Published: 1 March 2026DD NewsEconomy
Sixth Phase of Mandatory Gold Hallmarking Adds Seven Districts Including Beawar, Rajasthan
The Government of India implemented the sixth phase of mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and gold artefacts, adding seven more districts effective from March 2, 2026. The new districts are Rupnagar (Punjab), Banda (Uttar Pradesh), Beed (Maharashtra), Gomati (Tripura), Katihar (Bihar), Beawar (Rajasthan), and Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh).
With this expansion, the total number of districts under mandatory hallmarking has reached 380. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) reported that over 60 crore gold items have been hallmarked with a unique Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number since the programme's launch on July 1, 2021. The initiative protects consumers from fraud by ensuring gold purity standards.
0Mains angle
Q: Assess the consumer-protection and market-standardisation impact of mandatory gold hallmarking, with specific reference to the sixth-phase expansion covering Beawar in Rajasthan.
Answer (50 words):
Effective 2 March 2026, the sixth phase added seven districts—Rupnagar, Banda, Beed, Gomati, Katihar, Beawar and Neemuch—raising the mandatory-hallmarking footprint to 380 districts. BIS data show over 60 crore items carry the HUID since the 1 July 2021 launch, protecting consumers from purity fraud and standardising Rajasthan's jewellery trade.
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Frequently asked questions
What changed in the sixth phase of mandatory hallmarking from March 2, 2026?
The Government of India implemented the sixth phase of mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and gold artefacts from March 2, 2026. The phase added seven more districts.
Which seven districts were added to mandatory gold hallmarking in the sixth phase?
The new districts are Rupnagar in Punjab, Banda in Uttar Pradesh, Beed in Maharashtra, Gomati in Tripura, Katihar in Bihar, Beawar in Rajasthan, and Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh.
How many districts are now under mandatory hallmarking after the sixth phase?
With the sixth phase expansion, the total number of districts under mandatory hallmarking has reached 380.
What did BIS report about HUID-based hallmarking, and why is the initiative important?
The Bureau of Indian Standards reported that over 60 crore gold items have been hallmarked with a unique Hallmark Unique Identification number since the programme's launch on July 1, 2021. The initiative protects consumers from fraud by ensuring gold purity standards.
