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Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi attends GJS to celebrate 25 years of gold jewellery hallmarking in India
Announces Hackathon for non-destructive testing in collaboration with BIS and GJC
The Indian gems and jewellery industry witnessed a momentous occasion as Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Minister of New & Renewable Energy, graced the prestigious GJS at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. The event also marked the 25th anniversary of hallmarking of gold in India, a significant milestone in ensuring quality, transparency, and consumer trust in the industry. The show is organised by the apex industry All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) and scheduled from 4th to 7th April 2025.
Addressing the gathering, Pralhad Joshi applauded the efforts of jewellers in adopting hallmarking, which has played a crucial role in protecting consumer interests while strengthening India’s position as a trusted market for gold jewellery. He highlighted the government’s commitment to further streamlining hallmarking regulations to make compliance easier for jewellers and beneficial for consumers. Prominent jewellers and trade representatives took the stage to celebrate the success of hallmarking, reflecting on how the initiative has safeguarded buyers and boosted India’s exports in the global jewellery market.
The event saw participation from leading jewellers, industry stakeholders, and international visitors, making it a highly successful gathering.

Pralhad Joshi remarked, “Indian Gems & Jewellery industry has been a cornerstone of our nation’s heritage and will continue to drive the economic progress. There are 650 + owned and accredited Laboratories of BIS, and it has reached every corner of the nation to focus in ensuring quality products are given to the consumers. It is imperative that we develop the system to ensure there are no misuses of HUID and collectively with joint efforts from all stakeholders, we also focus on increasing the Assaying Hallmarking Centres (AHC) across India. Currently 361 districts are covered in the mandatory regime and let us jointly target to reach 500 districts this year. We firmly believe in Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of ease of business and the Ministry is willing to provide its full support to the industry and I am happy to announce that BIS in collaboration with GJC is launching National Hackathon to invite innovative and practical solutions to develop scalable, cost-effective & non-destructive testing for the gold jewellery.”
Rajesh Rokde, Chairman, GJC, remarked, “It is with immense pride and gratitude that we welcome Shri Pralhad Joshi, to this grand occasion. Your presence reflects the government’s continued support for our industry, and we deeply thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us. We, as an industry, take immense pride in our transparency and the legacy of trust that our gold, vouched for by generations, represents. Today, we look forward to the government recognizing us with a fresh perspective—as a trading community with a positive attitude and a vision to make hallmarking mandatory across the nation. Honourable Minister’s announcement of Hackathon today marks a new chapter in our journey, and we are extremely positive about the future. Together, we will continue to uphold purity, trust, and innovation for a brighter tomorrow.”


Avinash Gupta, Vice Chairman, GJC, commented, “On behalf of the GJC and the entire G&J Industry, we express our heartfelt gratitude to Shri Pralhad Joshi for celebrating 25 years of gold hallmarking in India with his esteemed presence at our exhibition GJS. His presence highlights the transformation of the Gem & Jewellery industry into a trusted and well-structured sector. We deeply appreciate his announcement of the groundbreaking hackathon with GJC and BIS, aimed at developing non-destructive testing for hallmarking jewellery. This initiative will revolutionize the industry, enhancing efficiency and consumer confidence. His support inspires us to make India a global leader in the Gems & Jewellery sector. Thank you for your invaluable contributions toward a brighter future.”
Saiyam Mehra, Convenor, GJS, said, “It is my distinct honour to welcome Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Minister of New & Renewable Energy, to the grand occasion of GJS 2025. This is truly a special moment for the 7th edition of GJS as we celebrate the 25 years of hallmarking in India with the Honourable Minister. As we move forward, this milestone reminds us of our collective responsibility to uphold the values of purity and trust, ensuring continued prosperity for both jewellers and consumers.”

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India’s Jewellery Exports Targeted At USD 100 Billion: WGC
Over The Next 5 To 7 Years, Nearly 20 To 25% Of India’s Gold Consumption Could Come From Domestic Mines.
The 14th edition of the Delhi Jewellery & Gem Fair (DJGF) 2026, organised by Informa Markets in India, concluded at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, brought together 650+ exhibitors, 3,000+ jewellery brands and 150,000+ designs under one roof. The three-day B2B exhibition, held from September 26–28, 2026, witnessed participation from jewellery manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, exporters and allied industry professionals from across India.
The grand expo was inaugurated by esteemed dignitaries including Chief Guest, Shri Praveen Khandelwal, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Pramod Derawala, Chairman, NJGCI ; Sachin Jain, Regional CEO-India, World Gold Council; Ramavtar Verma, Chairman, TBJA; Naveen Kumar Jindal, Senior Chairman, TBJA; Pankaj Arora, National President, AIJGF; David Lynn, CEO, inD; alongside Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India; and Pallavi Mehra, Senior Group Director, Informa Markets in India.
Addressing the need to strengthen the competitiveness and export potential of the jewellery industry, Shri Praveen Khandelwal, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, said:

“India’s gems and jewellery sector exports approximately Rs 2.5 lakh crore worth of goods against imports of around Rs 1.65 lakh crore, reflecting its strong export orientation and contribution to the country’s trade. As we work towards the government’s 2030 export ambitions, the industry must strengthen the journey from ‘Vocal for Local’ to ‘Local to Global’ through investment, skill development and greater value addition.
Equally important is recognising and upskilling our artisans, whose craftsmanship directly contributes to product quality and global competitiveness. Building their capabilities will help Indian jewellery become more competitive and strengthen its presence across international markets.”
Highlighting the growth opportunities for India’s jewellery sector and the need to strengthen the value chain, Pramod Derawala, Chairman, National Jewellery & Gemstone Council of India (NJGCI), said:
“India’s jewellery sector has significant growth potential across manufacturing and exports, supported by government initiatives and greater market access through FTAs. Countries with which India has signed FTAs import nearly USD 55 billion worth of jewellery, while India’s share is around USD 8 billion, indicating considerable scope for expansion. Rising gold prices are also shifting consumer preferences towards lightweight jewellery, while over 90% of high-value jewellery purchases continue through physical retail.

As the industry adapts and grows, strengthening value addition and ensuring better livelihoods and social security for skilled workers must remain a priority. Platforms such as the Delhi Jewellery and Gems Fair help bring the industry together to strengthen the ecosystem and support sustainable growth.”
Sachin Jain, Regional CEO, India, World Gold Council said:

“India’s gold and jewellery industry has significant opportunities ahead as the country progresses towards Viksit Bharat 2047, with the economy expected to grow from USD 4.5 trillion to USD 30 trillion. India is already the world’s leading gold jewellery market, and the Swarnim Udaan 2047 roadmap outlines the industry’s growth potential. Over the next 5 to 7 years, nearly 20 to 25% of India’s gold consumption could come from domestic mines, while jewellery exports are targeted at USD 100 billion. With nearly 31,000 tonnes of gold held by Indian households and a median age of 28 years, financialization, innovation and evolving consumer demand can unlock greater economic value.
Platforms such as the Delhi Jewellery and Gems Fair encourage industry collaboration and knowledge exchange, helping strengthen India’s capabilities to serve and shape the global jewellery market.”
Highlighting the business opportunities emerging from the platform, Ramavtar Verma, Chairman, The Bullion & Jewellers Association (TBJA), said:
“With nearly 600 to 650 exhibitors bringing together gold, diamond, silver and specialised jewellery alongside technology and industry solutions, DJGF reflects the scale and diversity of India’s jewellery trade. Such platforms are increasingly important for generating business opportunities, strengthening sourcing and trade networks, and connecting manufacturers, retailers, craftsmen and brands. The integration of design, technology and craftsmanship will be critical as the industry responds to changing consumer preferences and builds new avenues for growth.”

Speaking about the structure and business realities of India’s jewellery sector, Naveen Kumar Jindal, Senior Chairman, The Bullion & Jewellers Association (TBJA), said:

“India’s jewellery industry has a substantial unorganised base, with Delhi alone having nearly 45,000 to 50,000 people working in this segment, while the gold artisan workforce across the country is estimated at around 5 lakh. With margins in the volume business as low as 1.5 to 2%, jewellers need to continuously focus on design, craftsmanship, affordability and operational efficiency. Exhibitions such as DJGF, with participation from India and overseas, provide access to new designs, products and ideas that can help businesses remain competitive and identify new growth opportunities.”
Focusing on greater representation for small and medium-sized jewellers, Pankaj Arora, National President, All India Jewellers & Goldsmith Federation (AIJGF), said:
“Over the past five years, we have worked consistently to bring the concerns and business realities of small and medium-sized jewellers to the forefront. It is important that their challenges are adequately represented in discussions with the government and reflected in the policy ecosystem. Platforms such as DJGF further strengthen industry dialogue by bringing stakeholders together and giving businesses an opportunity to collectively discuss issues that affect their growth.”

Speaking on India’s growing role in the global jewellery market, David Lynn, CEO, inD, said:

“India combines strong consumer demand, manufacturing depth and craftsmanship with an increasingly global outlook. The country exported USD 27.7 billion of gems and jewellery in 2025-26, with the UAE alone accounting for USD 8.7 billion, while studded gold jewellery exports grew 60% and silver jewellery exports by more than 50%. As high gold prices shift demand towards lightweight, studded and design-led jewellery, the opportunity lies in creating greater value through design, technology, craftsmanship and stronger brands. With international buyers from 14 countries participating at DJGF, the platform is helping connect India’s manufacturing capabilities with new buyers, markets and business opportunities globally.”
Speaking on the occasion, Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said:
DJGF 2026 reflects these evolving market dynamics by bringing together a diverse jewellery and allied industry ecosystem, creating opportunities for businesses to discover new collections, explore technology and manufacturing solutions and engage with potential partners. With its focus on sourcing, retail, innovation and knowledge exchange, the exhibition provides a platform for the industry to respond to changing demand while identifying new avenues for business growth and collaboration.”

Commenting on changing consumer preferences amid sustained high gold prices, Atul Jain, General Secretary, Delhi Jewellers Association, said:

“Consumers have largely absorbed the higher gold prices, but buying behaviour has clearly evolved, with more than 50% of retail business now coming through old gold jewellery exchange. Demand is shifting towards lightweight designs with lower gold weight or caratage, while coloured gemstones are seeing wider acceptance and design remains central to purchase decisions.
Gen Y and Gen Z are increasingly gravitating towards minimalistic jewellery, while global fashion trends are reaching markets such as India, China and New York almost simultaneously through digital influence. Indian manufacturing today is at par with the best globally, and we expect DJGF to reflect the same standards of design, innovation and craftsmanship seen at leading international jewellery shows.”
Carrying forward its 14-year legacy as the region’s quintessential B2B market platform, DJGF 2026 has reaffirmed its iconic status as the “Apna Delhi Wala Show.” Perfectly timed ahead of the upcoming festive and wedding buying rush, this year’s edition delivers an expanded buyer program and unprecedented product diversity to empower Northern India’s retail ecosystem.
DJGF 2026 continues to receive strong support from leading regional and national trade associations, including The Bullion & Jewellers Association Delhi (TBJA), Karol Bagh Jewellers Association, Delhi Jewellers Association, Mumbai Wholesale Gold Jewellers Association, Maliwara Jewellers Association, Dariba Jewellers Association, All India Jewellers & Goldsmith Federation (AIJGF), and Gurugram Jewellers Association, further reinforcing its credibility and trade reach across the ecosystem.
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