(a) whether the Bureau of Indian Standards has launched a scheme for hallmarking of gold jewellery;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to make it compulsory for all the jewelers in the country to obtain certification of gold jewellery purity before putting it for sale?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI V.SREENIVASA PRASAD)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) This scheme envisages certification of the purify of gold jewellery. Under the scheme, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will certify the jewelers and recognize the Assaying and Hallmarking Centres. The `hallmarking` will consist of three compulsory symbols namely the BIS Mark, fineness (caratage) and the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre`s Mark. Only BIS certified jewelers can get their jewellery assayed and hallmarked by any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres in accordance with the relevant Indian Standards.
(c) This scheme is voluntary in nature and there is no proposal for making it compulsory.