New Delhi, Nov. 5 -- With Dhanteras falling on 6 November and Diwali on 8 November, consumers are heading to jewellery stores to buy gold jewellery and other gold items. While checking the weight, purity, making charges and GST on your purchase, do not overlook the hallmarking fee added to your final bill.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) made hallmarking mandatory for gold jewellery and artefacts in 2021. However, certain categories of gold articles are still exempt from this requirement. Here's what you need to know.

Gold hallmarking is a certification process intended to protect consumers against malpractice related to gold purity. It ensures that the buyer receives the stated purity of gold for the price paid.

A hallmark includ...