Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Jewellers’ Body Seeks Rollback of 67% Gold Hallmarking Fee Hike
Jewellery sellers must pay a fee to have gold checked and officially marked for purity.
This fee increased from ₹45 to ₹75 for each jewellery article.
The All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council wants the increase paused or cancelled.
It says small and lightweight jewellery will be affected more because the same fee applies to every item.
The council supports hallmarking because it helps protect jewellery buyers.
However, it wants officials to explain why the fee rose so much.
It also wants a study of centre costs and stronger action against fake marks.
The council has asked the government to discuss the issue with jewellers and testing centres.
The GJC urged the Centre and BIS to reverse a 67% increase in gold hallmarking charges.
The fee rose from ₹45 to ₹75 per article under regulations notified on September 14, 2026.
GJC said per-article charges disproportionately affect lightweight and lower-value jewellery.
The council supports hallmarking but requested a review, cost study and stakeholder consultations.
GJC also called for stronger action against fake hallmarking and unauthorised centres.
- Who
- The All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council, the Centre, the Bureau of Indian Standards and recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres.
- What
- The GJC requested that a 67% increase in gold hallmarking fees, from ₹45 to ₹75 per article, be rolled back or paused.
- When
- The fee increase was notified on September 14, 2026; the GJC issued its statement on Wednesday.
- Where
- The statement was issued in Mumbai, concerning hallmarking centres and jewellery businesses in India.
- Why
- The GJC said the higher per-article cost would disproportionately affect lightweight jewellery and could widen the gap between compliant and unauthorised businesses.
- Organisation
- All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC)
- Fee increase
- From ₹45 to ₹75 per gold article
- Increase percentage
- Approximately 67%
- Regulatory framework
- BIS (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations, 2026
- Hallmarked articles
- More than 60 crore gold articles with HUID from July 2021 to March 2026
- Coverage
- Mandatory hallmarking expanded to 380 districts
- GJC request
- Retain the ₹45 fee pending a comprehensive review and stakeholder consultation