BIS Cracks Down on Silver Jewellery Counterfeiting

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is strengthening its testing and hallmarking system for silver jewellery in response to growing demand. As gold prices rise, more people are turning to silver ornaments, prompting BIS to increase the number of laboratories testing silver jewellery over the next two years.

Since 2005, hallmarking of silver jewellery has been voluntary in India, but since September 2025, hallmarked silver jewellery also comes with a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number. This allows customers to check details related to the purity of their jewellery.

BIS Deputy Director General Nishat S Haq stated that demand for silver hallmarking has been rising since the introduction of HUID for silver jewellery. BIS is expanding its laboratory network, which currently comprises around 230 centres across the country.