Mumbai: India’s Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, on 21st August virtually launched the online system of Registration and Renewal of Jewellers and online system of Recognition and Renewal of the Assaying and Hallmarking (A&H) Centres.
This online system can be accessed through the Bureau of Indian Standards web portal www.manakonline.in. While launching the online system, Mr. Paswan said that as 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 jewellers and entrepreneurs, who have established A&H Centres or wish to do so. Hallmarking of precious metals will be mandatory from 1st June, 2021.
While briefing the media about the scheme, Mr. Paswan said that the best thing about the online system is that there will be no human interface in processing the applications. Now, jewellers can apply online and submit required documents and fees for obtaining a licence through this online portal. Explaining about the online process, he said that the moment a jeweller submits the application with the requisite fees, he will be granted registration. A mail and SMS alert will go to jeweller, informing the Registration Number, for downloading and printing the Certificate of Registration.
Mr. Paswan said that with the hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts becoming mandatory, the number of jewellers coming forward for registration is expected to reach 5 lakh from the present 31,000. He said that the number of jewellery and artefacts to be hallmarked will also see a big jump from the present 5 crore to 10 crore. This will necessitate an increase in the number of A&H Centres. At present, there are 921 centres, located in 234 districts in the country. He informed that the BIS is working on operationalising the A&H centres in the remaining 480 districts by June, 2021. Shri. Paswan informed that the BIS Hallmark will be issued for three categories only — 14 karat (14K585), 18 karat (18K750), and 22 karat (22K916) with the A&H Centre’s identification mark/number and jewellers identification mark/number.
He said that the online system will ensure that applications to start a new centre or renew the existing license can be submitted online. The 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 will the applicant have all the information available with him/her, but it will also be possible to do real-time basis monitoring of the processing of applications.
In his address, Mr. Paswan 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 workflow of the Assaying and Hallmarking Centres, which is expected to be ready by December, 2020.
He said that with the launch of the two online systems, he expects jewellers and entrepreneurs will be encouraged to join the government’s effort to ensure the availability of the gold jewellery of proven quality and purity to the consumers. Mr. 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.
