India�s standards-setting body, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), is planning to establish a scheme for the assaying of silver jewellery and artefacts. During a recent meeting held in Surat in the state of Gujarat, experts from the BIS�s metallurgical division and the Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) authorised the Gujarat Gold Centre, an assaying and hallmarking centre for gold jewellery, to conduct silver hallmarking in the state.

�There are two other centres from Mumbai and Delhi, but currently the silver committee of the metallurgical division is gauging the market specifics of hallmarking standards,� said Sneh Batla, the additional general and head of BIS�s hallmarking division. �Market impact and impact on prices owing to hallmarking is also under evaluation,� she added.

�Indians have a tendency to use more silver compared to the rest of the world. We have found that impure silver in large quantities is being circulated in the market,� said I.J. Ray of the Indian government�s mint department.

�Hallmarking will ensure that at least silver used in jewellery is non-toxic in nature and conforms to health standards,� he remarked.

The BIS�s headquarters in New Delhi has received close to 4,000 applications for establishing private hallmarking centres for silver. �We hope to be a hallmark centre for silver this year itself,�� said IDI executive director K.K. Sharma, anticipating strong demand in the near future.