Mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery: Lack of awareness remains a hurdle

Estimates regarding the number of jewellers and ornaments being hallmarked at present are varied

Mandatory hallmarking for gold jewellery is likely to be notified within a week or two, and from that day a one-year clock will start ticking for jewellers to adhere to the new norm. But for its successful implementation, according to government officials and industry experts, consumer awareness is necessary.
 
They said resources with the Bureau of India Standards (BIS), which is the implementation and supervisory authority for hallmarking, are limited, or in other words, mandatory hallmarking will succeed only when consumers insist on it. The government had announced mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery at the end of November.