New Delhi: India is the largest importer of gold. Every year 700-800 tonnes of gold is imported into the country. Gold is seen as the most sacred metal here. Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan appealed to the Ministry of Commerce to approve the proposal to make BIS hallmarking mandatory for gold jewellery before Diwali. Paswan said that at present, hallmarking of gold is voluntary. It is considered to be proof of the purity of the precious metal.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is the administrative authority overseeing hallmarking. For gold jewellery, he has three hallmarking grades - 14 carats, 18 carats and 22 carats. However, the Ministry of Commerce can issue a notification to implement any mandatory regulation after notifying the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Paswan said, 'We have sent a proposal to the Ministry of Commerce to allow mandatory hallmarking for gold jewellery. In the interest of consumers, it should be approved on a priority basis before Diwali. Currently, there are around 800 hallmarking centres across the country and only 40 per cent of jewellery is 'hallmarked'. The demand for gold jewellery is high during the Diwali festival.

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