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
Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Inaugurates HK Group & Dholakia Foundation’s Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar
Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Inaugurates HK Group & Dholakia Foundation’s Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar
The Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar in Amreli, Gujarat, constructed by the Hari Krishna Group and the Dholakia Foundation, was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah on 27 August 2026. Shri Harsh Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, was among the dignitaries present at the inauguration of the 21-acre water conservation project, which has a capacity of 400 million litres and is intended to support water availability for agriculture and drinking, as well as groundwater conservation. Savji Dholakia and Ghanshyam Dholakia represented the Hari Krishna Group.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Amit Shah highlighted the importance of conserving rainwater and replenishing groundwater, noting that the new sarovar will support water availability for agriculture and drinking, while contributing to groundwater conservation.Shri Amit Shah also acknowledged the water conservation initiatives led by Savji Dholakia, Founder of the Hari Krishna Group. He noted that Savji Dholakia has built 208 lakes for water conservation and highlighted his contribution while speaking about the Padma Shri honour conferred on him.
The Hon’ble Home Minister also highlighted the expansion of lakes and check dams, river rejuvenation and other water conservation initiatives across Gujarat. He cited the SAUNI Yojana, which channels surplus Narmada water into reservoirs and rivers in Saurashtra, and said Narmada water is being stored in approximately 10,000 ponds across North and Central Gujarat.
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