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Government mulls unique ID for hallmarked jewelry sold across India

The government is working to give a unique ID to each piece of hallmarked jewellery that is sold through registered jewellers and BIS recognized hallmarking centres in India, to Sunil Soni, director general of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

“This will help in curbing duplication and help in traceability (i.e. in case you happen to buy one such piece you can hold someone responsible if it is found to be sub-standard),” he told officials of the The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) during the 7th International Gold Summit.

According to Soni, consumers will start getting an ATM size like a card while purchasing hallmarked jewelry, which will be fully traceable even through mobile phone and the whole history could be checked.

There are over 13,000 licensed jewellers registered by the BIS and over 300 hallmarking centres recognised by BIS across India. THe sale of hallmarked gold jewellery in the country is growing at an annual rate of 25 percent and reached 2.6 crore pieces last year.

Soni emphasised that making jewellery hallmarking system in India more reliable is a step to improving the competitiveness of Indian industry and protect Indian consumers in a much better way.