How to Verify Gold Hallmark and HUID in India (2026)

Quick Answer — How to Check Gold HUID

1. Download the BIS CARE app (free on Android / iOS).
2. Find the 6-digit alphanumeric HUID engraved on the gold piece.
3. Open the app → tap Verify HUID → enter the code → Search.
4. Confirm the jeweler name, karat, and AHC match what you were told.
5. If the app shows “HUID not found” — do not buy the piece.

What Is BIS Hallmarking?

BIS hallmarking is a quality certification system administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. When a jeweler submits a gold article to a BIS-recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC), the centre tests the metal's actual purity using fire assay or X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and stamps the piece with official hallmarks confirming the tested result.

Before 2021, hallmarking was voluntary and widespread fraud occurred. BIS hallmarking was made mandatory from June 2021 in a phased rollout, and since April 2023 it is fully mandatory nationwide for all gold jewelry with a purity of 14K, 18K, 20K, 22K, 23K, or 24K. Selling non-hallmarked gold jewelry in India is a criminal offence under the BIS Act, 2016.

The 3 Components of a BIS Hallmark

A genuine BIS hallmark contains exactly three marks, usually laser-engraved on an inconspicuous part of the jewelry — the inner band of a ring, the clasp of a necklace, or the reverse of a pendant. Learn to identify all three before buying.

Before the HUID system, hallmarks had a 4th component — the Jeweler's Identification Mark (JIM). The HUID system replaced JIM from September 2021 onward because HUID encodes the jeweler identity in a searchable database, enabling app-based verification.

Karat Purity Marks at a Glance

The purity mark tells you exactly what percentage of the piece is pure gold. The number after “K” is the parts-per-thousand gold content (millesimal fineness). BIS permits the following purity grades for gold jewelry:

See our Gold Purity Guide for a full explanation of how karat affects price, durability, and what to choose for jewelry versus investment.

How to Verify HUID Using the BIS CARE App

The BIS CARE (Consumer Affairs Redressal and Engagement) app is the official free tool from the Bureau of Indian Standards. It is the most reliable way to verify hallmarked gold before purchase.

Step 1 — Download BIS CARE

Search for “BIS CARE” on the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS). The app is free and published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (developer name: bisgovin). Do not download lookalike apps — the official app has the BIS logo and is from a Government of India publisher.

Step 2 — Find the HUID on the Jewelry

Ask the jeweler to show you the hallmark before purchase. On rings and bangles, the hallmark is typically on the inner surface. On necklaces, check the clasp. On pendants, check the reverse side. The HUID is a 6-character code — such as “AB5C72” or “T4X9KL” — a mix of uppercase letters and digits, laser-engraved and clearly legible.

Step 3 — Verify in the App

1. Open BIS CARE → tap Verify HUID.
2. Enter the 6-digit HUID code exactly (the app is case-insensitive).
3. Tap Search / Verify.
4. The result shows: jeweler name, BIS licence number, article type, metal, karat purity, assaying centre name, and date of hallmarking.

Step 4 — Cross-Check the Details

Confirm that:

• The jeweler name matches the shop you are in.
• The karat/purity shown in the app matches the stamp on the piece (both should say 22K916, or both 18K750).
• The article type makes sense for what you are buying (ring, necklace, bangle).

A genuine jeweler will welcome this verification. If the seller objects to you checking the HUID, treat that as a red flag and leave.

What HUID Verification Confirms (and What It Does Not)

What a verified HUID confirms:

• The gold article was tested at a BIS-recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre.
• The purity result in the BIS database matches the mark on the piece.
• The jeweler who submitted the piece holds a valid BIS licence.
• The article has not been flagged as stolen or counterfeit in the BIS system.

What a verified HUID does NOT confirm:

• Weight: The HUID does not tell you the current weight. Weigh the piece yourself on a calibrated scale, or watch the jeweler weigh it in front of you.
• Making charges: The HUID has no pricing information. Always get an itemized invoice showing gold weight × rate + making charges + GST. See our Making Charges Guide.
• Resale value: HUID confirms purity; it does not guarantee that a jeweler will buy the piece back at a specific rate.

What to Do If HUID Is Missing or the App Shows “Not Found”

If the piece has no HUID at all:

Since April 2023, any new gold jewelry sold in India without a HUID is illegal. If a jeweler offers new jewelry without HUID, ask for documentation. The only acceptable exception is old stock hallmarked before September 2021 under the previous system (which used a Jeweler Identification Mark instead of HUID). For all new purchases, insist on a HUID or walk away.

If the BIS CARE app shows “HUID not found”:

This is a serious red flag. It means the code on the piece is not registered in the BIS national hallmarking database. Possible causes:

• Counterfeit hallmark: Fraudsters laser-engrave convincing-looking codes that are not registered in the BIS system.
• Unauthorized hallmarking: Only BIS-recognized AHCs can issue valid HUIDs.
• Typo: Verify you entered the HUID exactly. If the app still returns nothing after two careful attempts, the hallmark is suspect.

In any of these cases: do not buy. You can file a complaint with BIS directly in the BIS CARE app, or contact the BIS toll-free helpline.

If HUID is registered but details do not match:

If the app returns a valid result but the jeweler name, karat, or article type does not match what you are being sold — the HUID may have been copied from a different piece (a known fraud technique). Do not purchase, and consider filing a BIS complaint.

Common Gold Hallmark Fraud Patterns (2024–2026)

Knowing how fraud happens helps you ask the right questions before purchase.

• Fake BIS stamps: Counterfeit stamps that look like the BIS triangle. Without app verification, these are very difficult to spot by eye alone. Always verify the HUID in the app.
• HUID cloning: Taking a real HUID from one hallmarked piece and engraving it on multiple lower-purity pieces. The app confirms the HUID exists — but the article type and weight will not match what you are holding. Cross-check all fields shown in the app.
• Post-hallmarking dilution: Replacing part of a hallmarked piece (e.g., the inner core of a bangle) with lower-purity gold or base metal after hallmarking. Check that seams and joins look clean and match the rest of the piece.
• Pre-2021 stock misrepresentation: Older pieces with the pre-HUID hallmark (which had a Jeweler ID mark instead of HUID) are legitimate. However, fraudsters sometimes use old-style marks on newly manufactured impure pieces. For any piece claimed as old stock, ask for documentation and be especially careful.
• Piece switching at handover: A documented scam: showing a hallmarked piece for approval, then handing over a different (unmarked or lower-karat) piece at packaging. Always check the hallmark again just before paying.

Buying From a BIS-Licensed Jeweler

Every jeweler who sells hallmarked gold must hold a BIS Jeweler Registration Certificate (JRC). You can verify a jeweler's BIS licence in the BIS CARE app under “Verify Jeweler”, or on the BIS website at bis.gov.in.

A BIS-licensed jeweler is legally required to:

• Sell only hallmarked gold jewelry for the permitted karats.
• Provide an itemized purchase invoice with weight, karat, making charges, and GST.
• Not charge the buyer a separate hallmarking fee (hallmarking cost is the jeweler's responsibility).
• Maintain records of all hallmarked articles purchased from AHCs.

For a complete guide to the buying process including price negotiation and what to look for in your invoice, see our How to Buy Gold in India guide.

Frequently Asked Questions