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
Aspect Bullion & Refinery to launch 50 gold and silver vending machines nationwide on Akshaya Tritiya

Aspect Bullion and Refinery, a division of Aspect Global Ventures, has announced plans to roll out 50 gold and silver vending machines in the next 12-18 months. These state-of-the-art bullion vending machines have been indigenously developed by Aspect Bullion, assuring complete control over the planogram, software backend, and customer interface, reinforcing Aspect Bullion’s commitment to innovation, transparency and consumer trust. Strategically designated to be placed at high-footfall locations such as major malls, airports, temples, airports and more, the vending machines are designed to make purchasing precious metals faster, safer, and more accessible than ever before. Very soon, the brand will open another store in Mumbai and begin exploring franchise opportunities across India.
In the lead-up to Akshaya Tritiya — a festival synonymous with prosperity and gold purchases — Aspect Bullion has unveiled its first bullion vending machine at R City Mall, Ghatkopar, Mumbai. Shoppers can experience this innovative offering firsthand from April 26 to May 4, 2025.

Commenting on the initiative, Aksha Kamboj, Vice President, India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA) and Executive Chairperson, Aspect Global Ventures said, “Gold and silver have always been an important part of India’s culture and traditions. With our vending machine, we are combining tradition with technology to make buying precious metals easier, safer, and more transparent. Our goal is to give people a simple, convenient, and trusted way to invest in gold and silver. We are proud to launch India’s first bullion vending machine, and we believe this will change how consumers buy precious metals, especially during important occasions like Akshaya Tritiya.”
Each vending machine will offer a curated range of gold and silver coins and bars, featuring exclusive designs and premium packaging. Equipped with real-time market pricing, customers can view live rate updates at the point of purchase.
Security has been a top priority: the machines feature biometric authentication, live CCTV surveillance, backend tracking, and robust anti-tampering technology. Purchases can be completed in under three minutes using a variety of payment options, including UPI, Google Pay, and debit/credit cards. A digital and printed receipt is provided instantly, making the process seamless — simply select, pay, collect, and go. This seamless process allows customers to take spot possession of gold and silver coins, making the purchasing experience truly worthwhile
Aspect Bullion’s vending machine rollout marks a significant shift toward a modern, tech-enabled future for bullion retail in India — while staying true to the tradition and trust that gold embodies.
National News
Gold prices in India, international market dip sharply

Gold prices in India today fell sharply just two days ahead of the major gold-buying festival, Akshaya Tritiya 2025, which will be celebrated on April 30 (Wednesday). The gold rate in India at the beginning of this week showed signs of weakness, following the global spot gold price trend.
As of Monday, April 28, the 22-carat gold rate in India slipped massively by Rs. 620 per 10 grams to cost Rs. 89,400 per 10 grams. While the 24-carat gold prices today dropped hugely by Rs. 680 and are currently at Rs. 97,530 per 10 grams. Similarly, the 18-carat gold rate today retails at Rs 73,150, which dropped by Rs 510.
Gold rates in India are mirroring international market movements. US Gold prices dropped on Tuesday as softening trade tensions between the U.S. and its trading partners dulled the metal’s safe-haven appeal, while investors awaited U.S. economic data to assess the Federal Reserve’s policy path.Spot gold was down 0.8% at $3,314.65 an ounce, as of 0619 GMT. U.S. gold futures lost 0.7% to $3,324.20.
National News
Hari Krishna Exports Mumbai Office celebrates sports day 2025 with energy and smiles

Hari Krishna Exports’ Mumbai office came alive with cheers, excitement, and team spirit during the Annual Sports Day 2025.The event was organized to promote better health, stronger unity, and a sense of teamwork among employees.
Esteemed dignitaries from the diamond industry, along with Ghanshyambhai Dholakia and his family, graced the occasion and encouraged everyone with their presence.
The day began on a heartfelt note with the National Anthem, setting a patriotic tone. Soon after, the field lit up with energy as the games began in full swing.
From cricket tournaments and volleyball to ring football, tug-of-war, kabaddi, kho-kho, running races, and box cricket — both male and female employees participated enthusiastically with bright smiles.
It was wonderful to see everyone, from the youngest members to senior leaders, stepping onto the field with equal excitement.
Winners and runners-up were rewarded with cash prizes, diamond jewelry, branded shoes, and sports watches — a token of appreciation from Hari Krishna Exports for their efforts and team spirit.
To beat the summer heat, ORS water stalls were set up, and a delicious lunch was arranged for everyone.The event was even more special as employees’ families were also invited. Their cheers and support added warmth and joy to the entire atmosphere.

Ghanshyam Dholakia, our visionary founder, shared heartfelt words, praising the energy, effort, and passion shown by every member present.He said, “I saw the energy and love for sports in every participant, from the youngest to the oldest. It made me very happy.””My Hari Krishna team is like my family. I will continue to organise such activities every year with this familyEven those who did not win in this competition are winners for me.”
Sports Day 2025 was not just a celebration of fitness and fun but also a beautiful reminder of the togetherness that makes Hari Krishna Exports truly a family.
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