IAGES Crosses 100 Accredited Partners, Expands Network to 550 Outlets Across India

Mumbai: The Indian Association for Gold Excellence and Standards (IAGES) has crossed the 100+ accredited partner milestone, expanding its network to more than 550 accredited partner outlets across India.

The self-regulatory body now has a presence across 28 States and Union Territories and over 200 cities, marking a significant step in its efforts to bring greater standardisation, transparency and accountability to the gold sector.

The IAGES accreditation network covers the wider gold value chain, including refiners, bullion traders, manufacturers, assaying and hallmarking centres, retailers and digital gold retailers. Retailers currently form the largest part of the network, with many adopting the industry-defined code of conduct and aligning their business practices with the accreditation framework.

According to IAGES, the growing participation from different segments of the trade reflects wider industry acceptance of accreditation as a tool for building consumer confidence and improving operational standards. The organisation said several more partners are currently in the pipeline.

“IAGES represents a truly pan-India network from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Mumbai to Kolkata, reiterating the industry’s need for a standard code of conduct uniting businesses under a common framework of best practices. We are delighted to achieve this landmark and continue our endeavours to reach out to each and every gold business in the country,” said Kaushlendra Sinha, CEO, IAGES.

He added that while IAGES has accredited large national players, the increasing participation of small and medium businesses is an important indicator of the initiative’s wider acceptance across the gold industry.

IAGES members receive accreditation only after an independent third-party assessor conducts a comprehensive assessment of their business practices across the value chain. The process is aimed at verifying ethical conduct, operational standards and adherence to responsible business practices.

For gold jewellers, accreditation acts as a recognised marker of verified practices and consumer-facing credibility. For buyers, it is intended to provide greater confidence that the retailer has followed defined standards of sourcing, manufacturing and business integrity.

Alongside its industry accreditation work, IAGES has also launched a consumer awareness campaign titled ‘Before You Buy Gold, #PehlaCheckIAGES’. The campaign aims to encourage gold buyers to verify whether their retailer is IAGES-accredited before making a purchase.

The milestone comes at a time when consumer trust, transparency and standardisation are becoming increasingly important in India’s gold retail market. With gold purchases often linked to weddings, festivals, investment and family wealth, industry-backed accreditation frameworks are expected to play a larger role in shaping buyer confidence and retailer accountability.