Lok Sabha Question No. 2852 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Hallmark Centres in Madhya Pradesh
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Sandhya Ray

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2852 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## HALLMARK CENTRES IN MADHYA PRADESH

## 2852. SHRIMATI SANDHYA RAY:

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

- (a) the number of hallmark Centres in Madhya Pradesh, district-wise;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government for undertaking of these centres; and
- (c) the details of the initiatives taken by the Government to support these centres?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ( श्री अश्विनी कु मार चौबे )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)  : As on 14/12/2023, 44 Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) have been recognized by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in Madhya Pradesh. District-wise number of AHCs in Madhya Pradesh are given at Annexure.
- (b) : Testing and marking of gold and silver jewellery and artefacts are carried out by testing laboratories recognised by BIS as Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs). Recognition is given to a laboratory by verifying  its  infrastructure  and  competence  of  personnel  as  per  IS  15820  'General  requirements  for establishment and operation of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres.
- (c) : Following initiatives have been taken by government to support these centres:
- (i) A central assistance scheme is in operation by the government which provides financial assistance for purchasing  of  machinery  and  equipments  to  set  up  AHCs  in  AHC-deficient  districts.  Financial assistance as per table given below of the cost of equipments is provided under this scheme:

| Area           | Area                      | Prescribed rate   | Prescribed rate   |
|----------------|---------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|                |                           | Private           | PSU               |
| Normal         | Normal                    | 30%               | 50%               |
| North category | East/Special States/Rural | 50%               | 75%               |

Four centres have been given assistance under this scheme till 14/12/2023 in Madhya Pradesh.

- (ii) Hallmarking fees per article has been revised from Rs. 35 to Rs. 45 for gold and Rs. 25 to Rs. 35 for silver articles to improve profitability and viability of setting up Assaying & Hallmarking Centres.
- (iii) A new scheme to set up Off-site centres (OSCs) was launched on 1 January 2022 which provides opportunity to AHCs to set up 5 new OSCs within 100 kms of parent AHC. Fire assaying activity is not carried out in these OSCs. Instead, samples are sent to parent AHCs for fire assaying activity. Thus, it saves equipment, space as well as personnel cost for AHCs to set up a new OSC compared to new AHC.

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2852 FOR 20.12.2023 REGARDING HALLMARK CENTRES IN MADHYA PRADESH.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| District wise AHC count in Madhya Pradesh   | District wise AHC count in Madhya Pradesh   | District wise AHC count in Madhya Pradesh   |
|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| SL No.                                      | DISTRICT                                    | NUMBER OF AHCs                              |
| 1.                                          | AGAR                                        | 0                                           |
| 2.                                          | ALIRAJPUR                                   | 0                                           |
| 3.                                          | ANUPPUR                                     | 0                                           |
| 4.                                          | ASHOK NAGAR                                 | 0                                           |
| 5.                                          | BALAGHAT                                    | 2                                           |
| 6.                                          | BARWANI                                     | 0                                           |
| 7.                                          | BETUL                                       | 0                                           |
| 8.                                          | BHIND                                       | 0                                           |
| 9.                                          | BHOPAL                                      | 6                                           |
| 10.                                         | BURHANPUR                                   | 0                                           |
| 11.                                         | CHHATARPUR                                  | 1                                           |
| 12.                                         | CHHINDWARA                                  | 1                                           |
| 13.                                         | DAMOH                                       | 0                                           |
| 14.                                         | DATIA                                       | 0                                           |
| 15.                                         | DEWAS                                       | 1                                           |
| 16.                                         | DHAR                                        | 0                                           |
| 17.                                         | DINDORI                                     | 0                                           |
| 18.                                         | GUNA                                        | 0                                           |
| 19.                                         | GWALIOR                                     | 3                                           |
| 20.                                         | HARDA                                       | 0                                           |
| 21.                                         | HOSHANGABAD                                 | 0                                           |
| 22.                                         | INDORE                                      | 14                                          |
| 23.                                         | JABALPUR                                    | 2                                           |
| 24.                                         | JHABUA                                      | 0                                           |
| 25.                                         | KATNI                                       | 0                                           |
| 26.                                         | KHANDWA(EAST NIMAR)                         | 0                                           |
| 27.                                         | KHARGONE(WEST NIMAR)                        | 0                                           |
| 28.                                         | MANDLA                                      | 0                                           |
| 29.                                         | MANDSAUR                                    | 0                                           |

| 30.   | MAUGANJ     |   0 |
|-------|-------------|-----|
| 31.   | MORENA      |   1 |
| 32.   | NARSINGHPUR |   0 |
| 33.   | NEEMUCH     |   0 |
| 34.   | NIWARI      |   0 |
| 35.   | PANNA       |   0 |
| 36.   | RAISEN      |   0 |
| 37.   | RAJGARH     |   0 |
| 38.   | RATLAM      |   7 |
| 39.   | REWA        |   2 |
| 40.   | SAGAR       |   0 |
| 41.   | SATNA       |   3 |
| 42.   | SEHORE      |   0 |
| 43.   | SEONI       |   0 |
| 4.    | SHAHDOL     |   0 |
| 45.   | SHAJAPUR    |   0 |
| 46.   | SHEOPUR     |   0 |
| 47.   | SHIVPURI    |   0 |
| 48.   | SIDHI       |   0 |
| 49.   | SINGRAULI   |   0 |
| 50.   | TIKAMGARH   |   0 |
| 51.   | UJJAIN      |   1 |
| 52.   | UMARIA      |   0 |
| 53.   | VIDIHSA     |   0 |
|       | TOTAL       |  44 |

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