From September 1, buying silver in India will come with a new layer of security—hallmarking. Just like gold, silver jewellery will now carry official purity marks certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), ensuring buyers can verify authenticity with ease.
In Madhya Pradesh alone, 350 jewellers across 36 districts have already registered to sell hallmarked silver.
The 3 Hallmark Signs on Silver
Every hallmarked silver item will display:
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BIS logo – proof of certification.
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Purity grade – for example, “999” means 100% pure silver.
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Six-digit alphanumeric code – a unique identification number.
“These markings will guarantee purity and stop adulteration in silver jewellery, just as hallmarking did for gold since 2000,” said Navneet Agarwal, spokesperson for the Bhopal Sarafa Association.
Why Silver Hallmarking Matters
India is one of the world’s largest consumers of precious metals. In 2024, Indians bought 802.8 tonnes of gold, while silver consumption in 2023 touched nearly 10,000 tonnes, according to The Silver Institute.
Officials say silver hallmarking is aimed at building the same trust that gold hallmarking brought 25 years ago. Chitra Gupta, Deputy Director General of the BIS Hallmarking Department, said, “Now, like gold, three marks on silver jewellery will indicate its purity.”
Benefits for Consumers
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Guaranteed purity: Buyers will no longer have to rely only on the seller’s word.
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Stronger trust: Confidence in silver’s authenticity will rise, as it did with gold.
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Easier resale: Hallmarked silver will be easier to sell, without disputes over adulteration.
Silver as an Investment
Beyond jewellery, silver’s demand is also growing in industries like electronics and electricals. Rising consumption has pushed up prices, making silver a strong investment option.
Aditya Manya Jain, CEO of Kalpataru Multiplier Ltd, noted that silver can also be bought “on paper” through instruments like Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). These funds have delivered up to 32% returns in a year, without the costs of jewellery-making charges or storage worries.
For buyers, this festive season marks a turning point: every silver bangle, chain, or coin with a BIS hallmark is more than just jewellery—it’s a certified guarantee of purity and trust.
