India’s third phase of mandatory hallmarking, effective from September 8, 2023, will extend to an additional 55 districts, bringing the total number of covered districts to 343. Hallmarking serves as a quality assurance stamp for jewelry and precious metal items, indicating their purity. The scheme’s primary objectives are to safeguard consumers against adulteration and ensure manufacturers maintain legal standards of fineness. Currently, gold and silver fall under India’s hallmarking purview, specifically for 14, 18, and 22 carat gold jewelry/artifacts. The Bureau of Indian Standards assigns a unique Hallmarking Unique ID (HUID) to all hallmarked items, allowing consumers to verify authenticity through the BIS Care app.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Hallmarking: Hallmarking is a certification process that guarantees the quality and purity of precious metal items, such as jewelry. It involves stamping or marking the item with specific symbols or codes to indicate its composition and authenticity.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): BIS is the national standards body of India responsible for developing and maintaining quality standards for various products and services. In the context of the text, BIS oversees the hallmarking scheme for jewelry and precious metals.
- Carat: Carat is a unit of measurement used to determine the purity of gold and other precious metals. It represents the proportion of pure gold in an alloy and is often used to describe the quality of gold jewelry.
- Hallmarking Unique ID (HUID): HUID is a unique identification number assigned to hallmarked items under the hallmarking scheme. It helps consumers verify the authenticity and quality of jewelry and precious metal products.
- Export Competitiveness: Export competitiveness refers to a country’s ability to produce goods or services that can compete effectively in international markets. India aims to enhance its export competitiveness in the gold market through the hallmarking scheme, attracting global buyers with assurance of quality.
