India Considers Mandatory Hallmarking for Silver Jewellery: Centre's Big Alert

• Central government is considering making hallmarking mandatory for silver jewellery and articles to enhance consumer protection.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) confirms industry demand, but a thorough study of regulatory framework, testing capacity, and assaying standards is required.
• Currently, silver hallmarking is voluntary, unlike gold; however, HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) is compulsory for hallmarked silver since September 2025.
• Rising silver prices and demand highlight purity concerns, prompting the government to learn from gold hallmarking implementation.
• No final timeline set; official notification will follow stakeholder discussions, enhanced lab capacity, and strengthened inspection mechanisms.

Why It Matters: India plans mandatory silver hallmarking for purity, learning from gold's implementation, with no immediate timeline.