BIS
BIS is widening its certification reach, raising the gold hallmarking fee from ₹45 to ₹75 per article (Hindustan Times, 16 Sept) and making screen protector certification mandatory from 1 April 2027 (Business Today, 22 Sept). Industry pushback on certification costs and supply delays has the government weighing QCO exemptions (Financial Express, 30 Aug).
What it means Jewellers and importers of unbranded goods face higher compliance costs and tighter checks.
Latest moves
Our read of each move first, where we have one; what the report said is marked Reported.
- Reported: BIS’s ₹38.72 crore upgrade of 21 cotton-testing labs should give textile and apparel operators more consistent fibre-quality data, helping reduce sourcing variability and improve traceability across supply chains.Reported: BIS allocates ₹38.72 crore to modernise 21 cotton-testing laboratoriesWatch:
- Reported: The 67% hallmarking-fee hike is a modest but broad margin headwind for gold jewellers, with the greatest pressure on value-led and smaller-ticket retailers if they cannot pass costs through.Reported: BIS raises gold hallmarking fee 67% to ₹75 per article before festive demandWatch:
Background
From 6 stories, the newest dated 14 Oct 2026. Summary written 15 Oct 2026.
BIS, the Bureau of Indian Standards, licenses refineries and mints under its Silver Refinery Scheme, which hallmarks bullion and coins at 999.9, 999.5, 999.0 ppt.[1] source: PIB India
Show 3 more paragraphs and 6 sources
The scheme was launched on 14 October 2026 at World Standards Day in New Delhi, where BIS also released seven Indian Standards, including EV charging cables, pedal-assisted bicycles and therapeutic footwear.[1] source: PIB India BIS registration will be mandatory for smartphone screen protectors from April 1, 2027, the 66th product notified under compulsory registration.[2] source: ET Retail
BIS raised its gold hallmarking fee to ₹75 per article from ₹45 with immediate effect, under an amendment notified on September 14, 2026.[3] source: Business Standard The silver fee remains ₹35 per article.[3] source: Business Standard The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) sought restoration of the ₹45 charge and estimated around ₹400 crore in additional costs.[4] source: ET Small Business About 1,500-odd authorised hallmarking centres must submit six-character HUIDs and jewellery photos to BIS.[5] source: Financial Express In a Financial Express report, BIS Director General Sanjay Garg said mandatory QCO coverage fell from a peak of around 750 products to 624, after 50 orders covering 54 products were withdrawn, and that licence validity rose to five years.[6] source: Financial Express
Sanjay Garg is named as BIS Director General.[6] source: Financial Express The Department of Consumer Affairs is the department named alongside BIS on quality control orders.[6] source: Financial Express
Sources
Questions about BIS
Who leads BIS?
BIS is led by Director General Sanjay Garg, who said mandatory QCO coverage fell to 624 products from a peak of around 750.[6] source: Financial Express
What has BIS changed for retailers recently?
BIS raised its gold hallmarking fee to ₹75 per article from ₹45 with immediate effect in September 2026, under an amendment notified on September 14, 2026; the silver fee stays ₹35 per article.[3] source: Business Standard
More stories about BIS
Stories that mention BIS
4 stories
BIS is named in these stories but is not their subject.
- Helmet makers urge supply-chain crackdown as Karnataka targets unsafe half-helmets and fake ISI marks
- India to roll out machine-readable smart standards, ease minor retail compliance breaches
- Consumer Affairs Secretary urges FMCG, food and retail to strengthen grievance redressal
- DPIIT operationalises Transition Facilitation Order, easing quality certification across 10 QCOs