If you’re planning to buy gold jewellery this festive season, there’s an important update you need to know before you step into a store. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has officially increased the gold hallmarking fee from ₹45 to ₹75 per article — a steep 67% hike — just weeks before Navratri, Dhanteras, and Diwali, India’s peak gold-buying season.
What Exactly Changed?
Under the newly notified BIS (Hallmarking) Amendment Rules, 2026, the hallmarking charge for every gold jewellery article has been raised from ₹45 to ₹75, effective September 14, 2026. This change applies specifically to gold hallmarking fees, while silver hallmarking charges remain unchanged at ₹35 per article, meaning silver jewellery buyers won’t see any difference in these particular charges.
In addition to the per-article fee, a consignment-level charge of ₹3.50 per article applies, with a minimum charge of ₹15 per consignment. Importantly, the minimum fee for an entire consignment remains capped at ₹200, unchanged from before. Applicable taxes will continue to be charged separately, on top of these hallmarking fees.
Who Actually Pays This Fee?
It’s important to understand that the hallmarking fee is technically paid by jewellers to BIS-recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) — not directly by consumers at the point of sale. This means a gold jewellery purchase won’t automatically show a flat ₹30 increase on the bill. However, industry experts note that jewellers often factor such operational costs into their overall pricing and making charges, meaning the effect could indirectly trickle down to customers over time, especially during high-demand periods like the festive and wedding season.
Why the Timing Matters
This hallmarking fee hike comes at a particularly sensitive time for gold buyers. India’s festive season — spanning Navratri, Dussehra, Dhanteras, and Diwali — is traditionally the busiest period for gold and jewellery purchases, driven by cultural and religious significance around buying gold for prosperity and good fortune. Wedding season demand also typically overlaps with this period, further amplifying gold purchase volumes nationwide.
With gold prices in India already experiencing significant volatility in 2026 — including record highs followed by sharp corrections — this additional cost layer adds another factor for consumers to weigh when planning big-ticket gold purchases this season.
What Should Gold Buyers Do?
Financial experts commonly suggest that buyers:
- Compare making charges and hallmarking-related costs across jewellers before purchasing
- Check for BIS hallmark certification to ensure purity and authenticity
- Track daily gold rates closely, especially around festive dates like Dhanteras
- Factor in all applicable charges — not just the gold rate — when budgeting for jewellery purchases
The Bigger Picture
This move reflects BIS’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and formalize India’s gold hallmarking ecosystem, ensuring quality assurance infrastructure remains sustainable even as gold demand continues to rise nationwide. For now, buyers heading into the festive season should factor this updated fee structure into their overall gold-buying budget.