Question : Hallmarking of Jewellery

(a) whether it is a fact that the Government is planning to make hallmarking mandatory for gold jewellery sold in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the likely date of implementation of the same;
(b) the number of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)–recognised assaying and hallmarking centres presently in the country, State and UT-wise; and
(c) whether the Government is working on increasing the number of BIS– recognised assaying and hallmarking centres in the country, if so, the number of centres which are going to be opened in Rajasthan?

THE MINISTER OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*2 FOR 11.12.2018 REGARDING HALLMARKING OF JEWELLERY.
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(a) : The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act 2016 was notified on 22nd March, 2016 and it came into force w.e.f. 12th October, 2017. BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018 framed under the BIS Act, 2016 have been notified vide official gazette dated 14th June, 2018. Gold and Silver jewellery and artefacts have been notified as the precious metal articles to be marked with ‘Hallmark’ under the BIS Act.

The BIS Act, 2016 has enabling provisions for making hallmarking of precious metal articles mandatory by the Central Government. However, Central Government is yet to take a decision in the matter.

(b) : The State and UT-wise number of BIS-recognized Assaying and Hallmarking centres is at Annexure.

(c) : The setting up of an Assaying and Hallmarking centre is a market driven activity where decision to open an Assaying and Hallmarking centre is taken by the private entrepreneur depending upon the commercial viability as assessed by the entrepreneur at that location.

BIS is also implementing a scheme namely Setting up of Gold Hallmarking/Assaying Centres in India with central assistance for places where no such centre is available. The main purpose of this scheme is to create infrastructure facilities in terms of Assaying and Hallmarking centres and Capacity building by Training of artisans, Training of Trainers (BIS auditors) and Training of personnel of Assaying and Hallmarking centres.

At present, 37 Assaying and Hallmarking centres have been recognized by BIS in the State of Rajasthan and one more centre is going to be opened in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

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