Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This article highlights the BIS Care app’s new feature, enabling gold buyers to instantly verify jewelry authenticity via HUID codes—a practical step toward consumer protection and transparency.
Dharamshala. It has now become easier for gold jewelry buyers to distinguish between real and fake ornaments. With the help of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) BIS Care app, consumers can verify the authenticity of purchased jewelry on their mobile phones. To do this, simply enter the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code engraved on the jewelry. Within seconds, complete information about the jewelry will appear on the screen.
Sanjeev Verma, a jewelry seller from Dharamshala, explained that customers should first download the BIS Care app on their smartphones. Then, click on the “Verify HUID” option provided in the app and enter the six-digit HUID code engraved on the jewelry. Upon searching, the screen will display the name of the relevant establishment and its owner, the purity grade of gold or silver, the type of jewelry, and the date of hallmarking. If no record is found after entering the HUID, or if the recorded details do not match the jewelry, the item may be suspicious or fake. In such a case, consumers can also file a complaint through the app.
Abhimanyu, President of the Dharamshala Jewellers Association, said that during hallmarking, the jewelry’s information is recorded in the BIS database. This includes purity according to 24, 22, or 18 carats, jewelry weight, design photo, details of diamonds and other metals, and the name and address of the shopkeeper and establishment. This is why consumers can easily verify all jewelry information through the HUID. For hallmarking, up to four jewelry items are included for a fee of up to 200 rupees. For additional items beyond that, a charge of approximately 54 rupees per extra piece is levied.