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Now, jewellers can apply online for registration, renewal, hallmarking

Launching the online system on Friday, Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said it can be accessed through the Bureau of Indian Standards web portal www.manakonline.in.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 22 Aug 2020, 1:37 am

Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (C) (PHOTO: PIB)
Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (C) (PHOTO: PIB)

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and several restrictions, an online system of registration and renewal of Jewellers and for recognition and renewal of the Assaying and Hallmarking centres in India has been launched by the government.

Launching the online system on Friday, Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said it can be accessed through the Bureau of Indian Standards web portal www.manakonline.in. He said that it was difficult to handle the large number of proposals received for registration manually, these online modules will bring about ease of doing business for both the jewellers and the entrepreneurs who have established Assaying and Hallmarking Centres or wish to do so. Hallmarking of precious metals will be mandatory from June 1, 2021.

While briefing the media about the scheme, Paswan said jewellers can now apply online and submit required necessary documents and fees for obtaining a licence through this online portal. Explaining about the online process, he said that the moment a jeweler submits the application with the requisite fees, he will be granted registration. A mail and SMS alert will go to him, informing Registration Number, and then he can download and print the Certificate of Registration using the Registration Number, the Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Ministry said in a PIB release.

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Paswan said that with hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts becoming mandatory, the number of jewellers coming forward for registration is expected to go up five lakh from the present 31,000. He said that the number of jewellery and artefacts to be hallmarked will also see a big jump. He said, it is estimated that the number may go up to 10 crore from the present level of five crore. This will necessitate increase in the number of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres too. At present, there are 921 centres, located in 234 districts of the country.

The minister informed that BIS is working on operationalizing the A&H centers in remaining 480 districts by June 2021. He informed that now BIS Hallmark will be issued for three categories only. They are 14 carat (14K585), 18 (18K750) carat and 22 (22K916) carat only with A&H centre’s identification mark / number and jewellers identification mark/number.

Paswan said the online system will ensure applications start a new center or renew the existing license can be submitted online. Entire process of recognition, which involves audit of the Centres, submission of audit report, and grant of recognition or renewal, has been automated. Not only the applicant will have all the information available with him, but it will also be possible to do real-time basis monitoring of the processing of applications, he said.

Paswan in his address made special mention of the fact that the online system of audit will facilitate expeditious disposal of complaints regarding malpractices in the Hallmarking of jewellery items. He said that BIS was also working on the module to automate the work-flow of the Assaying and Hallmarking Centres, which is expected to be ready by December, 2020.

Paswan further said that while reviewing the functioning of BIS, he could also see the need for augmenting the manpower dedicated to Hallmarking and approved the engagement of additional manpower at the branch offices. He said that the department is in the process to implement IS or EU standards for products in India, the release stated.

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Paswan said, from September, 2020, BIS officials along with custom officials will examine the quality and standard of imported products cargos on seven Indian ports. Only those products, who meet the prescribed quality standards will be given permission to enter the Indian markets. Currently, steel, chemical, heavy machineries and toys hold major share in import list of the country.

Paswan informed that the BIS is also working on Quality Checks for various products available in the market. At present, QCO’s for 254 products are there and QCO’s for another 268 products under pipeline. He said the discussion with other ministries and departments are going on to provide QC for more products.

The new BIS Act, 2017 is more effective in overcoming the new challenges of the economy. The scope of BIS widens through this Act. Department of Consumer Affairs is having discussion with other ministries and department so that they can also issue the certificate of conformity for standardization of products comes under their prerogative.

Paswan then drew the attention towards the Bureau of Indian Standards -BIS Care app launched some time back. He urged consumers to use this app to register complaints regarding quality of jewellery/artefacts or any deficiency in the grant of registration or recognition of A&H centers or any other product, the release added.

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Ram Vilas Paswanjewellersgold

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

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