Gold Hallmarking Fee Hike has increased the cost jewellers must pay for getting gold jewellery certified, just days before Dhanteras 2026.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has raised the hallmarking charge by nearly 67%, changing the fee from Rs 45 to Rs 75 per gold article.
The revision comes ahead of the festive shopping season, when many Indian families purchase gold jewellery, coins and other precious metals.
Dhanteras will be celebrated on November 6 this year, making the development particularly relevant for customers planning to buy gold.
However, buyers should understand that the increase is in the fee payable by jewellers to recognised hallmarking centres. It does not mean that the overall price of gold jewellery will automatically increase by 67%.
Gold Hallmarking Fee Hike: What Has Changed?
Under the revised regulations, jewellers must now pay Rs 75 for every gold article submitted to a recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC). The earlier charge was Rs 45 per article.
This represents an increase of Rs 30 per article, or approximately 66.7%. The revised fee structure also retains a minimum charge of Rs 200 per consignment.
The revised charges came into effect on September 14, 2026, following the notification of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations, 2026.
The revised fee applies to gold jewellery and articles across seven purity categories covered under the hallmarking framework: 9-carat, 14-carat, 18-carat, 20-carat, 22-carat, 23-carat and 24-carat gold.
Will Gold Jewellery Become More Expensive for Customers?
The increase has raised questions among consumers about whether they will have to spend more when purchasing gold jewellery this Dhanteras.
The Rs 75 hallmarking charge is paid by jewellers to recognised hallmarking centres. The revised notification does not prescribe a separate hallmarking fee that must be collected directly from customers.
However, jewellers may consider their increased operating expenses while calculating the final selling price.
Whether the additional cost is passed on to customers will depend on individual jewellers and their billing practices.
It is also important to understand that a 67% increase in hallmarking charges does not translate into a 67% increase in the price of gold jewellery.
The final bill generally includes several components, such as the value of gold, making charges and applicable taxes. The hallmarking-related expense is only a small part of the overall jewellery transaction.
Customers should therefore ask jewellers for a detailed bill and check whether any additional charges have been included.
Why Is Gold Hallmarking Important?
Hallmarking plays an important role in helping customers verify the purity of gold jewellery. It provides an official indication of the precious metal’s fineness and helps improve transparency in jewellery purchases.
In India, BIS oversees the hallmarking framework. Mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery was introduced in June 2021 and implemented through a phased process.
A hallmarked gold jewellery article carries three important identification details: the BIS logo, the purity or fineness marking and a six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number.
The HUID is a unique identification number assigned to an individual hallmarked jewellery article. It helps consumers check the details and authenticity of the hallmark.
The revised hallmarking fee does not change the importance of checking these details before purchasing jewellery.
[[H2: What Should Buyers Check Before Purchasing Gold?
With Dhanteras approaching, customers should pay attention to the purity and certification of jewellery rather than focusing only on its design and price.
Buyers should check whether the jewellery carries a valid BIS hallmark and verify its HUID through the BIS Care mobile application using the Verify HUID facility.
It is also important to match the purity mentioned on the jewellery with the details provided on the purchase invoice.
Customers should ask for a proper bill that clearly mentions the gold value, making charges and applicable taxes.
The Gold Hallmarking Fee Hike is primarily a change in the cost structure for jewellers and hallmarking centres.
For customers, the most important consideration remains purchasing properly certified jewellery and understanding every component of the final bill.
