Though the government has deferred a plan for compulsory hallmarking of gold jewellery after resistance from the jewellers, the increased number of licences have helped it in increasing quality adherence in the precious metal.
Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in jewellery. The standrads are used in many countries as a guarantee of purity. The Bureau of Indian Standards, under the Consumer Affairs Ministry, is the administrative authority of hallmarking.
Starting from 186 licences in 2001, the government has issued 6,775 licences till June 30, 2009, an official release said, adding that more than 140 hallmarking centers, out of which 21 are run by the government, have been set up across the country.
Licencee jewellers can get their gold articles hallmarked from any of these recognised centres. Over six crore articles have been given hallmark as on May 31, 2009, compared to 93,000 jewellery items that had been hallmarked in 2001.
The objective of hallmarking is to protect the public against adulteration by manufacturers, the release said.
