New Delhi: Gold jewellery buyers will now have to pay a higher hallmarking charge after the government increased the fee for hallmarking gold articles by 67%. The revised charge came into effect on September 14, 2026, taking the fee from ₹45 to ₹75 per gold article.
The increase means customers getting gold jewellery hallmarked will pay more, although the actual amount will depend on the number of articles submitted. A minimum consignment charge of ₹200 will apply, which is particularly important for customers submitting only one or two gold articles.
The hallmarking fee for silver, however, has remained unchanged at ₹35 per article.
Gold hallmarking fee rises from ₹45 to ₹75
Under the revised fee structure, the hallmarking charge for gold has increased by ₹30 per article.
The earlier fee was ₹45, while customers must now pay ₹75 for each gold article submitted for hallmarking. This represents an increase of approximately 67%. The revised rate is effective from September 14.
Hallmarking is an important part of India’s jewellery market as it certifies the purity of precious-metal articles. The higher fee will therefore be relevant to consumers purchasing or submitting gold jewellery for hallmarking.
Minimum ₹200 charge applies
The biggest immediate impact for customers submitting a small number of articles comes from the minimum consignment charge.
The government has set a ₹200 minimum charge for gold consignments. This means the per-article calculation will not necessarily be the amount a customer pays when only one or two articles are submitted.
For example, if a customer submits one gold article, the normal calculation would be ₹75. However, because the minimum consignment charge is ₹200, the customer will pay ₹200.
For two articles, the per-article charge would work out to ₹150. Again, the minimum ₹200 charge will apply.
For three articles, however, the calculation reaches ₹225. Since this is higher than the minimum charge, the customer will pay ₹225.
What customers pay
| Gold articles submitted | Per-article calculation | Amount payable |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ₹75 | ₹200 |
| 2 | ₹150 | ₹200 |
| 3 | ₹225 | ₹225 |
| 4 | ₹300 | ₹300 |
This structure means the minimum charge has a greater impact on customers submitting one or two articles.
Silver hallmarking fee remains unchanged
There is no corresponding increase in the hallmarking fee for silver.
The existing charge of ₹35 per silver article will continue under the revised fee structure.
Therefore, the latest change is specifically focused on gold hallmarking charges and does not alter the existing fee applicable to silver articles.
What is hallmarking?
Hallmarking provides consumers with information about the purity of precious-metal articles.
For gold jewellery, hallmarking helps buyers verify the declared purity of the gold they are purchasing. The process is particularly relevant in India’s large jewellery market, where gold ornaments are commonly purchased for weddings, festivals, investment and other occasions.
The revised fee does not change the purity standards themselves. Instead, it changes the amount charged for the hallmarking service.
Gold and silver prices remain in focus
The increase in hallmarking charges comes at a time when precious-metal prices remain closely watched by consumers and investors.
According to the NDTV Profit report, the gold price was last checked at ₹1,51,350 per 10 grams, while silver stood at ₹2,31,880 per kg.
With gold prices already representing a significant portion of the final cost of jewellery, buyers may also need to account for additional components such as making charges, taxes and now the revised hallmarking fee when applicable.
However, the hallmarking fee itself is relatively small compared with the value of the gold in most jewellery purchases.
How the new fee affects buyers
The impact of the revised fee will depend largely on the number of gold articles involved.
Customers submitting one or two articles will face the ₹200 minimum charge. Those submitting three or more articles will generally pay ₹75 per article, provided the resulting amount exceeds the minimum consignment charge.
For example, a customer submitting five gold articles would pay ₹375 in hallmarking charges under the new rate.
The change could therefore be more noticeable for small consignments, where the ₹200 minimum applies.
Gold buyers should check the bill
Consumers purchasing gold jewellery should carefully check their invoices and understand the different components included in the final price.
The cost of a jewellery purchase can include the gold value, making charges, applicable taxes and other charges. Where hallmarking charges are separately included, buyers can check whether the amount corresponds with the number of articles and the applicable fee structure.
The revised hallmarking fee of ₹75 per gold article is effective from September 14, while the ₹200 minimum consignment charge also applies under the new structure.
Key points for gold and silver buyers
The latest changes can be summed up as follows:
- Gold hallmarking fee: ₹75 per article
- Earlier gold fee: ₹45 per article
- Increase: ₹30 per article, or about 67%
- Effective from: September 14, 2026
- Minimum gold consignment charge: ₹200
- Silver hallmarking fee: ₹35 per article, unchanged
- One gold article: ₹200 minimum
- Two gold articles: ₹200 minimum
- Three gold articles: ₹225
The higher gold hallmarking fee adds another cost for consumers, particularly those submitting smaller consignments. At the same time, the unchanged silver fee means silver jewellery buyers will not see a similar increase in hallmarking charges.
For gold buyers, the key change from September 14 is simple: the standard hallmarking fee has moved from ₹45 to ₹75 per article, with a minimum charge of ₹200 per consignment.