What is BIS hallmarking?
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) operates India's official gold-purity certification scheme. A piece of jewellery that passes BIS testing receives a hallmark — a small set of stamps on the piece — that certifies its purity. Since 1 April 2023, BIS hallmarking is mandatory for nearly all gold jewellery sold in India.
The hallmark stamps you should see
A correctly hallmarked piece of jewellery carries four marks:
- BIS logo (the triangle with BIS letters inside)
- Purity number (916 for 22K, 750 for 18K, 999 for 24K, etc.)
- Jeweller's identification mark
- 6-digit HUID code (Hallmark Unique ID — introduced June 2021, mandatory since April 2023)
The HUID is the key
The 6-digit HUID is a unique alphanumeric code stamped on every individual piece. It's issued at the time of hallmarking by BIS-licensed centres and is registered against the piece in BIS's central database. The HUID lets you verify the piece against the official record before paying.
How to verify HUID
- Download the BIS Care app (free, available on Android and iOS).
- Tap "Verify HUID" and enter the 6-digit code stamped on the piece.
- The app displays the registered details: karat, weight, jeweller, hallmarking centre, date.
- If the displayed details match the piece in your hand, the hallmark is genuine.
What if there's no HUID?
Refuse to buy. Since April 2023, selling un-hallmarked gold jewellery is illegal in India. Old un-hallmarked pieces from before 2021 can still exist in family collections, but a current jeweller cannot legally sell un-hallmarked jewellery.
Categories exempt from hallmarking
- Watches and pens with gold parts
- Certain medical, dental, or industrial gold items
- Pieces below 2 grams (in some cases — verify with the seller)
- Antique jewellery older than 100 years
What about old gold I already own?
Existing un-hallmarked household gold doesn't become illegal just because hallmarking is mandatory for new sales. You can wear it, gift it, and sell it back to a jeweller (where the jeweller will test purity by karatmeter or acid test before giving you a price). For peace of mind, you can also have old jewellery hallmarked at any BIS-recognised hallmarking centre for a small fee per piece.
This is informational content. For specific BIS rule clarifications, refer directly to bis.gov.in.