The gold hallmarking fee has risen from ₹45 to ₹75 per article under the Bureau of Indian Standards (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations, 2026, while silver remains ₹35. The Gazette notification is dated 14 September and took effect on publication, making this a compliance-cost change for jewellers rather than a movement in the underlying gold price.
Everyone else is reporting a 67% increase; we are explaining where it bites. The flat per-article design means lightweight, lower-value jewellery carries a larger compliance-cost percentage than an expensive piece, even though the absolute increase is only ₹30.
What changed in the gold hallmarking fee
BIS replaced Schedule IV of the 2018 hallmarking regulations. Jewellers now pay recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres ₹75 for each gold article, with a minimum ₹200 charge for a consignment. The fee that centres pay BIS is ₹7.50 per gold article, with a ₹20 minimum.
For silver, the jeweller fee remains ₹35 per article and ₹150 per consignment, while centres pay BIS ₹3.50 per article with a ₹15 minimum. Applicable taxes are additional. The earlier gold rate was ₹45, so the arithmetic is (75−45)÷45 = 66.7%.
| Article | Jeweller fee | Minimum consignment | Centre-to-BIS fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | ₹75 per article | ₹200 | ₹7.50; ₹20 minimum |
| Silver | ₹35 per article | ₹150 | ₹3.50; ₹15 minimum |
Why a flat fee matters most on small items
Hallmarking is charged by article, not by weight or retail value. A ₹30 increase is therefore the same for a lightweight ring and a heavy necklace. If a jeweller passes it through directly, the percentage impact is larger on the cheaper article.
The minimum consignment fee also matters for small batches. At ₹75 per gold article, three pieces total ₹225 and exceed the ₹200 minimum. One or two pieces still attract the minimum, before tax. Larger manufacturers can spread handling and logistics over more pieces; small jewellers may have less room to do so.
What hallmarking certifies—and what it does not
BIS describes hallmarking as the official recording of precious-metal content. A hallmarked gold article carries the BIS mark, the purity or fineness mark and a six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification number. Consumers can use the HUID to verify an article through the BIS Care system.
The fee does not certify workmanship, gemstone quality, design value or a fair retail price. It also does not determine making charges. A jeweller may absorb the higher certification expense, include it in making charges or show it separately, subject to applicable billing and consumer rules.
The industry objection is about distribution, not purity checks
The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council has asked BIS to review the increase. Business Standard reported the council’s concern that the higher mandatory cost is disproportionate for lightweight and lower-value ornaments. That objection does not remove the new rate; it is a request for reconsideration.
The policy question is whether a flat article fee is the best way to fund testing and identification. A weight- or value-linked design could reduce the burden on inexpensive pieces, but it would add calculation and audit complexity. A transparent cost study would help show whether ₹75 reflects testing, technology and enforcement costs.
What jewellers and consumers should check now
Jewellers should update cost sheets, point-of-sale descriptions and centre reconciliation from the notification’s effective date. They should not treat the revised fee as permission to obscure making charges or taxes. Small businesses should compare batch logistics because the minimum consignment rule can matter more than the unit fee.
Consumers should ask for an itemised bill and verify the HUID, purity mark and BIS mark. They should compare the complete price, not only the hallmark line. Lapaas Voice’s coverage of Goldiam’s US jewellery export orders and Biorsaf’s product-compliance platform shows how standards, documentation and traceability can shape operating economics across product businesses.
Worked examples show the uneven impact
Consider a consignment of one gold item. The unit calculation at ₹75 falls below the ₹200 minimum, so the centre charges the minimum before applicable tax. Two items also total ₹150 and remain below the minimum. Three items total ₹225, so the per-article calculation overtakes the minimum. The break point is therefore between two and three pieces.
For a 100-item consignment, the new base charge is ₹7,500 versus ₹4,500 at the old rate, an increase of ₹3,000 before tax. That amount may be small relative to the metal value, yet frequent batches and low-ticket products can make it material to a small retailer’s operating margin.
These examples do not predict the price a consumer will pay. Jewellers combine metal value, wastage, making charges, stones, taxes and commercial margins in different ways. They do show why an article-based fee should be assessed against units and batch structure, not the daily gold rate.
Why source precision matters here
The Gazette amendment is the controlling primary record for the new schedule. News reports add the comparison with the previous ₹45 rate and the industry response. Those roles should not be blurred: the regulation establishes the fee, while trade groups and journalists explain the likely burden and objections.
The earliest credible public disclosure is the Gazette publication dated 14 September, even though several widely read articles appeared on 16 and 17 September. This recovery story therefore keeps the actual policy date rather than presenting later coverage as a new event.
In plain terms, the gold hallmarking fee now adds ₹75 per certified gold article, but the consumer impact depends on batch size and whether the jeweller absorbs, separates or passes through the extra ₹30.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new gold hallmarking fee?
₹75 per gold article, subject to a ₹200 minimum per consignment, plus applicable taxes.
Did the silver hallmarking fee change?
No. It remains ₹35 per silver article with a ₹150 minimum consignment charge.
When did the new rate take effect?
The 2026 amendment took effect on publication in the Official Gazette dated 14 September 2026.
Does the fee hike increase the gold price?
No. It changes the certification fee. Gold value, making charges and other retail components are separate.
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