The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), through its Hallmarking Department, has issued revised Guidelines for Grant, Operation, Surveillance & Cancellation of Certificate of Registration of Jewellers, bearing Doc. No. HM/Jeweller/Guidelines/2, July 2026.
The revised guidelines replace the earlier guidelines issued in January 2024 and are applicable with immediate effect. The latest framework introduces important changes concerning HUID verification, market surveillance, sampling of jewellery, failure thresholds, corrective actions and HUID status management.
For jewellers dealing in hallmarked precious-metal jewellery and artefacts, understanding these changes is important for maintaining BIS registration and ensuring continued compliance.
What Are the BIS Guidelines for Jewellers?
The BIS guidelines prescribe the procedures and requirements relating to the grant, operation, surveillance and cancellation of the Certificate of Registration of Jewellers.
These guidelines are to be read along with the BIS Act, 2016, BIS Rules, 2018 and BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018, as amended from time to time.
A registered jeweller must therefore comply not only with the registration requirements but also with the requirements applicable to display, HUID verification, market surveillance, sampling, record keeping, invoicing and corrective actions.
Major Changes Introduced in the Revised 2026 Guidelines
The July 2026 revision introduces four notable changes:
1. Verification of Jewellery Photographs and Hallmark
The revised guidelines provide for verification of photographs of articles and the hallmark appearing on the articles, including HUID.
During market surveillance, BIS may verify whether the jewellery’s type, weight, photographs, jeweller details and Assaying & Hallmarking Centre (AHC) details correspond with the information available in the BIS system.
2. Revised Failure Threshold
The failure threshold has been revised from 5 parts per thousand (ppt) to 10 ppt, in line with the applicable AHC guidelines.
The revised framework provides different corrective-action and cancellation consequences depending upon the extent of shortage in fineness.
3. Sampling of Smaller Jewellery Articles
The revised provisions allow samples to be drawn even where the jewellery article is below the previously specified minimum sample weight.
For gold articles, the guidelines provide specific sampling provisions for articles weighing below 2 grams. Similar provisions apply to silver articles, depending upon their fineness and weight.
4. HUID Transfer/Update Facility
Jewellers can now use the HUID Transfer module in Manak Online to update the status of HUIDs in situations such as sale to another jeweller, sale to a consumer, damage/melting and return from a customer.
BIS Registration for Jewellers
A jeweller who is engaged in getting precious-metal articles manufactured for sale or selling precious-metal articles and wishes to sell hallmarked jewellery/artefacts can apply online through the NSWS portal.
The revised guidelines state that registration is granted instantly. The registration number is communicated through email and SMS, after which the jeweller can download and print the Certificate of Registration.
However, BIS may subsequently scrutinize the registration, particularly with respect to the antecedents of the applicant and any discrepancies observed.
If a discrepancy is communicated through the portal, the jeweller may be required to respond. Failure to provide a satisfactory response can lead to processing of the registration for cancellation as per the applicable Hallmarking Regulations.
Corporate Registration
For corporate registrations, the registered/head office of the jeweller firm applies for the Corporate Certificate of Registration along with a list of retail outlets proposed to be covered.
Each retail outlet covered under the corporate registration receives an independent certificate mentioning the address of that outlet.
Changes in Jeweller Registration
During the operation of registration, changes may occur in:
- Address or contact details of sales outlets
- Name of the firm
- Management of the firm
- Management changes accompanied by a change in the firm’s name
The jeweller is required to apply online for such changes, and an endorsement for the change is provided in the Certificate of Registration.
Mandatory Display Requirements at the Jewellery Outlet
Registered jewellers must maintain specific displays at their sales outlets.
Outside the Sales Outlet
The registered jeweller must display the BIS logo along with the wording:
“Hallmarked Jewellery Available for Sale”
The BIS Certificate of Registration must also be prominently displayed at the sales outlet.
Inside the Sales Outlet
The following information/facilities are required to be available:
- Components of the hallmark appearing on hallmarked articles
- A magnifying glass with minimum 10X magnification
- A suitable weighing balance for customers to verify jewellery weight
- BIS office and Facilitation Centre contact details
- Hallmarking charges
- Information enabling consumers to verify HUID authenticity through the Verify HUID feature of the BIS Care App
- BIS Care App poster
The guidelines also indicate that the weighing balance should preferably have an accuracy of 0.01 gram.
BIS Market Surveillance of Registered Jewellers
Market surveillance is an important part of the revised framework.
BIS Branch Offices are expected to make efforts to conduct at least one market surveillance visit every year for registered jewellers within their jurisdiction. Different AHCs may be covered while selecting samples.
Importantly, no prior intimation is to be provided to the jeweller regarding the surveillance visit.
During surveillance, the BIS official/BIS Hallmarking Representative must carry an identity card, and the jeweller can verify the credentials through the BIS website.
HUID Verification During Surveillance
One of the important compliance aspects is verification of HUIDs.
BIS may randomly verify the authenticity of HUID codes appearing on gold and silver jewellery/artefacts.
The six-digit alphanumeric HUID is checked against information available in the BIS system, including:
- Type of jewellery
- Weight
- Photograph
- Jeweller’s name
- AHC name
A minimum of five hallmarked pieces are required to be verified during market surveillance.
This makes accurate HUID-related records and traceability particularly important for registered jewellers.
Sampling and Testing of Jewellery
During surveillance, BIS may randomly select jewellery from the stock displayed at the outlet.
The registered jeweller is required to cooperate with BIS officials and permit random samples to be drawn for testing at BIS referral laboratories. Sampling may be performed through cutting, drilling or scrapping, and the jeweller should have suitable sampling facilities available.
The revised guidelines provide detailed sampling requirements depending upon:
- Metal
- Fineness
- Weight of the article
For example, for gold articles weighing more than 2 grams, a total sample of 2 grams is specified, with 1 gram sent for laboratory testing and 1 gram retained as the counter-sample. For lighter articles, the whole article or an appropriate portion may be sampled according to the prescribed table.
Similar weight-based provisions are specified for silver articles depending on their fineness.
Counter-Sample and Testing Provisions
A counter-sample is retained by the jeweller in sealed condition until the test report is received and accepted by the concerned parties.
Where a failure is communicated and the jeweller and/or AHC does not agree with the result, a request for testing of the counter-sample may be made within 14 days, subject to the conditions prescribed in the guidelines.
Testing of a counter-sample requires approval from the concerned DDGR, and double testing charges are payable in advance by the jeweller and/or AHC. The result of the counter-sample testing is treated as acceptable to the concerned parties, with no further testing permitted under the stated provision.
What Happens if a Sample Fails?
The revised guidelines establish different courses of action depending upon the extent of shortage in fineness.
Failure Above 40 ppt
Where the sample shows a shortage in fineness of more than 40 ppt, the process for cancellation is initiated against the jeweller who got the article hallmarked.
For jewellers operating multiple outlets under the same registration or Corporate Registration, the cancellation process is initiated for the particular outlet concerned.
Failure Above 10 ppt Up to 40 ppt
Where the shortage is above 10 ppt and up to and including 40 ppt, an improved sample is required to be drawn for independent testing within the prescribed period.
If the improved sample passes the relevant standard, normal operation of the registration may continue.
If the improved sample fails, the process for cancellation is initiated.
Failure Above 2 ppt Up to 10 ppt
For failures above 2 ppt and up to and including 10 ppt, along with applicable prohibited-element provisions, the jeweller is provided an opportunity for corrective action and submission of an improved hallmarked lot for further testing.
If the subsequent sample passes, normal operation may continue. If the improved sample fails, further action, including cancellation proceedings, may follow as prescribed.
Unfair Practices That Can Lead to Cancellation
The guidelines also address unfair practices involving misuse of hallmarking.
Examples include:
- Hallmarking through a non-recognized AHC
- Counterfeiting of hallmark
- Selling articles with incomplete hallmark
- Tampering with a sealed counter-sample
- Hallmarked articles having significant shortage in purity
Such practices can result in proceedings towards cancellation of the Certificate of Registration.
Important Obligations of Registered Jewellers
Registered jewellers are required to follow several operational requirements.
Jewellers should ensure that articles carrying markings such as “KDM” or fineness/caratage markings are not sent to the AHC for hallmarking. Certain medallions resembling the currency of any country are also not to be sent for hallmarking.
Jewellers must also submit precious-metal articles to the AHC with a hallmarking request in writing or through the online portal for each consignment, as prescribed under the Hallmarking Regulations.
Changes to Invoicing Requirements
The sale bill/invoice for hallmarked precious-metal jewellery must include the prescribed details such as:
- Separate description of each article
- Net weight of precious metal
- Purity in carat and fineness
- Hallmarking charges
The invoice must also state that consumers can have the purity of hallmarked jewellery/artefacts verified through a BIS-recognized AHC.
This requirement applies to both retail transactions and jeweller-to-jeweller (B2B) transactions.
HUID Transfer and Status Update
A significant operational change in the revised guidelines is the provision for updating the status of HUIDs through the HUID Transfer module in Manak Online.
A jeweller may update/transfer the status of an article for situations including:
- Sale to another jeweller
- Sale to a consumer
- Damaged or melted article
- Return from customer where the article remains unsold
This provision can help improve traceability and maintain accurate HUID status records.
Compensation and Liability in Case of Failure
The registered jeweller making the sale is liable to pay compensation for shortages in purity or fineness as prescribed under the applicable BIS Rules.
Where a jeweller fails to redress a consumer complaint relating to hallmarked jewellery/artefacts that is found to be substandard through testing at a BIS referral laboratory, cancellation proceedings may be initiated in accordance with the Hallmarking Regulations.
The guidelines also emphasize traceability in cases where a jeweller claims to have procured hallmarked jewellery from another jeweller. Proper bills/invoices containing complete particulars are important when establishing such traceability.
Compliance Checklist for Jewellers
To remain prepared under the revised BIS framework, jewellers should review the following areas:
- BIS Registration
- Ensure the Certificate of Registration is valid and correctly reflects the outlet details.
- Outlet Display
- Display the BIS logo and prescribed wording.
- Display the original BIS registration certificate.
- Customer Verification Facilities
- Keep a 10X magnifying glass available.
- Maintain a suitable weighing balance.
- Display BIS Care App information for HUID verification.
- HUID Records
- Ensure HUID information corresponds with the actual jewellery.
- Maintain accurate article photographs, weight and other relevant details.
- Use the HUID Transfer module where applicable.
- Invoices
- Include required jewellery description, weight, purity and hallmarking charges.
- Include the required information regarding purity verification through BIS-recognized AHCs.
- Surveillance Readiness
- Be prepared for unannounced BIS market surveillance.
- Cooperate with authorized BIS officials.
- Maintain appropriate facilities for sampling.
- Traceability
- Maintain proper purchase and sales invoices.
- Ensure B2B transactions contain complete particulars.
- Corrective Action
- Respond within prescribed timelines to failure reports and discrepancies.
- Maintain records of corrective actions and improved samples.
Why the Revised Guidelines Matter for Jewellers
The July 2026 revision places greater emphasis on digital traceability, HUID verification, photographic verification, market surveillance and systematic corrective action.
For jewellers, compliance is no longer limited to simply obtaining BIS registration and selling hallmarked jewellery. Maintaining accurate HUID information, proper documentation, appropriate outlet displays, traceable transactions and readiness for surveillance are essential elements of ongoing compliance.
The revised sampling and failure provisions also make it important for jewellers to have effective quality-control and traceability systems in place across their procurement, hallmarking and sales processes.
How GYE LLP Can Help
At GYE LLP, we assist businesses in understanding and managing regulatory and compliance requirements applicable to their operations.
For jewellers, our support can include assistance with:
- BIS Jeweller Registration
- Hallmarking-related compliance
- Documentation and record review
- HUID and traceability compliance support
- Regulatory compliance assessment
- Corrective-action documentation
- Ongoing BIS compliance guidance
Businesses should review their existing processes against the revised July 2026 BIS Jeweller Guidelines and identify any gaps that may require corrective action.
Need assistance with BIS Jeweller Registration or Hallmarking Compliance?
Contact GYE LLP for professional regulatory compliance support.
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