A silver ornament may have a purity stamp, a seller's tag or a printed certificate, but those are not interchangeable with a verifiable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmark. India's silver hallmarking system changed significantly in September 2025. Buyers now have a practical way to verify the Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) attached to newly hallmarked silver jewellery and articles. This guide explains what to check, what the app actually proves, and how to handle an uncertain result.
Is silver hallmarking mandatory in India?
Silver hallmarking itself remains voluntary. The Government of India confirmed this in December 2025. However, HUID is mandatory for silver items that are hallmarked under the revised scheme from 1 September 2025. These two rules are sometimes confused: an unhallmarked silver product is not automatically illegal merely because it lacks HUID, but a seller should not represent an ordinary stamp as a new BIS hallmark.
The applicable silver jewellery and artefact standard is IS 2112:2025, which replaced IS 2112:2014. Its seven listed purity grades are 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990 and 999. They express parts of silver per thousand parts of the alloy. For example, 925 means 92.5% silver, while 999 means 99.9% silver by mass. The older 900 grade does not appear in the new seven-grade list.
The three marks to look for on newly hallmarked silver
Under the revised system, a new silver hallmark has three elements. Examine the actual article, ideally with a magnifying glass, rather than relying on an online product photograph.
- BIS Standard Mark with the word SILVER: the government standard-mark component.
- Purity grade: one of the seven approved fineness grades under IS 2112:2025.
- HUID: a unique six-character alphanumeric identifier that can be checked through BIS Care.
Older articles hallmarked before the transition may carry the earlier multi-part marking format. A different-looking old hallmark therefore deserves a check of its age and documentation, not an immediate accusation of counterfeiting. Conversely, a loose '925' or '999' stamped on metal is not by itself proof that BIS has tested that article.
How to verify a silver HUID with the BIS Care app
- Download the official BIS Care app from the link on the BIS app information page, rather than following a seller's unverified installation link.
- Select Verify HUID. The BIS app supports verification of hallmarked precious-metal items carrying a HUID.
- Enter the six-character code found on the silver article. Verify the characters carefully; a printed invoice may not necessarily display the HUID.
- Compare the result with the piece in your hand. The government's silver-HUID announcement says the system can provide the article type, purity grade, hallmarking date, assaying-centre details and jeweller registration information for applicable newly hallmarked items.
- If the details fail to match, pause the purchase. Ask the seller to resolve the discrepancy and, if necessary, consult BIS or a BIS-recognised assaying and hallmarking centre.
A positive app result is an important traceability check. It does not mean the retailer's selling price, making charges, weight, buyback promise or GST calculation has been certified as fair. Those still need to be checked separately.
Does a hallmark guarantee a good silver price?
No. Hallmarking addresses the declared fineness of the metal article, not the retail invoice. Start with a dated IBJA Silver 999 benchmark and remember that the association publishes it per kilogram, before GST and making charges. For jewellery, ask the shop to state the net silver weight, purity, labour charge, any stones or non-silver parts, tax and final amount.
A hallmark showing 925 cannot be compared with the price of 999 silver as though both contain the same amount of metal. For more detail, see our existing 925 vs 999 silver guide and the silver price calculator. Neither calculation turns a national benchmark into a guaranteed local store quote.
What if the seller cannot verify the HUID?
Ask for the original invoice, details of the article and a chance to check the actual hallmark under adequate light. Do not accept a screenshot of somebody else's successful HUID result as evidence about the item being offered. BIS-recognised assaying and hallmarking centres can perform consumer testing for a charge, subject to their current procedures. For an unresolved consumer dispute, preserve the invoice, photographs and communications; the government's National Consumer Helpline provides an additional route for assistance.
There is a difference between a purity dispute, a pricing dispute and an advertisement dispute. Record the problem precisely. A retailer's written statement of weight, purity and charges is far more useful later than an oral guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Do all silver coins and bars in India need a HUID?
Do not assume every silver product has the same hallmarking rule. The cited government announcement concerns silver jewellery and articles under the voluntary hallmarking scheme. For bars or coins, check the specific product's declared purity, refiner information, invoice and any applicable certification separately.
Is a 925 stamp enough to prove authenticity?
No. It states a claimed fineness but is not necessarily a verifiable BIS hallmark. Where a current BIS hallmark is claimed, check all its components and the HUID result.
Can BIS Care show who hallmarked an item?
For applicable newly hallmarked silver items, the government's explanation says the app can show identification information including assaying-centre details and a jeweller registration number. The result should be checked against the actual article.
What if I already own older hallmarked silver?
The new three-element system began in September 2025. Earlier articles can have an older marking format. If uncertain, retain purchase records and ask BIS or an approved testing centre about the correct verification method.
Sources and verification
- Government of India, PIB: Voluntary Based Silver Hallmarking Begins from September 1st 2025.
- Government of India, PIB: Update on Mandatory HUID for Silver Jewellery, 4 December 2025.
- BIS: BIS Care app.
- IBJA: Published silver rate methodology and units.
Reviewed 8 October 2026. Regulatory requirements can change; check BIS for subsequent amendments before relying on this guide.
