A Laboratory Conclave on Assaying and Hallmarking of Gold and Silver Alloys, Jewellery, and Artefacts was successfully conducted at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Southern Regional Laboratory, Taramani, Chennai.
The conclave brought together key stakeholders associated with the assaying and hallmarking of precious metals, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, discussion of challenges, and exploration of future opportunities in the sector.
Smt. Nishat Sultana Haque, Deputy Director General (Laboratories), delivered the keynote address, highlighting the importance of quality assurance and standardization in the precious metals industry. Shri SK Kanogia, Deputy Director General (South), outlined the objectives of the programme and emphasized the role of collaboration among stakeholders.
Shri M. A. J. Vinod, Scientist F and Senior Director and Head, Southern Regional Laboratory, BIS, highlighted the importance of such forums and their role in improving the effective implementation of the hallmarking scheme in India to protect consumer interests.
Ms. Nisha Bura, Head (Hallmarking), BIS Delhi, presented an overview of the current scenario in hallmarking, with a special focus on silver. She discussed emerging challenges and shared future projections, underscoring the need for strengthening systems and processes to meet evolving industry requirements.
The conclave witnessed participation from around 100 assaying and hallmarking centres across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The event was conducted in both offline and hybrid modes, enabling wider participation and engagement.
Participants benefitted from the deliberations, gaining valuable insights into regulatory developments, technical advancements, and best practices in the assaying and hallmarking of precious metals.