BIS Hallmarking Update 2026: New Photography and Weight Recording Requirements

The Bureau of Indian Standards has tightened its hallmarking process for gold and silver jewellery, and the change is bigger than a single regional briefing suggests. A revised circular from BIS's Hallmarking Department, dated July 2026, now requires Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) to capture and verify photographs of each article along with its hallmark, including the HUID and to record the article's weight as part of the certification process.

This is one of the hallmarking new rules. BIS held an awareness session in Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh, where officials briefed jewellers on the update, but the actual authority behind it is a formal revision to the Guidelines for AHCs, applicable wherever hallmarking happens in India.

What Exactly Changed?

The July 2026 revision to the AHC hallmarking guidelines brings four specific updates:

• Photograph verification: AHCs must now capture and verify photographs of the article itself and of the hallmark on the article, including its HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification number), and upload these to Manak BIS hallmark online system.

• Revised failure thresholds: The permissible failure threshold for testing has moved from 5 parts per thousand to 10 parts per thousand aligning with existing AHC guideline standards.

• Sampling weight limits: BIS has set a floor on which articles can be sampled for testing articles below 2 grams in gold and below 20 grams in silver are now covered under a specific sampling provision.

• HUID transfer and status updates: A formal provision now exists for transferring or updating HUID status on an article, addressing a gap jewellers previously had to work around informally.

Why This Matters for Traceability?

Every hallmarked item already carries an HUID, a six-digit alphanumeric code unique to that piece, verifiable by any consumer through the BIS Care app. What was missing until now was a photographic and weight record tied to that code at the point of certification. Pairing the HUID with an actual image and recorded weight closes a gap that made certain disputes over whether an item matched its certified weight or was swapped after hallmarking harder to resolve.

BIS officials at the Vijayawada briefing also noted increased monitoring against misuse of the BIS hallmark, with legal action being pursued against non-compliant entities under the BIS Act, 2016. Jewellers operating outside these updated procedures aren't just risking a compliance note; they're risking certification action.

Read MoreBIS Hallmark for Silver: A Complete Guide for Buyers in 2025

What This Means for Jewellers and AHCs?

If you're a BIS-registered jeweller or run an assaying and hallmarking centre, this shifts a few things in daily practice:

• Every article going through hallmarking now needs to be photographed and matched against its hallmark and HUID before certification is finalized.

• Weight recording at the point of testing becomes a formal, uploaded part of the record not just something noted on a physical receipt.

• Centres handling both gold and silver need to apply the correct sampling weight threshold 2 grams for gold, 20 grams for silver when selecting articles for testing.

This builds on the broader HUID rollout: mandatory hallmarking has applied to 14, 18 and 22 karat gold jewellery since June 2021. It is extended to 9 karat gold from July 2025 and to silver jewellery and artefacts from September 2025.

Staying compliant with BIS registration hallmarking updates takes more than reading the circular it means adjusting your centre's actual workflow before an audit catches the gap. Agile Regulatory tracks BIS regulatory changes as they're issued and helps registered jewellers and AHCs stay current book a free consultation if you need help reviewing where your process stands.

Read MoreWhy BIS Hallmark Registration is Essential

FAQs

What is HUID, and how does it relate to this update?

HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification a six-digit alphanumeric number assigned to each hallmarked piece. It is verifiable through the BIS Care app. The new photography and weight requirements attach a visual and physical record directly to that HUID.

Is this a nationwide requirement or specific to Andhra Pradesh?

It's nationwide. The Andhra Pradesh coverage reflects a regional awareness session BIS ran to brief local jewellers, but the actual authority is a revision to BIS's national Guidelines for AHCs.

What are the new sampling weight thresholds?

Articles weighing below 2 grams in gold and below 20 grams in silver fall under a specific sampling provision introduced in this revision.

Has the testing failure threshold changed?

Yes. It's moved from 5 parts per thousand to 10 parts per thousand under the revised guidelines.

Does this affect consumers directly?

Indirectly, yes, the added photographic and weight verification is meant to reduce disputes over whether a piece matches its certified details. It strengthens the protection consumers already get from HUID-based hallmarking.

What happens if a jeweller or AHC doesn't comply?

BIS has stated it's increasing monitoring for misuse of hallmarks and pursuing legal action against non-compliant entities under the BIS Act, 2016.