Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, organised a Jewellers Awareness Programme on Hallmarking at Hotel Kasi's Inn, Velankanni Bypass Road, Thiruvarur, in association with Thiruvarur Kasukadai Varthagargal Sangam. The programme was organised to enhance awareness among jewellers from Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts regarding BIS Hallmarking requirements, regulatory provisions, compliance obligations and digital services offered by BIS for facilitating seamless implementation of hallmarking.
The programme witnessed active participation from jewellers and representatives of local jewellers’ associations from Mannargudi, Thiruthuraipoondi, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam.
S. D. Dayanand, Scientist–F / Senior Director & Head, BIS Chennai Branch Office, delivered the welcome address and outlined the objectives of the programme. He highlighted the pivotal role played by BIS in ensuring quality, safety and consumer confidence through the formulation of Indian Standards, product certification schemes, hallmarking and various consumer-centric initiatives.
Emphasising the significance of hallmarking, S. D. Dayanand stated, “BIS Hallmarking serves as a vital assurance of purity and quality for consumers purchasing gold and silver jewellery. At a time when precious metals represent a significant financial investment for households, hallmarking provides transparency and confidence to buyers. Equally important, it safeguards the interests of genuine jewellers by promoting fair trade practices, strengthening credibility and fostering trust in the marketplace. BIS remains committed to creating a robust hallmarking ecosystem through awareness, facilitation, surveillance and enforcement.”
He further informed participants that BIS regularly undertakes market surveillance and enforcement activities to curb the sale of non-hallmarked jewellery and ensure compliance with the provisions of the BIS Act and Hallmarking Regulations. He urged jewellers to strictly adhere to hallmarking requirements and maintain the declared purity standards in the interest of consumers and the jewellery trade.
A detailed technical presentation was delivered by Akshay Kaushik, Scientist–D / Joint Director, BIS Chennai Branch Office. During the session, he explained the key provisions of the Hallmarking Scheme, registration procedures for jewellers, responsibilities of registered jewellers, hallmarking processes, HUID requirements, compliance expectations and the relevant provisions of Indian Standards pertaining to gold and silver jewellery. He also elaborated on the procedures, documentation requirements, digital services available through the e-BIS portal and the various measures that jewellers can adopt to ensure smooth and compliant operations.
Representatives of the Thiruvarur Kasukadai Varthagargal Sangam and jewellers' associations from Mannargudi, Thiruthuraipoondi, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam were felicitated during the programme in appreciation of their valuable support in facilitating industry outreach and enhancing awareness on hallmarking among jewellers across the region.
An interactive Open House discussion was conducted subsequently, wherein participating jewellers actively engaged with BIS officials and sought clarifications on hallmarking norms, HUID generation, registration procedures, compliance requirements, portal-related services and regulatory provisions. The queries raised by participants were addressed in detail by BIS officials, who also assured continued guidance and support for effective implementation of hallmarking requirements.
The programme reinforced BIS’s commitment to strengthening the hallmarking ecosystem in Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts by equipping jewellers with the necessary knowledge, regulatory clarity and digital tools required to ensure quality, compliance and consumer trust.
Consumers and industry stakeholders were also advised to verify the authenticity of ISI Mark licences, Hallmark registrations and Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) registrations through the BIS Care App, BIS portal or by scanning QR codes, wherever applicable.