The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is accelerating preparations for the potential implementation of mandatory silver hallmarking, signalling a significant regulatory shift for India’s jewellery and silverware industry. The move follows the introduction of HUID-based hallmarking for silver jewellery and artefacts on a voluntary basis from September 2025 and ongoing assessments of industry readiness.

According to BIS officials, the organization is evaluating the regulatory framework, testing infrastructure and hallmarking capacity required to support a nationwide mandatory hallmarking regime for silver products. The exercise includes expanding awareness among jewellers, strengthening assaying and hallmarking networks, and ensuring that compliance systems are capable of handling increased volumes.

The development comes as silver continues to gain prominence among consumers amid elevated gold prices, driving higher demand for silver jewellery, artefacts and investment products. Industry stakeholders have increasingly advocated for measures that enhance transparency, traceability and consumer confidence in silver purchases.

Since September 2025, silver articles have been eligible for Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID)-based certification under revised BIS standards. The system enables consumers to verify the authenticity and purity of hallmarked silver products through a unique identification code, similar to the framework already established for gold jewellery.

BIS has also intensified outreach efforts through jeweller awareness programmes across multiple regions, highlighting hallmarking procedures, quality-control requirements and compliance responsibilities. Industry participants are being encouraged to familiarize themselves with hallmarking protocols ahead of any future regulatory mandate.

For jewellers, mandatory silver hallmarking would represent a major expansion of India's hallmarking ecosystem, requiring closer engagement with recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres and stricter adherence to quality assurance standards. While the timeline for implementation has yet to be formally announced, the ongoing groundwork by BIS indicates that the industry is moving steadily toward a more structured and transparent silver marketplace.