Hallmarking runs at 30-40% capacity despite govt push

Units currently operating at 30-40% capacity

While the central government is working to enforce mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery, the average hallmark centre is operating at only 30-40 per cent of its capacity.

There are 500 hallmark centres, each having the capacity to process 2,000 pieces a day (20 kg) of jewellery. They're located close to the jewellery manufacturing centres of Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Chennai, Coimbatore and Trissur, among others. Major cities have at least 10 hallmarking centres.

The government is now offering Rs 20 -50 lakh subsidy for setting up an HM centre. The monthly operational expense being around Rs 2.5 lakh,