What is BIS and why does hallmarking exist
The Bureau of Indian Standards is India's national standards body, established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act. It sets and enforces quality standards for hundreds of product categories. For gold jewellery, BIS operates the hallmarking system, a programme where accredited testing centres assess the purity of gold items and stamp them with certified purity marks.
Hallmarking exists because gold purity cannot be determined by visual inspection. A jeweller claiming to sell 22 karat gold could be selling 18 karat gold and a casual buyer would have no way to know. The hallmarking system provides independent third-party verification of purity at the point of manufacture, with a traceable identifier that connects every piece to the centre that tested it.
Voluntary hallmarking existed in India for years before becoming mandatory. The mandatory rollout from June 2021 transformed the system from an optional quality signal into a legal requirement, making the sale of non-hallmarked gold jewellery by licensed jewellers illegal.
The 6-digit HUID: what it is and how to use it
The HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification number) is a 6-digit alphanumeric code assigned to each individual piece of jewellery when it is hallmarked at a BIS-accredited centre. It was introduced in July 2021 as part of Phase 2 of mandatory hallmarking.
Every hallmarked piece since July 2021 has a unique HUID. No two pieces have the same HUID. The HUID is laser-engraved or stamped onto the piece alongside the BIS logo and purity mark.
The HUID is linked in BIS's database to the following information about that specific piece: the purity grade (e.g. 916 for 22 karat), the registered jeweller who submitted it for hallmarking, and the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre that tested and certified it.
How to verify a HUID right now
Open the BIS Care app (available on Android and iOS, published by BIS) or visit bis.gov.in. Enter the 6-digit HUID. The system will return the purity grade, the jeweller registration details, and the A&H centre that certified the piece. This verification takes 30 seconds and confirms the hallmark is genuine.
1. Find the HUID on the piece, it is a 6-character code near the BIS logo, usually on the clasp, back, or inner surface.
2. Open the BIS Care app or bis.gov.in.
3. Enter the HUID.
4. Confirm the purity grade matches what the jeweller told you and what the invoice says.
Takes 30 seconds. Protects you against purity misrepresentation.
Purity marks: what 916, 750, 585 mean
Indian gold jewellery is sold in three primary purity grades, each with a numerical purity mark that appears on the hallmark alongside the BIS logo and HUID.
| Purity mark | Karat | Gold content | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999 | 24 karat | 99.9% gold | Coins, bars, investment products. Too soft for most jewellery. |
| 958 | 23 karat | 95.8% gold | Rare in jewellery. Occasionally used for traditional pieces. |
| 916 | 22 karat | 91.6% gold | Most common for Indian traditional jewellery, bangles, necklaces, earrings. |
| 875 | 21 karat | 87.5% gold | Less common in India. Used in some Gulf-style jewellery. |
| 750 | 18 karat | 75% gold | Standard for diamond jewellery settings in India. Harder, better for prong settings. |
| 585 | 14 karat | 58.5% gold | Less common in India. Used in some Western-style jewellery. |
For diamond jewellery specifically, 18 karat (750) gold is the most common setting metal in India, it is harder than 22 karat and holds diamond prongs and bezels more securely. When comparing diamond jewellery prices, confirm whether the gold component is 18kt or 22kt, the difference in gold value for the same weight is approximately 18 percent.
What must be hallmarked: the scope of mandatory hallmarking
Mandatory BIS hallmarking as of 2026 applies to gold jewellery articles made of gold of 14, 18, and 22 karats and sold by licensed jewellers. The mandatory scheme has been phased, initially covering specific cities and then expanding nationally.
Items currently outside mandatory hallmarking scope include: gold jewellery for export, items made to order from gold supplied by the customer (karigar work on customer gold), items below specified weight thresholds, and items made of gold purities other than 14kt, 18kt, and 22kt. Platinum jewellery and diamond-only items (loose diamonds, diamond settings without gold) are not covered by the gold hallmarking scheme.
Silver jewellery has a separate BIS hallmarking scheme that is voluntary rather than mandatory as of 2026. Platinum jewellery does not have a mandatory BIS hallmarking requirement.
How to verify hallmarking at the store and after purchase
At the store, before purchase: ask the jeweller to show you the HUID on the piece, verify it on the BIS Care app or bis.gov.in, confirm the purity matches the stated grade and the invoice. Any reputable jeweller will support this process without hesitation, it is evidence of compliance with a legal requirement, not an accusation of dishonesty.
After purchase: if you discover that a hallmarked piece does not match its stated purity on verification, or if a jeweller sells you a piece without a BIS hallmark when one is required, you have grounds for complaint. BIS operates a consumer complaints mechanism at bis.gov.in/consumer-complaints. State and district consumer courts can also hear jewellery fraud cases under consumer protection law. The National Consumer Helpline (1800-11-4000) handles BIS hallmarking complaints.
Diamond jewellery specifically: what hallmarking covers and what it does not
BIS hallmarking certifies the gold component of diamond jewellery. It does not certify the diamonds. A BIS-hallmarked diamond ring has government-certified gold purity. Whether the diamonds are what the jeweller claims they are, natural vs lab-grown, correctly graded, genuine diamonds rather than simulants, is not covered by BIS hallmarking.
This is why diamond certification (GIA or IGI) and BIS hallmarking are separate and both necessary for a complete diamond jewellery purchase in India. The hallmark protects you on the metal. The diamond certificate protects you on the stone.
1. Diamond certificate (GIA or IGI), verify the report number on the girdle and online.
2. BIS hallmark HUID, verify on BIS Care app or bis.gov.in.
Both take under a minute. Both provide protection that the purchase receipt alone does not.
Your rights as a buyer of hallmarked jewellery
Under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act and the Consumer Protection Act, a buyer of hallmarked jewellery has specific rights. If a piece sold as hallmarked is found on testing to be below the stated purity, the jeweller is liable. If a piece is sold without a mandatory hallmark, the jeweller is in violation of the BIS Act.
In practice, exercising these rights requires testing, the BIS Care app verification confirms the HUID is registered and the stated purity, but the only way to confirm the actual gold content is physical assay testing. BIS-accredited A&H Centres can test gold items for a fee (typically ₹150 to ₹400 per item). If testing reveals a discrepancy from the hallmarked purity, you have grounds for complaint and potential refund or compensation.
Primary sources cited here
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), mandatory hallmarking documentation. bis.gov.in. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India. [Mandatory hallmarking scheme scope, HUID system, BIS Care app verification, A&H centre accreditation, consumer complaints process.]
BIS Care mobile application. Published by Bureau of Indian Standards, Android and iOS. [HUID verification tool; purity lookup; jeweller registration lookup.]
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. consumeraffairs.nic.in, Government of India. [Mandatory BIS hallmarking rollout communications; consumer protection under BIS Act.]
Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. Government of India. [Legal framework for mandatory hallmarking; consumer remedies for hallmarking violations; penalties for non-compliance.]
Frequently asked questions
Is all gold jewellery in India now mandatory hallmarked?
All licensed jewellers in India are required to sell only BIS-hallmarked gold jewellery in the specified karat categories. However, not all gold jewellery in circulation is hallmarked, pieces made before mandatory hallmarking, jewellery from unlicensed sellers, and items from categories currently outside the mandatory scheme may not carry hallmarks. When buying new jewellery from any licensed jeweller, hallmarking should be present. Jewellery inherited or purchased second-hand from non-licensed sellers may predate mandatory hallmarking.
What if my jewellery doesn't have a HUID?
Jewellery hallmarked before July 2021 (Phase 1 of mandatory hallmarking) may carry the older hallmark format, BIS logo, purity mark, assaying centre logo, and jeweller's logo, without a HUID. This older format is still valid proof of hallmarking. Jewellery hallmarked after July 2021 should have a HUID. If a piece carries a date-of-hallmarking stamp after July 2021 but no HUID, this warrants investigation, ask the jeweller for clarification.
Does BIS hallmarking apply to platinum settings for diamonds?
There is no mandatory BIS hallmarking scheme for platinum jewellery as of 2026. Platinum jewellery may carry a voluntary purity mark (Pt950, Pt900, etc.) but this is not BIS-mandated. For platinum-set diamond jewellery, the diamond certificate (GIA or IGI) is the primary quality protection for the complete piece, and no equivalent of the gold BIS hallmark system applies to the platinum component.