Voluntary-based silver hallmarking under revised rules begins; here’s how you can check silver purity

After the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) revised the hallmarking standards for silver articles, Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID)-based hallmarking for silver jewellery and articles on a voluntary basis started from September 1, 2025. The revised version, IS 2112:2025, replaced the earlier version of IS 2112:2014, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a statement. Under the hallmarking scheme for silver jewellery, silver jewellers are granted certificates of registration in accordance with IS 2112 to sell hallmarked silver jewellery.

After the revised hallmarking standards came into effect, consumers will be able to identify the article type, purity grade/fineness of article, the date of hallmarking (first point of sale), AHC’s details (recognition No., name and address) and jeweller’s registration No. of the silver jewellery/artefacts, hallmarked after 01 Sept 2025, using the BIS Care App.

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According to the Bureau of Indian Standard social media post, “With effect from 1st September 2025, only the new scheme will be applicable. Under the revised system, each silver article will carry the BIS logo with the word SILVER, the fineness grade, and a unique HUID.”

The revised standards, IS 2112:2025, with have some of these features:

• Each piece of silver jewellery or article will carry a HUID-based hallmarking, equipped with a digitally traceable identification code.
• Silver will now be hallmarked with any of the seven purity grades — 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990, and 999. New grades 958 and 999 have also been added to the list.
• The new hallmark will consist of three components:

· Standard Mark with the word SILVER
· Purity Grade
· HUID Code

Earlier, hallmarking was done in six purity grades (800, 835, 900, 925, 970, and 990) and it carried four components: BIS Mark along with the word ‘SILVER’, purity grade/fineness, Assay (testing) Centre’s identification mark and jeweller’s/manufacturer’s identification mark.

Currently, around 230 BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) are spread across 87 districts in India for the testing of silver jewellery. In FY 2024–25 alone, more than 32 lakh silver articles were hallmarked.

What are the benefits of new hallmarking?

The main benefit of hallmarking is traceability. Using the BIS Care App, customers will be able to check key details of any hallmarked silver item purchased after September 1, 2025, including:
The type of article
Purity grade/fineness
The date of hallmarking (first point of sale)
Assaying and the hallmarking centre details (recognition number, name, and address)
Jeweller’s registration number

How to check silver purity?

Step 1: Find the six-digit alphanumeric HUID number engraved on your silver jewellery
Step 2: Download the BIS Care mobile application on your smartphone. Register your mobile number
Step 3: Enter the HUID number into the designated field within the app to verify the details of the jewellery

What is Hallmarking?

Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metals in jewellery or artefacts. It is essentially a guarantee of purity given to consumers. In India, the hallmarking of precious metals is carried out as per IS 15820, and BIS is the authorised body responsible for it.