Gold, silver jewellery Hallmarking voluntary: Govt

Hallmarking of gold and silver jewellery in India is voluntary and there are 409 Bureau of Indian Standards recognised Assaying and Hallmarking (A&H) centres in the country, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. “Presentlythe hallmarking of gold and silver jewellery is voluntary,” Minister of State for Consumer Affairs C R Chaudhary said during Question Hour, amid vociferous Opposition protest. 

The Minister said as on October 25, there were 409 BIS recognised A&H centres in the country. The setting up of A&H centres is a market driven activity which depends on the commercial viability as assessed by the entrepreneurs. To provide impetus to the hallmarking activity, government provides financial assistance to the A&H centres in deficient locations, he said. 

Chaudhary said to protect consumer interest with respect to purity of hallmarked jewellery, surveillance audit of the A&H centres is carried out. “Besides, market samples are drawn from licensed jewellers to ensure compliance to relevant standards,” he said.