Lok Sabha Question No. 509 (STARRED), answered on 2018-04-03
Subject: Hallmarking of Diamond and Platinum
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *509

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2018

## HALLMARKING OF DIAMOND AND PLATINUM

*509.  SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN: SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a big market of precious diamond and platinum in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  in  the  absence  of  provision  of  hallmarking,  inferior  quality  of  diamond  and platinum jewellery items are being sold by the jewellers in the country;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  corrective  measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the number of incidents involving customers being cheated in terms of purity/ quality of diamond and platinum along with the action taken/being taken by the Government during each of the last three years and the current year; and
- (e) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to spread awareness among the people to ensure buying of quality diamond and platinum products?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h ¼Jh jke foykl ikloku½

## THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*509 FOR 03.04.2018 REGARDING HALLMARKING OF DIAMOND AND PLATINUM.

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(a) :  The data on production of minerals is maintained by Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur.  As per the data, diamonds of quantity 36,516 crt, valuing about Rs.64 crore, were produced in the country in the period  April  2016  to  March  2017.    India  is  not  a  platinum  producing  country  and  it  is  meeting  its demand entirely through imports.

(b) & (c) :   As per the Bureau  of  Indian Standards  Act, 2016, precious  metal  means gold, silver, platinum and palladium. Till now, only gold and silver articles are hallmarked which is voluntary in nature.    However,  BIS  has  formulated  standards  for  platinum  jewellery/artefacts.    As  regards diamond, BIS has formulated standards for grading of polished diamonds. (d) & (e) :  During  the  period  April  2017  to  March  2018  the   National Consumer Helpline received 57 complaints pertaining to Diamond and 2 complaints pertaining to Platinum. The nature of complaints related to issues such as: Not providing diamond certificate; Poor quality of diamond products; No exchange or repair of diamond/Platinum products. Manufacturing defects and duplicate diamond products etc. Complaints were forwarded to companies for redressal.

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