The Bureau of Indian Standards lifted the hallmarking fee for gold from ₹45 to ₹75 on September 14, 2026, a 66.67% hike that immediately raised the cost of every jeweller’s compliance bill.
Rajesh Rokde said that the price jump could embolden unscrupulous sellers to forge hallmark stamps, especially in tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities where only about 10 % of districts know how to check the Hallmark Unique Identification number via the Care app.
The council has approached Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and BIS officials, demanding a return to the old fee and a detailed audit of the new cost structure, including equipment, manpower and storage expenses.
Industry data shows that the number of recognised assaying and hallmarking centres grew from 1,220 in July 2022 to 1,577 by July 2026, while the cumulative number of hallmarked gold articles crossed 650 million. The GJC estimates the extra ₹400 crore financial burden, plus ₹80 crore in GST, that the increased fee imposes on the supply chain.
The turnaround time for hallmarking has stretched from roughly six hours to 24–36 hours, tying up jewellers’ working capital and inflating their financing costs. The silver hallmarking fee remains unchanged at ₹35.
BIS has scheduled a review of the amendment regulations and is expected to announce a revised fee structure by December 2026, pending the council’s cost‑breakdown request.