will not only serve as a guarantee of purity but also signal India’s commitment to global best practices in the jewellery industry.

Partnering with a reliable service provider like TMWala can significantly ease the journey for jewellers and help them remain fully compliant with new regulations.