NEW DELHI, AUGUST 21 (IANS): The central government on Friday launched an online facility for the registration of jewellers as well as assaying and hallmarking centres and their renewals thereafter.
The facility can be accessed through the Bureau of Indian Standards portal www.manakonline.in.
Launching the online facility, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said that it was difficult to manually handle a large number of requests for registrations.
He said that the online system will ensure ease-of-doing business for both jewellers and entrepreneurs who have set up assaying and hallmarking centres or wish to do so. Hallmarking of precious metals will be mandatory from June 1, 2021.
Speaking to reporters through videoconference, Paswan said that there will be no human interface in processing the applications.
"Now, jewellers can apply online and submit the necessary documents and fees for obtaining licences through this online portal," he said.
After applicants submit their application along with requisite fees, they will get a registration number through email and SMS alert. Later, certificate of registration can be downloaded and printed by using the same registration number, said a BIS official at the press conference.
Paswan said that with hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts becoming mandatory, the government expected the number of jewellers coming forward for registration to go up to 5 lakh from the current 31,000.
The minister said that the number of jewellery and artefacts to be hallmarked will also see a big jump.
"It is estimated that the number may go up to 10 crore from the present 5 crore. This will necessitate increase in the number of assaying and hallmarking too," he added.
At present, 921 such centres are located in 234 districts of the country.
The BIS is presently working on operationalising the assaying and hallmarking centres in 480 more districts by June 2021, Paswan said.
He said that BIS hallmark will be issued for three categories only -- 14 (14K585), 18(18K750) and 22 (22K916) carats only with A&H centre's identification mark/number and jewellers' identification mark/number.
Paswan said that the online system of audit will facilitate expeditious disposal of complaints regarding malpractices in the hallmarking of jewellery items.
He said that the BIS was also working on a module to automate the work-flow of the assaying and hallmarking centres, which is expected to be ready by December 2020.
