Gold Jewelry Now Costlier As Hallmarking Fee Hiked By 67%; 18% GST To Be Charged

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Gold hallmarking fee hike

New Delhi: Gold jewelry will become dearer as Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has increased hallmarking fee of gold articles by about 67%. The fee has been revised upward from ₹45 to ₹75 per gold article and the revised charges will come into effect from September 14, 2026.

According to an Amar Ujala report, Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 18% is levied separately on the hallmarking fee. This means the hallmarking charge of ₹75 will be ₹88.50 with 18 per cent GST.

Gold Hallmarking Charge Increased To ₹75 From ₹45

With the revised BIS guidelines, jewelers will now have to pay ₹75 for hallmarking each gold article submitted to a recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Center (AHC). Previously, the charge was ₹45 per article.

This is an increase of Rs 30, which is about 66.7% or almost 67%. Gold articles are still charged a minimum of Rs. 200 per consignment.

Hallmarking Charge 18% GST

The revised fee of ₹75 is not the end of the matter. According to Amar Ujala, BIS consumer awareness information states that fees for hallmarking are charged separately for applicable taxes.

With 18% GST, the effective amount on ₹75 hallmarking fee works out to ₹88.50 per article of gold.

This additional cost may eventually be passed on to the final price paid by customers depending on how the jewelers pass on the increased compliance cost.

Gold Jewelry That’s Light In Weight Could Be A Bigger Hit

The charge for hallmarking is per article and not on the weight of the jewelry.

Thus, a one gram ornament and a heavier gold article may attract the same basic hallmarking charge. This means that the cost can be relatively higher per gram for light weight jewelry like rings, nose pins, light weight chains etc.

So the impact might be more visible in case of buyers who are going to purchase smaller and lighter gold ornaments during the festive season.

Silver Hallmarking Fee Unchanged

The hallmarking fee for gold has been hiked while the fee for silver articles has been kept intact.

The present fee for hallmarking of silver is Rs.35 per article, minimum Rs.150 per consignment.

Hallmarking system rolled out across India

India’s hallmarking system was first rolled out in June 2021 across 256 districts. Coverage has since been expanded in phases.

In the sixth phase, seven more districts were added in March 2026, taking the number of districts covered under mandatory hallmarking to 380, Amar Ujala reported.

Hallmarking is a method of certifying the purity of precious metal jewelry. A BIS logo, purity or fineness mark and six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number are stamped on a hallmarked gold item.

Jewelry Industry Voices Out of Concern

The surge has also raised concerns in the jewelry industry. The All India Gem & Jewelry Domestic Council (GJC) has requested a review of the revised hallmarking fee, pointing out the effect of the flat per-article charge on lightweight and lower-value jewelry.

The big change for consumers is that the hallmarking-related cost for gold jewelry has increased ahead of the festive buying season. Hence, buyers should be aware of the gold value, making charges, charges related to hallmarking and taxes applicable before making a purchase, and read the jewelry bill carefully.

What gold buyers need to know

The revised BIS hallmarking fee came into force from September 14, 2026. The charge for hallmarking of gold jewelry is now ₹75/- per article exclusive of taxes. The total including the 18% GST is ₹88.50 (on ₹75).

The hallmarking charge is levied on a per article basis rather than weight, so buyers of lightweight jewelry may see a relatively higher impact on a per gram basis.

As the festive season is around the corner, consumers intending to purchase gold jewelry should compare prices and check the full cost breakup provided by the jeweler.