Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Unlicensed XRF machines found at gold and silver testing centres
Some people buy gold and silver jewellery, and shops use special machines to check that the metal is good.
Officials called Legal Metrology inspectors went to shops and testing centres in Hanumakonda to see how this checking was done.
They found that the XRF machines used for testing did not have official permission papers.
The inspectors told shop owners they have 15 days to get the correct papers.
Some sellers trick buyers by naming cheap metals 'German silver' or 'nickel silver.'
These metals have less than 20 percent real silver, but they look shiny and silver-coloured.
Some jewellery even contains a harmful metal called cadmium, which is dangerous.
Most of this bad jewellery in Telangana comes from Tenali and Salem.
There are more than 150 testing centres in the joint Warangal district, but many do not have government permits.
That is why buyers are told to check quality before buying gold or silver items.
Legal Metrology officials inspected gold and silver shops and testing centres in Hanumakonda following a complaint that traders were not mentioning quality standards on receipts.
Inspectors found that XRF machines used for quality testing did not have model permits.
Shop owners were given 15 days to obtain the necessary permits and to provide quality test reports to consumers.
Consumer Council general secretary Sambaraju Chakrapani said 'German silver' and 'nickel silver' products contain less than 20 percent actual silver and mislead consumers.
Chakrapani said substandard silver jewellery in Telangana mostly comes from Tenali in Andhra Pradesh and Salem in Tamil Nadu, with harmful cadmium added to some pieces.
- Who
- Legal Metrology officials led by District Legal Metrology Officer Visvesvaraya, acting on a complaint from the National Committee of the Consumer Council, whose national general secretary is Sambaraju Chakrapani.
- What
- Inspections found unlicensed XRF machines being used for quality testing of gold and silver, and shop owners were given 15 days to obtain permits; warnings were issued about misleading silver products.
- When
- Exact date not stated in the article.
- Where
- Hanumakonda in the joint Warangal district of Telangana; substandard silver jewellery reportedly comes from Tenali in Andhra Pradesh and Salem in Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- To ensure traders mention quality standards on receipts and to protect consumers from fraudulent practices and misleading silver products.
- Inspecting authority
- Legal Metrology Department, Hanumakonda
- Complainant
- National Committee of the Consumer Council
- Violation found
- XRF machines used for quality testing without model permits
- Deadline for shop owners
- 15 days to obtain permits
- Silver content in 'German silver'/'nickel silver'
- Less than 20 percent
- Sources of substandard silver jewellery
- Tenali (Andhra Pradesh) and Salem (Tamil Nadu)
- Testing centres in joint Warangal district
- More than 150, many without government permits
- Consumer warning
- Harmful cadmium added to some silver jewellery