The Government of India has expanded the scope of mandatory gold hallmarking by adding seven more districts under the sixth phase of implementation, further strengthening the regulatory framework for gold jewellery quality assurance across the country.

The move, announced by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), came into effect on March 2, 2026 and increases the total number of districts covered under the hallmarking mandate to 380.

The newly included districts are Rupnagar in Punjab, Banda in Uttar Pradesh, Beed in Maharashtra, Gomati in Tripura, Katihar in Bihar, Beawar in Rajasthan and Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh. With their inclusion, jewellers operating in these districts are now required to sell only hallmarked gold jewellery and artefacts that comply with BIS standards.

Mandatory hallmarking was first introduced nationwide on June 23, 2021, as part of the government’s efforts to enhance consumer protection and improve transparency within the gold jewellery market. The regulation requires gold jewellery and artefacts to carry a unique Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, ensuring traceability and authenticity.

Since the rollout of the hallmarking programme, the adoption of the HUID system has expanded rapidly across India. According to BIS data, more than 60 crore gold jewellery items have been hallmarked under the HUID-based system since its introduction.

The hallmarking framework is designed to ensure that consumers receive jewellery with verified purity while also promoting greater standardisation across the industry. For jewellers, the regulation has led to increased reliance on BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres for certification and compliance.

Industry stakeholders note that the phased expansion of mandatory hallmarking has encouraged greater formalisation of the gold jewellery trade while improving consumer confidence in certified gold products.

The addition of new districts reflects the government’s ongoing strategy to progressively extend hallmarking coverage across the country, ensuring wider compliance and strengthening quality assurance mechanisms within India’s gold jewellery sector.