Is silver hallmarking mandatory in India?

BIS mandatory hallmarking for gold jewellery became mandatory in phases from 2021. For silver, BIS has been expanding the hallmarking framework — mandatory silver hallmarking is being rolled out for silver jewellery across India in phases, with the goal of covering all categories of silver articles sold by registered jewellers. As of 2026, mandatory silver hallmarking applies to silver jewellery sold by BIS-registered dealers in notified cities. Check the BIS website for the current list of notified items and cities, as the rollout schedule is updated regularly.

What does 925 silver mean?

925 silver (also called sterling silver) means the piece is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (typically copper, which improves hardness and durability). The BIS hallmark for 925 silver shows the purity as '925' alongside the BIS triangle logo and, for hallmarked pieces, a HUID code. Sterling silver is the most common standard for jewellery globally. 999 silver is 99.9% pure silver — softer, used for coins and bars but not common for wearable jewellery as it bends easily.

How do I verify a silver HUID in India?

Silver HUID verification works the same as gold HUID: download the official BIS Care app (available on Android and iOS), select 'Verify Hallmark', and enter the 6-character alphanumeric HUID code stamped on the piece. The app will show the metal type (silver), purity (925 or 999), the hallmarking centre, and the jeweller who had the piece hallmarked. If the HUID is not found or shows mismatched details, do not purchase the piece.

Is silver jewellery without a hallmark fake in India?

Unmarked silver jewellery is not necessarily fake, but it is unverified. Before BIS mandatory hallmarking, most silver jewellery in India was sold without formal purity certification — the market operated largely on jeweller trust and reputation. Under the expanding mandatory hallmarking regime, silver sold by registered jewellers in notified categories should carry a BIS hallmark. Silver sold at unregistered street vendors, craft markets and rural fairs may still be unverified. An acid test or XRF test at any BIS hallmarking centre can establish the actual purity of unmarked silver for ₹100–₹300 per piece.

What is the difference between BIS hallmarked silver and 925 stamped silver?

Any manufacturer can stamp '925' on a piece regardless of actual purity — it is a self-declaration that is not externally verified. BIS hallmarking (with the BIS triangle logo and HUID) is different: the piece has been submitted to a BIS-accredited assaying and hallmarking centre, independently tested, and certified to the declared purity. A piece with only a '925' stamp and no BIS triangle has no independent verification. A piece with the BIS hallmark + HUID has government-backed certification. Always look for the BIS triangle, not just the purity number.

Silver Hallmarking in India 2026: BIS HUID Rules for Buyers and Jewellers

For decades, silver jewellery in India was the wild west of the jewellery market. While gold buyers had BIS hallmarking protections, silver buyers had nothing but the jeweller's word for purity. You could buy a "925 silver" piece and receive anything from genuine sterling to heavily copper-alloyed metal with a thin silver coating. That is changing as BIS mandatory hallmarking expands to silver. Here is what you need to know as a buyer in 2026.

Why silver purity has historically been unverified in India

India has a massive silver market — annual silver consumption is approximately 4,000–5,000 tonnes, used across jewellery, silverware, religious articles (idols, pooja items), industrial applications and investment. But unlike gold, which has been under BIS mandatory hallmarking since 2021 for jewellery, silver's hallmarking framework has been slower to develop.

Reasons for the delay: silver's lower per-gram value made the hallmarking cost (₹35–₹100 per piece at a BIS centre) a proportionally higher overhead for lower-priced pieces. A ₹200 silver anklet paying ₹50 for hallmarking represents 25% overhead — unviable for mass-market producers. The BIS framework has been working to address this through bulk hallmarking procedures and lower per-piece costs for high-volume producers.

The current BIS silver hallmarking framework (2026)

BIS has three hallmark components for silver jewellery, identical in structure to gold:

BIS logo: The triangle with "BIS" — confirms the piece was submitted to an accredited centre
Purity mark: 999 (fine silver), 970, 925 (sterling), 900, 835, 800 — the most common for jewellery are 999 and 925
HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification): A 6-character alphanumeric code unique to each piece (or batch for uniform pieces)

A fully hallmarked silver piece carries all three. The HUID on silver can be verified through the same BIS Care app used for gold HUID verification. This is the most important check a buyer can make for hallmarked silver — it confirms the piece was genuinely submitted to a BIS centre and passed the purity test at the declared standard.

Silver purity standards: what the numbers mean

Mark	Silver %	Common Use
999 (Fine silver)	99.9%	Coins, bars, high-purity investments, some premium articles
970	97%	Silverware, high-purity religious articles
925 (Sterling silver)	92.5%	Jewellery — the international standard for wearable pieces
900	90%	Coins, traditional items
835	83.5%	Cutlery, utility silverware
800	80%	Older silverware, some regional jewellery

For jewellery, the consumer expectation in most markets (and the global standard) is 925 sterling. When Indian jewellers say "pure silver jewellery," they typically mean 925 — but without a hallmark, there is no verification. Silver at 800 or lower looks identical to 925 on a finished polished piece.

How to verify silver purity in 2026

Method 1: BIS Care app (for hallmarked pieces)

If the piece has a BIS hallmark and HUID, open the BIS Care app → Verify Hallmark → enter the 6-character code. The app returns the metal type, purity, hallmarking centre and the registered jeweller. This takes 30 seconds and is 100% reliable for genuinely hallmarked pieces.

Method 2: Acid test (for unverified pieces)

At any BIS hallmarking centre or reputable assay shop, a silver acid test determines purity quickly. Different nitric acid concentrations produce different colour reactions with different silver alloys. Cost: ₹50–₹200 per piece. This is worth doing for any significant silver purchase without a hallmark — a 200-gram silver article at ₹9,500/100g = ₹19,000; verifying its purity for ₹100 is a sensible precaution.

Method 3: XRF testing

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing gives precise purity percentages without damaging the piece. Available at most BIS hallmarking centres and large jewellery assay labs. Cost: ₹200–₹500 per piece. Results in under 5 minutes. This is the most accurate non-destructive method.

What to look for when buying silver jewellery

As mandatory hallmarking expands, here is the buying hierarchy in 2026:

Best: BIS hallmark with HUID + invoice from a registered jeweller. Verify HUID via BIS Care app before purchase.
Acceptable: BIS hallmark with purity mark and assaying centre code, even without HUID (some older or low-value pieces may not have HUID). The BIS triangle logo is the key indicator.
Risky: Only a purity stamp (925, 999) without BIS logo. Self-declared, not independently verified.
Avoid (for significant purchases): No marking at all, or only a brand name. No purity guarantee.

For small-value silver items (under ₹500), hallmarking may not yet be mandatory in all categories — craft-market anklets, mass-market fashion jewellery. Exercise judgement based on purchase value and category.

For jewellers: what the BIS silver hallmarking regime requires

BIS-registered jewellers in categories and cities covered by mandatory silver hallmarking must:

Send silver articles to a BIS-accredited Assaying and Hallmarking (A&H) centre before sale
Only sell silver jewellery that has been hallmarked by an accredited centre
Maintain purchase and sale records of hallmarked silver articles
Not re-stamp or alter hallmarks — only the A&H centre can apply the BIS mark

Penalties for selling non-hallmarked silver in mandated categories: ₹1 lakh fine or 1 year imprisonment or both under BIS Act 2016. The enforcement regime is being tightened alongside the gold hallmarking enforcement.

For the specific current list of notified silver articles and cities under mandatory hallmarking, check the BIS website — bis.gov.in. The government notification numbers and scope are updated as the rollout progresses.

For a full comparison of silver vs gold as investment assets in India, see our gold investment guide. To understand the gold HUID system (same framework as silver), see our gold HUID verification guide. To find BIS-registered jewellers selling verified silver in your area, use our jeweller directory.