National News
GJEPC Chairman Meets New Customs Commissioner to Strengthen Trade Facilitation
Mr. Kirit Bhansali welcomes Commissioner Santosh Kumar Mishra, discussing industry challenges and reaffirming collaborative efforts for smoother gem and jewellery trade.
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) extended a warm welcome to Mr. Santosh Kumar Mishra, the newly appointed Commissioner of Customs at the Precious Cargo Customs Clearance Centre (PCCCC), during a meeting with Mr. Kirit Bhansali, Chairman of GJEPC.
During the meeting, Mr. Bhansali addressed several critical issues currently affecting exporters and importers in the gem and jewellery sector. He emphasized the need for continued support from the Customs department to ensure streamlined and efficient trade processes.

Commissioner Mishra expressed his appreciation for the constructive dialogue and assured the industry’s stakeholders of his department’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the ease of doing business. He stated, “When you flourish, we flourish, and the country flourishes,” underlining the significance of a strong, collaborative relationship between Customs and trade organizations like GJEPC.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, setting the stage for strengthened cooperation and proactive engagement to address industry concerns and enable seamless operations in India’s gem and jewellery trade ecosystem.
National News
Government adds 7 new districts for mandatory gold hallmarking, taking total to 380
New Delhi, March 5, 2026 — In a decisive step towards fortifying consumer safeguards and elevating transparency in the precious metals ecosystem, the Central Government has promulgated the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2026, effective March 2, 2026. This pivotal amendment, issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and published in the Official Gazette, revises the territorial annexure originally established under the 2020 Hallmarking Order.
The notification substitutes the prior district schedule with an optimized, expanded framework, progressively incorporating additional jurisdictions to achieve broader nationwide coverage. As part of the sixth phase of phased implementation, this update integrates seven new districts—Rupnagar (Punjab), Banda (Uttor Pradesh), Beed (Maharashtra), Gomati (Tripura), Katihar (Bihar), Beawar (Rajasthan), and Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh)—elevating the total number of districts under mandatory BIS hallmarking to 380.
This calibrated expansion aligns with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, and follows extensive stakeholder consultations, underscoring the Government’s commitment to public interest priorities. In notified districts, all gold jewellery and artefacts must now bear the authoritative BIS hallmark, encompassing the BIS logo, precise purity grade (covering 14K to 24K caratages), and requisite identification marks. This standardized certification mechanism effectively mitigates adulteration risks, empowers informed consumer decision-making, and fosters greater accountability across the gold value chain.
Building on successive amendments—including the most recent prior update in July 2025—the 2026 Order accelerates the phased mandate initiated in 2021, transitioning from initial coverage of 256 districts towards comprehensive penetration in tier-2 and tier-3 markets. The initiative reinforces trust in domestic gold transactions amid elevated commodity prices and positions India’s jewellery sector for enhanced global competitiveness through uniform quality assurance protocols.
Industry participants in the newly designated districts are advised to expedite alignment with BIS certification and assaying requirements to ensure seamless compliance and uninterrupted operations.
This forward-looking regulatory measure reaffirms the Government’s proactive stance in delivering value-driven consumer protection while driving sustainable growth in one of India’s cornerstone retail and cultural sectors.
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