Summary of this article
Gold hallmarking charges increased 67 per cent, from Rs 45 to Rs 75.
Jewellers pay the revised fee, which may be passed on to customers.
Silver hallmarking charges are unchanged at Rs 35 per article.
Buying gold jewellery this Dhanteras could cost a little more, even before accounting for changes in gold prices. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has increased the charges for hallmarking gold articles by nearly 67 per cent, a revision that came into effect in September 2026.
The change comes at a time when many households are preparing for festive gold purchases. While the revised fee is payable by jewellers to recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs), the cost is added to the final jewellery bill.
Revised Gold Hallmarking Fees Come Into Effect
The revised charges were introduced through the BIS (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified ahead of the festive season. The new rates became effective on September 14, 2026.
Under the revised structure, jewellers now have to pay Rs 75 for hallmarking each gold article, compared with Rs 45 earlier. This represents an increase of Rs 30 per article, or approximately 67 per cent.
A minimum charge of Rs 200 per consignment also applies. This means jewellers will have to pay at least this amount when submitting jewellery for hallmarking, even if the calculation based on individual articles is lower.
BIS has also introduced a separate charge payable by AHCs for gold articles. This fee is Rs 7.50 per article, with a minimum payment of Rs 20 per consignment.
The hallmarking requirement covers seven categories of gold jewellery and artefacts: 9K, 14K, 18K, 20K, 22K, 23K and 24K. Mandatory hallmarking for gold jewellery came into effect in June 2021.
Silver Hallmarking Fees Unchanged
There has been no revision in the hallmarking fee for silver jewellery and articles. Jewellers have to pay Rs 35 per silver article, subject to a minimum charge of Rs 150 per consignment. Even though the charges are paid upfront by the jeweller, the customer ultimately has to bear the final cost.
The separate BIS fee payable by AHCs is Rs 3.50 per article, with a minimum of Rs 15 per consignment.
Hallmarking Charges Add To The Final Jewellery Bill
Hallmarking charges form part of the final amount payable by a jewellery buyer. However, this is only one component of the overall bill. Usual jewellery price calculation follows this formula:
Total bill = [(Net weight × Day's gold rate × Purity) + Making charges + Wastage] × 1.03 + Hallmarking fee
Net weight denotes only the yellow metal's weight after deducting the weight of stones or other materials. For 22K gold, the purity factor is 0.916, and for 18K gold, it is 0.75. Making charges cover the labour involved in creating the jewellery, while wastage accounts for gold lost during manufacturing. The factor of 1.03 accounts for 3 per cent GST.
BIS Hallmark Carries Three Identification Marks
A hallmark provides an independent check of the purity of gold or silver. Since July 1, 2021, the hallmark has included three details: the BIS logo, the purity mark showing caratage and fineness, and a six-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number. Buyers can check these details before completing a jewellery purchase.
