The Central Government of India has recently updated the rules on gold hallmarking, making it mandatory in additional districts across the country. This move aims to protect consumers from buying impure or fake gold and strengthen trust in the jewellery market.

📌 What Is gold Hallmarking?

Gold hallmarking is a process regulated by the Bureau of indian Standards (BIS) to certify the purity of gold jewellery and artefacts. A hallmark stamp indicates that the gold has been tested and meets prescribed purity standards, such as 22‑carat or 18‑carat.

Mandatory hallmarking means that jewellers cannot sell gold jewellery in these districts unless it has a valid BIS hallmark, giving buyers confidence in the quality of their purchase.

📅 What’s New in 2026?

The Hallmarking of gold Jewellery and gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2026 has expanded the list of districts where hallmarking is compulsory. This is part of the government’s phased rollout to cover more regions over time.

🗺️ Newly Added Districts (2026)

According to the official BIS notification, hallmarking has now become mandatory in the following additional districts:

State/UT

District

Punjab

Rupnagar

Uttar Pradesh

Banda

Maharashtra

Beed

Tripura

Gomati

Bihar

Katihar

Rajasthan

Beawar

Madhya Pradesh

Neemuch

These districts have been added to the hallmarking requirement so that gold buyers in these areas get verified purity and consumer protection when purchasing gold jewellery.

📍 Why Is Hallmarking Being Expanded?

The government’s goal with this expansion is to:

• 🛡️ Protect consumers from fake or adulterated gold
• 🔍 Ensure uniform quality standards nationwide
• 💡 Increase confidence in the gold jewellery market
• 🏛️ Strengthen the role of BIS as the authority on standards

Making hallmarking mandatory means jewellers must test their gold and apply a BIS hallmark stamp before selling it — or data-face penalties for non‑compliance.

🧾 What This Means for Buyers and Jewellers

For Consumers

✔ You’ll get verified assurance of gold purity when buying jewellery in newly covered districts.
✔ You can check hallmark details using BIS verification tools before buying.
✔ This reduces the risk of paying for impure or under‑carat gold.

For Jewellers

📍 Shops in the listed districts must register with BIS for hallmarking services if they haven’t already.
📍 They must ensure all gold products sold in these areas carry a valid BIS hallmark.
📍 Lack of hallmarking can lead to penalties and legal action in some cases.

📌 How to Check BIS Hallmark Validity

Consumers can verify gold hallmark authenticity by:

• Checking the BIS hallmark stamp on jewellery
• Using the BIS Care app or online database to validate hallmarks
• Asking for a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code from the shop — this makes verification easier

These tools help confirm that the gold meets official indian standards.

📌 Future Phaseouts

Hallmarking has been rolled out in phases over several years. Earlier expansions already made it compulsory in many districts, and 2026 adds more regions to that list. The process is expected to continue until a larger portion of the country is covered.

📍 Bottom Line

India’s expanded gold hallmarking requirement under the 2026 BIS amendment now makes hallmarking mandatory in seven more districts across the country. This move boosts transparency and consumer protection for gold buyers while ensuring jewellers adhere to verified gold purity standards.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.