(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to increase awareness about the Hall
Marking Scheme among the general public; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the features of the Scheme?
(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to increase awareness about the Hall
Marking Scheme among the general public; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the features of the Scheme?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI TASLIMUDDIN)
(a) & (b): Government/Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are organizing series of
awareness programmes for jewellers and consumers all across the country for increasing
awareness about the Hall Marking Scheme. Publicity Campaign has also been launched
simultaneously through print and electronic media for consumer awareness. The Hall
marking scheme for gold jewellery is presently voluntary in nature and is operated under
BIS Act 1986. The scheme is aimed at providing third party assurance to consumers on the
purity of gold for its fineness. Under the scheme, jeweller has to obtain certification mark
licence from BIS to get his jewellery hallmarked from a BIS recognized Assaying &
Hallmarking Centre. The Hallmarking Centres are recognized by BIS based on a laid down
criteria after ensuring that the Centre has required infrastructure for Assaying and
Hallmarking of gold jewellery in addition to security and safety of the same. This criterion
is in line with the requirements of Convention on Control and Marking of Precious Metals (Vienna Convention 1972).