Over 17 crore gold jewelery hallmarked by A&H centers in one and a half years: Minister

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said that as on date there are 1374 gold hallmarking laboratories functioning in the country.

Jyothi said hallmarking was made mandatory from June 23, 2021, only in those 256 districts in the country that had at least one Accredited Assaying and Hallmarking Center (AHC). “With effect from June 01, 2022, the scope of mandatory hallmarking has been extended to 32 more districts, thereby bringing the mandatory hallmarking regime to 288 districts with at least one recognized AHC. The infrastructure is adequate to meet the demands of the districts where hallmarking has become mandatory.”

The minister said that setting up of A&H centers is a market driven activity where the decision to open AHC at a particular location is taken by the private entrepreneur based on the demand of that location.

“After the implementation of the Compulsory Hallmarking Order, the number of BIS accredited Assaying and Hallmarking Centers has increased from 942 to 1374 in a span of 1.5 years,” Jyoti said.

Government. Also provides Central Assistance to prospective entrepreneurs for ‘setting up Gold Assaying and Hallmarking Centres’ in India at places where no Assaying and Hallmarking Center (aided or otherwise) exists.

BIS has also launched a scheme to set up Offsite Centers (OSCs) by BIS recognized AHCs with a view to provide easy access to hallmarking facility to the jewellers.