The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Friday announced the inclusion of 9 Karat gold under the list of mandatory hallmarking categories, effective July 2025.
The standard defines specifications for fineness and marking of gold jewellery and artefacts.
With this inclusion, the list of hallmarking grades now comprises: 24KF, 24KS, 23K, 22K, 20K, 18K, 14K and now 9K (with minimum fineness of 375 parts per thousand).
Jewellers and hallmarking centres are required to comply with this addition under the BIS regulations, said All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council in a post on X.
“9 Karat Gold (375 ppt) is now officially under mandatory hallmarking as per BIS Amendment No. 2 All jewellers & hallmarking centres must comply,” the council said.
As per the amendment, 9 Karat gold, earlier not included in the mandatory hallmarking system, will now be brought under the same regulatory framework that ensures consumer transparency in purity standards.
Welcoming the move, Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO, Senco Gold Ltd. called 9 kt hallmarking a great initiative by Govt.
“9 kt hallmarking is a great initiative by Govt to make the diamond and gold jewellery more affordable and easier for the consumer to buy jewellery in the high gold price. The modern designs can come out smartly in the 9 kt and companies can continue to innovate with designs and styles due to this imitative. It will also boost exports for future,” Sen said.
The revised BIS standard also updates definitions and exclusions.
Gold watches and pens have been excluded from the definition of artefacts. A gold coin under this specification is defined as a flat sheet of 24KF or 24KS gold produced only by mints or refineries and having no legal tender value.
Hallmarking, governed by the BIS Act, 2016, certifies the proportionate content of precious metal in jewellery and artefacts.
