Quick answerUnder the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 and the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, hallmarking with a six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) is compulsory for gold jewellery sold in the districts notified by the government. A jeweller selling in those districts must register with BIS through the Manak Online portal. The registration is granted once and does not need renewal. Jewellers with annual turnover up to ₹40 lakh are exempt from compulsory registration.
- Law
- BIS Act 2016 and Hallmarking Order
- Authority
- Bureau of Indian Standards
- Validity
- Lifetime, no renewal
- Exemption
- Turnover up to ₹40 lakh
Who must register with BIS
Compulsory hallmarking began on 23 June 2021 in 256 districts, each of which has at least one Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC). The government has since added more districts in phases, and the list keeps growing as new AHCs open. If your shop or showroom is in a notified district and you sell gold jewellery or gold artefacts, you need BIS registration before you can send articles for hallmarking.
The obligation falls on the seller, so it covers retail showrooms, wholesalers who sell to retailers, and manufacturers who sell directly. Registration is also open to jewellers in non-notified districts who want to sell hallmarked jewellery voluntarily, which many do because customers now ask for the HUID.
The main exemptions are:
- Jewellers with annual turnover up to ₹40 lakh.
- Articles weighing less than 2 grams.
- Kundan, polki and jadau jewellery, gold watches and fountain pens.
- Jewellery meant for export and re-import, and articles for international exhibitions or government-approved trade exhibitions.
An exemption is not a licence to mislabel. If an exempt jeweller states a purity on the bill, the gold must match it, and the buyer can still complain under consumer law.
What a valid hallmark looks like
Since 1 April 2023, only jewellery carrying the six-digit alphanumeric HUID can be sold as hallmarked in the notified districts. Older four-mark hallmarks (with the jeweller's mark and year) are no longer valid for sale and the stock must be re-hallmarked. A valid hallmark has three components:
- The BIS standard mark (the triangle logo).
- The purity grade in carats and fineness, for example 22K916.
- The HUID, a unique code given to each article and laser-marked by the AHC.
| Grade | Fineness marked | Gold content |
|---|
| 14 carat | 14K585 | 58.5% |
| 18 carat | 18K750 | 75.0% |
| 20 carat | 20K833 | 83.3% |
| 22 carat | 22K916 | 91.6% |
| 23 carat | 23K958 | 95.8% |
| 24 carat | 24K995 | 99.5% |
Any customer can check an HUID on the BIS CARE app, which shows the purity, the article type, the AHC that tested it and the registered jeweller. This makes the jeweller's registration details visible to every buyer, so they must be correct.
How BIS registration works
The application is made online on the BIS Manak Online portal. The steps are:
- Account creation: the jeweller registers on the portal using the GSTIN, PAN, mobile number and email of the business.
- Application: details of the firm, the proprietor, partners or directors, and each sales outlet are entered, and the supporting documents uploaded.
- Declaration: the jeweller declares that it will follow the Hallmarking Regulations, sell only hallmarked articles of the declared purity and display the required information in the showroom.
- Fee and grant: the applicable fee, if any, is paid online and BIS grants the registration, usually without a physical inspection where the documents are in order.
The registration is one-time and valid for life. There is no renewal, but you must update BIS when the firm's constitution, address or outlets change, and surrender the registration if you close the business. If you also run an outlet in a different state with a separate GSTIN, check whether it needs its own registration.
Hallmarking in daily practice
Registration is the start. To stay compliant, a registered jeweller should:
- Send each gold article to a BIS-recognised AHC before sale. The AHC tests a sample, laser-marks the hallmark and HUID, and uploads the data to the BIS system, which links the HUID to your registration.
- Issue a bill for every hallmarked sale showing the description, net weight of gold, purity in carat and fineness, and the hallmarking charges separately.
- Display the BIS registration certificate, a notice on how customers can verify HUIDs, and the hallmarking charges at the counter.
- Keep stock records that match articles to HUIDs, because BIS officers can inspect showrooms and draw samples for testing.
- Avoid selling articles with an HUID issued to another jeweller unless the transfer is recorded as the rules require.
Silver hallmarking with an HUID is currently voluntary. Many jewellers adopt it to match customer expectations, and the same registration covers it once BIS permits it for your outlet.
Penalties and the buyer's rights
Selling unhallmarked gold jewellery in a notified district, using the BIS mark without a valid registration, or selling articles below the purity stamped on them are offences under the BIS Act. The Act provides for fines that are linked to the value of the goods and, for serious or repeated contraventions, imprisonment. BIS can also seize stock and cancel a registration.
A customer who buys hallmarked jewellery that tests below the marked purity is entitled to compensation under the Hallmarking Regulations, calculated as twice the difference in value for the shortfall, plus testing charges. Complaints can also go to a consumer commission. For a jeweller, one bad batch from a supplier can lead to a claim, so buy from suppliers who give hallmarked stock and test what you buy.
The cost of compliance has three parts: the BIS registration charge (which BIS revises from time to time, so we confirm it on the day of filing), the per-article hallmarking charge paid to the AHC, and our professional fee for the application. We quote the professional fee in writing before we start.
A jewellery business usually also needs GST registration (gold attracts GST and the BIS application uses your GSTIN), a municipal trade licence for the showroom, and often Udyam registration to access MSME credit schemes. We can file these together so that the details match across every certificate.
Documents you need
For a proprietorship, partnership, LLP or company selling jewellery, we usually need:
- GST registration certificate and PAN of the business
- Aadhaar and PAN of the proprietor, partners or directors
- Partnership deed, LLP agreement or certificate of incorporation, as applicable
- Address proof of each sales outlet: rent agreement or ownership document and a utility bill
- Trade licence or shop registration for the premises, where available
- Mobile number and email for the Manak Online account
- Turnover figures for the last financial year, to check the ₹40 lakh exemption
How we handle it for you
Check coverage
We confirm whether your district is notified and whether any exemption applies.
Collect documents
We prepare a checklist for the firm and each outlet and verify the GSTIN and address details.
File on Manak Online
We create the account, complete the application and declarations, and pay the fee.
Follow up with BIS
We respond to any query until the registration is granted.
Set up compliance
We share a billing format, display notices and an AHC workflow so your staff stay compliant.
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Please note: this page explains the law and procedure in general terms as on 30 October 2026. Fees, limits and timelines change, and the facts of each case matter, so take advice on your own papers before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is hallmarking compulsory for all jewellers in India?
It is compulsory for gold jewellery and artefacts sold in the districts notified under the Hallmarking Order. Jewellers with turnover up to ₹40 lakh and certain articles, such as those under 2 grams, are exempt.
Does BIS hallmark registration need renewal?
No. The registration is granted once and remains valid for life, but changes in the firm or its outlets must be updated with BIS.
What is HUID in hallmarking?
HUID is a six-digit alphanumeric code given to each hallmarked article. It links the piece to the AHC that tested it and the jeweller who sold it, and buyers can check it on the BIS CARE app.
Can I sell old jewellery with the four-mark hallmark?
Not as hallmarked jewellery in notified districts. Since 1 April 2023 such stock must be re-hallmarked with a six-digit HUID before sale.
Do I need hallmarking if I only buy old gold from customers?
No. Hallmarking applies to the sale of jewellery by a jeweller. Customers can sell or exchange their old unhallmarked jewellery.
Is silver hallmarking compulsory?
Silver hallmarking with HUID is voluntary at present. Jewellers can choose to get silver articles hallmarked.
How long does BIS registration take?
Where the documents are complete, BIS usually grants registration online within a few days to a few weeks.
What happens if hallmarked jewellery is found to be of lower purity?
The buyer can claim compensation of twice the difference in value for the shortfall plus testing charges, and BIS can act against the jeweller and the AHC.
