Update on Mandatory Hall Marking for Silver Jewellery

Ø  A Major Milestone in Purity Assurance and Curbing Fake Hallmarking

Implementation

·         Mandatory Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) for silver jewellery/artefacts introduced by BIS from 1 September 2025.

·         Within 3 months, over 17 lakh silver pieces hallmarked, showing strong uptake.

·         Purity grades 925 and 800 account for ~90% of hallmarked items.

Trends

·         Regional uptake: Southern region leads, followed by Western and Eastern.

·         Top product categories:

o    Payal/anklets (largest share, mostly 800 purity).

o    Silver diyas (800 & 925 purity).

o    Plates, idols, coins, waist chains, bracelets also widely hallmarked.

·         FY 2024–25: ~32 lakh silver articles hallmarked.

What is HUID?

·         A six-digit alphanumeric code laser-marked on each hallmarked silver item.

·         Appears alongside BIS Standard Mark, “SILVER,” and purity grade.

·         Provides digital traceability and prevents fake hallmarking.

·         Brings silver hallmarking on par with gold.

Verification

·         Consumers can verify authenticity via the BIS CARE mobile app (Android/iOS, 12 languages).

·         App shows: purity, jewellery type, jeweller details, hallmarking centre.

·         Ensures transparency and empowers informed purchases.

Broader Context

·         Silver hallmarking voluntary since 2005, now expanded to 7 purity grades (800–999).

·         Builds on success of gold hallmarking (mandatory since 2021, now in 373 districts).

·         Supported by 1610 BIS-recognized centres and 2.08 lakh registered jewellers.

·         Over 56 crore jewellery pieces hallmarked so far; 7.81 crore in 2025–26 alone.

Awareness Efforts

·         BIS running consumer outreach, jeweller interactions, and social media campaigns.

·         Aim: promote transparency, safeguard consumer interests, and strengthen trust in hallmarking.

Bottom Line: Mandatory HUID for silver jewellery is a major milestone in purity assurance, ensuring digital traceability, curbing fake hallmarking, and boosting consumer confidence, with rapid adoption across regions and product categories.

 

[ABS News Service/05.12.2025]

Within the first three months following implementation of mandatory HUID for silver, over 17 lakh pieces have been hallmarked, reflecting strong uptake among jewellers and consumers. While the Silver Hallmarking Scheme remains voluntary, HUID marking has been made mandatory for any silver article that is hallmarked.

Strong Uptake: Over 17 Lakh Articles Already Hallmarked with HUID

Since, the launch of the silver HUID portal, over 17 lakh silver jewellery items have already been hallmarked i.e. within 3 months. Purity grades 925 and 800 constitute nearly 90% of all hallmarked items. A significant acceleration has been observed following the introduction of HUID. In FY 2024–25, around 32 lakh silver articles were hallmarked. This surge reflects the strong confidence of consumers and jewellers in the HUID system.

Trends in silver hallmarking shows Southern Region of the country leading in volume of hallmarking followed by Western and Eastern region. Among product categories, payal / anklets constitute the largest share and are predominantly hallmarked in 800 purity grades. Silver diyas follows, generally in 800 and 925 purity.

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution tweeted and highlighted that - "HUID in silver jewellery hallmarking marks a significant step forward in strengthening purity assurance and eliminating fake hallmarking practices. With HUID mandatory on voluntarily (BIS) Hallmarked Silver articles, each piece carries a unique 6-digit identification code that enables complete digital traceability and enhanced consumer protection. With over 17.35 lakh articles already hallmarked under the HUID system, the initiative is driving greater transparency, accountability and confidence among consumers and stakeholders. #HallmarkHUID"

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has announced the introduction of Mandatory Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) for silver jewellery and artefacts with effect from 1 September 2025, marking a major step towards strengthening consumer protection, purity assurance, and preventing fake hallmarking.

What is HUID?

HUID is a six-digit alphanumeric code laser-marked on each hallmarked silver article, in addition to the BIS Standard Mark, the word SILVER, and the purity grade. This unique identifier provides complete digital traceability of every hallmarked silver item, bringing silver hallmarking on par with the existing HUID-based hallmarking system for gold.

Verification Made Simple Through BIS CARE App

Consumers can instantly verify the authenticity of hallmarked silver jewellery by entering the HUID on the BIS CARE mobile app (available on Android and iOS). The app displays key details such as:

·         Purity of the article

·         Type of jewellery (ring, anklet, chain, etc.)

·         Details of the jeweller who submitted the article for hallmarking

·         Details of the Assaying & Hallmarking Centre

This ensures transparency and empowers consumers to make informed purchases.
It is a user-friendly mobile app for Android and iOS, enhancing consumer access and engagement beyond its web portal. The app supports 12 languages (10 regional, Hindi, and English) and is free to download.

Coverage of Purity Grades

Silver jewellery hallmarking was first introduced on a voluntary basis in October 2005, and the revised Indian Standard now includes seven purity grades—800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990 and 999, with 958 and 999 added recently.

 

Top 7 categories of silver jewellery/artefacts hallmarked with HUID (on the basis of weight of the article) since the launch of Silver HUID

Sl No.

Article type

Weight of articles hallmarked

% share weight wise

Fineness

Category

Comments

1

Silver payal/anklet

1,54,96,588.36

27%

90%-(800ppt)

Jewellery

90% of the hallmarked silver payals/anklet are of 800 ppt fineness.

2

Silver diya/lamp

42,29,431

7%

99%
(800ppt and 925ppt)

Artefact

99% of the hallmarked silver diya/lamps are of 800 ppt and 925 fineness.

3

Silver plate

38,40,202

7%

80% -(925ppt and 800ppt)

Artefact

80% of the hallmarked silver plates are of 800 ppt and 925 fineness.

4

Silver idol

23,73,278

4%

925ppt

Artefact

Almost all the hallmarked silver idols are of 925 ppt fineness.

5

Silver coin

22,44,076

4%

99%-(990 ppt)

Artefact

99% of the hallmarked silver coins are of 990 ppt fineness.

6

Waist Chain

11,48,283

2%

91%-(800 ppt)

Jewellery

91% of the hallmarked silver waist chains are of 800 ppt fineness.

7

Bracelet

9,83,507

1.7%

85%-(925ppt)

Jewellery

85% of the hallmarked silver bracelets are of 925 ppt fineness.

BIS Continues Nationwide Awareness Campaigns

To ensure widespread awareness and smooth implementation of HUID-based hallmarking, BIS is undertaking:

·         Consumer outreach and awareness programmes

·         Interactions with jewellers across all Branch Offices

·         Targeted social media campaigns

These efforts aim to promote transparency, safeguard consumer interests, and further enhance trust in hallmarked silver jewellery.

Background

The introduction of HUID in precious metals namely Gold & Silver provides digital traceability helps curb unfair trade practices ensuring that BIS mark on each jewellery / artefact stands for guaranteed purity to consumers.

Precious metals such as Gold and silver hold a special significance in India as assets associated with cultural traditions, social practices and financial security. Ensuring the purity of these precious metals is therefore essential for protecting consumer interests and promoting trust in the jewellery trade. Hallmarking plays a crucial role in this regard by certifying the purity and fineness of precious metal articles, safeguarding consumers from adulteration and supporting transparent fair market practices.

Mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts has been implemented in a phased manner beginning 23 June 2021, which initially covered 256 districts and over a short span of 5 years, it has been made mandatory in 373 districts currently, as depicted below: -

https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/image/image002YIBU.png

This system is supported by 1610 BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) and more than 2.08 lakh registered gold jewellers. Over 56 crore jewellery pieces have been hallmarked so far, with 7.81 crore pieces hallmarked in 2025-26 alone. The hallmarking workflow i.e. from inward receipt and weighment to XRF testing, sampling, fire assay and laser marking has been fully digitized, with each article assigned a unique six-digit HUID.

Building upon the strong foundation created by the HUID system for gold, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced Mandatory Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) for hallmarked silver jewellery with effect from 1 September 2025, marking a major step towards strengthening consumer protection and curbing fake hallmarking practices.