National News
GJC celebrates 25 years of gold hallmarking in India with felicitation of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
In a momentous occasion for India’s jewellery sector, the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) marked 25 years since the introduction of gold hallmarking in India with a grand celebration and felicitation ceremony honoring Pralhad Joshi, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Minister of New & Renewable Energy at GJS 2025
The event served not only as a tribute to the journey of hallmarking in India but also as a platform to chart an ambitious roadmap for the future, with a strong focus on expanding hallmarking coverage and fostering technological innovation.
In recognition of his continued support and instrumental role in advancing hallmarking reforms, Pralhad Joshi was felicitated by GJC for his leadership in steering policies that balance consumer protection with industry development. His ministry’s efforts, in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), have been central to enhancing transparency and quality assurance in the jewellery sector.
In his address, Shri Joshi reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening consumer trust while also simplifying compliance for jewellers. He emphasized the hallmarking system as a critical trust-building mechanism and a significant step toward formalizing and modernizing the Indian gold market.
One of the most significant announcements of the event was a joint goal set by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, BIS, and the jewellery industry: to expand mandatory gold hallmarking to 500 districts across India by the end of this financial year.
This expansion aligns with the broader objective of ensuring uniform quality standards nationwide, preventing consumer fraud, and integrating small and medium jewellers into the formal economy. GJC pledged its full support to assist local jewellers in meeting compliance standards and making hallmarking services accessible, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
In a groundbreaking move to stimulate innovation in hallmarking technology, GJC and BIS jointly announced the launch of a Hackathon aimed at developing a non-destructive testing (NDT) method for hallmarking gold.
This initiative seeks to address a long-standing concern within the industry: the challenge of verifying hallmark authenticity without damaging the piece of jewellery. Currently, traditional methods often involve partial damage or alteration during testing, which discourages on-the-spot verification by consumers and retailers.
The hackathon is open to startups, research institutions, technologists, and innovators across India and will offer funding and incubation support to viable solutions. A successful NDT mechanism would be a game-changer for quality assurance, enabling real-time, damage-free hallmark authentication across retail outlets, trade shows, and even by consumers themselves.
The celebration of 25 years of hallmarking is a testament to India’s evolution into a more structured and credible jewellery market. From its early stages to now becoming an integral part of the industry’s value chain, hallmarking has grown into a symbol of trust, quality, and consumer empowerment.
With the government, BIS, and GJC joining hands to drive expansion and innovation, the next phase of hallmarking promises to be more inclusive, tech-enabled, and consumer-centric than ever before. The GJC’s proactive role in bridging policy, practice, and innovation reinforces its commitment to nurturing a responsible, transparent, and globally competitive jewellery sector in India.
National News
Kerala Chief Minister’s Presence Marks Grand Finale Of KJIF 2026 As State’s Jewellery Industry Charts New Growth Vision
Three-Day B2B Fair Concludes With Record Participation, Strong Business Momentum and Unprecedented Government Support.
The fifth edition of the Kerala Jewellery International Fair (KJIF) 2026 concluded on an exceptional note, reinforcing Kerala’s position as one of India’s most influential jewellery markets. Organised jointly by the Kerala Gold & Silver Merchants Association (KGSMA) and United Exhibitions, the three-day B2B exhibition witnessed remarkable business activity, record industry participation, knowledge-sharing initiatives and an unprecedented level of government engagement.

The grand finale of the exhibition was marked by the Kerala Jewellers State Convention, where Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri V. D. Satheesan, addressed an audience of more than 5,000 jewellers, manufacturers, retailers, industry leaders and stakeholders from across the state. His presence elevated the stature of the convention and reaffirmed the Government’s recognition of Kerala’s jewellery sector as a vital contributor to the state’s economic development.
In his keynote address, the Chief Minister acknowledged Kerala’s longstanding leadership in the gold and diamond industry, describing the sector as a major driver of employment, entrepreneurship, exports and wealth creation. He highlighted the industry’s resilience, craftsmanship and global reputation while encouraging greater adoption of technology, innovation, responsible business practices and international competitiveness. Expressing confidence in Kerala’s jewellery fraternity, he called upon the industry to continue playing a transformative role in shaping the state’s economic future.
The State Convention also provided an important platform for meaningful interaction between policymakers and industry leaders, facilitating discussions on the future of the jewellery trade, sustainable growth, evolving consumer expectations and policy support required to strengthen one of Kerala’s most vibrant business sectors.



Distinguished Dignitaries Throughout the Three-Day Event
KJIF 2026 witnessed the participation of several eminent dignitaries throughout the exhibition, reflecting the growing importance of the jewellery industry within Kerala’s economic landscape.
The exhibition was formally inaugurated by Shri P. C. Vishnunadh, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism and Culture, while the official unveiling of KJIF 2026 was performed by Shri P. K. Kunhalikutty, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, IT & AI, who appreciated the exhibition’s contribution towards promoting business, manufacturing excellence and industrial growth.
The inaugural evening concluded with the spectacular KJIF Fashion Nite & Gala Dinner, graced by Shri Roji M. John, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education, who interacted with industry members and appreciated the creativity and craftsmanship displayed by exhibitors.
On the second day, Smt. Shanimol Usman, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, visited the exhibition and commended the industry’s continuous contribution towards employment generation and entrepreneurship.
Day 2 concluded successfully with the presence of Shri Ramesh Chennithala, Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs and Vigilance, who shared his memories of interacting with Malayalee karigars across other states and stressed the importance of bringing that employment and craftsmanship back to Kerala while developing the state into India’s jewellery export hub.
The exhibition concluded with the Kerala Jewellers State Convention, where Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri V. D. Satheesan delivered the valedictory address, making the closing ceremony one of the most memorable moments in the history of KJIF.
Alongside the Chief Minister, Shri Benny Behnan, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri Roji M. John, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education, KGSMA State President Shri K. Surendran, State General Secretary Adv. S. Abdul Nazar, State Treasurer Shri C. V. Krishna Das, Shri V. K. Manoj, Project Director of United Exhibitions, Shri Varghese Alukka, Managing Director of Jos Alukkas Jewellery, along with the Vice Presidents and Secretaries of KGSMA, were present on the dais.
Outstanding Business Response
KJIF 2026 recorded an overwhelming response from jewellery retailers and trade buyers from every district of Kerala. The exhibition witnessed a strong influx of quality business visitors, resulting in productive interactions between exhibitors and buyers.
Exhibitors expressed high levels of satisfaction with the quality of footfall, reporting encouraging order enquiries, advance festive bookings and significant business generated across gold, diamond, bridal and contemporary jewellery collections. The exhibition once again established itself as Kerala’s most preferred sourcing platform ahead of the festive and wedding seasons.
Knowledge-Driven Industry Engagement
Beyond business, KJIF 2026 continued its commitment to industry development through a series of well-attended knowledge sessions.
The Banking Seminar brought together leading financial institutions and jewellery entrepreneurs to discuss banking solutions, working capital support, digital banking and financial best practices.
The seminar titled “Jewellery Business for Today & Future” featured eminent industry experts who shared valuable insights into changing consumer behaviour, organised retail, digital transformation, branding strategies and emerging opportunities within the jewellery sector.
The Youth Wing Seminar focused on preparing the next generation of jewellery entrepreneurs through discussions on leadership, succession planning, innovation and business sustainability, inspiring young professionals to take the industry forward.
Fashion Walk Adds Glamour to Opening Day
Adding elegance and excitement to the inaugural evening was the Fashion Walk Powered by Malayala Manorama, which presented exquisite jewellery collections through a professionally curated runway showcase. The event beautifully blended craftsmanship with contemporary design, providing participating exhibitors an exclusive platform to unveil their latest collections before Kerala’s leading retailers and industry professionals.
KJIF Strengthens Its Position as South India’s Premier B2B Jewellery Exhibition
The overwhelming response from exhibitors, visitors, trade associations and business partners reaffirmed the Kerala Jewellery International Fair as one of South India’s most influential B2B jewellery exhibitions.
By successfully integrating business networking, government participation, knowledge exchange and premium lifestyle experiences under one platform, KJIF 2026 once again demonstrated its commitment to strengthening Kerala’s jewellery ecosystem and creating new opportunities for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers alike.
With record participation, strong business outcomes, impactful industry discussions and the distinguished presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, KJIF 2026 concluded on a historic note, setting new benchmarks for the jewellery industry and paving the way for an even stronger, more innovative and globally competitive future for Kerala’s gold and diamond sector.
The next edition of the Kerala Jewellery International Fair (KJIF) will be held from 2nd to 4th July 2027.
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