Fake gold hallmark stamps may rise; GJC flags fraud risk for buyers
Consumers bear the hallmarking cost when purchasing jewellery. However, many buyers are still unaware that they can verify the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number through the Bureau of Indian Standards' Care mobile application. Data from the government cited by the GJC shows that the number of recognised assaying and hallmarking centres (AHCs) rose to 1,577 in July 2026 from 1,220 in…
Gold hallmarking, a certification of gold purity, has become more expensive. This price hike has led to concerns about an increase in fraud involving fake hallmark stamps. The All-India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) warns that the higher costs could encourage dishonest jewelers to use counterfeit hallmarking stamps, particularly in smaller cities where consumers are less informed.
Rajesh Rokde, GJC chairman, states that awareness of the Bureau of Indian Standards' (BIS) app for verifying Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) numbers is limited to just 10% of India's districts. The GJC has urged the government and BIS to restore the previous hallmarking fee of Rs 45 per article, citing a 66.67% increase that has burdened the compliance system.
The GJC also questions whether the higher fee has led to better consumer protection, pointing out that the number of recognized assaying and hallmarking centers has increased while the number of hallmarked gold articles has surpassed 650 million. The council estimates the financial burden on the industry to be around Rs 400 crore due to the revised fee, along with approximately Rs 80 crore in GST.
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