Today’s Gold Rate

Trend of Gold Rate in India for last 7 days

In India, gold has a great social and cultural significance. It symbolizes prosperity and wealth; therefore, it is an important part of various auspicious celebrations such as weddings, Diwali, Dhanteras and Akshaya Tritiya. The country’s affinity for the metal can be proven by the fact that it accounts for almost a quarter of the world’s total consumption; thus, making us the largest consumer in the world. India uses gold mainly in the form of ornaments and investments. The metal is considered to be an important part of an investor’s investment portfolio. Even commodity traders, invest a part in gold bullion. Gold-related investments are dictated by the prevailing gold rate in India. To get maximum benefit out of gold investments, it is important to monitor gold rate today and every other day as gold rates are subject to change due to various reasons. Some of the reasons are discussed below.

What are the factors that affect Gold Rate in India?

The following are the 10 major reasons why gold price today is different from what it was 10 years or even 10 days ago.

1. Demand/Supply – Like all goods and services, demand is the single greatest reason why the gold price is liable to change day in-day out. So, when the supply of gold is fairly constant and the demand increases such as during wedding season and festivals like Diwali and Akshaya Tritiya, the gold rate in India is bound to increase. But festivities are not the only reason why global demand for gold might witness an upsurge, investment considerations can also come into play in this regard. On the flip side, even with constant demand, gold rate today might be more than what it was the day before as there are supply issues. For example, if one of the largest gold mining companies such as Rio Tinto, decides to decrease production, the current gold price worldwide will see a surge. On the other hand, if a central bank decides to start liquidating their gold assets, the increased supply would cause the gold rate in Delhi and other states across India to drop.
2. Global Production – Gold is a finite resource and just like oil dries up after a certain period of time, mines too get tapped out after a finite number of years. On an average, gold production is around 2,500 tonne globally during any given year compared to the total global gold in circulation at an estimated 165,000 metric tonne. Though the amount being produced might seem to be dwarfed by the amount already in circulation, the applicable gold price today is significantly affected by the cost incurred during the production of this additional gold. Rising production costs, lead mining concerns to charge higher gold price when selling the newly mined gold and this can significantly impact the overall global gold prices. You can easily use a gold price chart to view how the price of this precious metal has varied historically with increase in production costs.
3. Industrial Uses and Jewellery – Gold is unique because of its inert nature as well as its high ductility, electrical conductivity and malleability. The combination of these unique features makes it an ideal choice for multiple industrial applications such as circuit boards for mobiles, GPS and computer systems as well as heat sinks and various medical devices. As our consumption of cutting-edge products increases, so does the demand for gold thus, gold rates heads up. Conversely, lower demand for these high-tech products could potentially drive gold prices down.It is estimated that in some countries like India and China, close to 50% of the domestic demand results from the jewelry industry. Thus, during festivals like Diwali/Dhanteras and Chinese New Year, the demand increases manifold leading to significant price increase. Moreover, in India, many people make gold investment as a safety net for hard times that might befall them in the future so as average income has increased, so has gold demand leading to a spike in overall gold rates.
   
   Also Read: Know How Jewellers Quote Gold Jewellery Rates
4. Central Bank Controls – As mentioned earlier, gold reserves held by the central banks play a key role in ensuring that deficit financing does not devaluate the currency so much that hyperinflation occurs. In case reserves are running low, central banks can drive the price up just by placing bulk buy orders of gold from multiple sources across the world. On the flip side, tomorrow’s rate may be much less than the gold rate today, because a central bank decided to liquidate some of its gold reserves and increased the availability of gold in the market today.
5. Quantitative Easing (QE) Initiatives – The strategy of Quantitative Easing is based on an intention to ensure more money is introduced into the market so that banks hand out loans more readily to their customers to promote spending. This is specifically true in India, where RBI has been slashing Repo and other rates regularly to drive growth of the economy. However, this has one key adverse effect on fixed-rate investments such as fixed deposits and government bonds as their returns decline. When faced with declining returns, many investors tend to turn to gold investments as it is perceived to have less of an opportunity cost associated with the purchase. Such increase demand is bound to drive the gold rate up at least domestically and in extreme cases even globally.
6. Interest Rates Declines/Increases – Investments made in gold do not usually offer any interest benefits. An exception is the Government of India’s Sovereign Gold Bonds which offer 2.50% fixed interest annually. However, you do not actually have access to any physical gold through those bonds. But any change of interest rates in money markets can be correlated with increase or decrease in price of the yellow metal. When rates increase, gold may be sold to seek out more lucrative options and vice versa. Thus, if you plot a gold price chart of a period of few months or years, you can easily find a correlation with changes in the interest rate during the period.
7. Economic Uncertainties – We live in a world where almost no country is self-sufficient and each economy depends on another for some sort of goods or services. In such a situation, a major player in the global economy is the US Federal Reserve and every country has its own central bank just like India has the Reserve Bank of India. If these central banks introduce measures that are considered to be erratic or there is a failure to control factors such as inflation, many investors opt for a safe haven such as gold instead of paper currency provided by the central bank. This is an effort to get some tangible security, and therefore, the gold rates go up.
8. Currency movement and gold rates – The US dollar is by far the single major global bell weather currency in existence today. This has led many smaller economies to link their own currency to the dollar or adopt the US dollar as their own currency altogether. Thus, if the value of the US dollar declines, panic starts to set in with investors buying up gold as well as Gold ETFs in order to find a safe haven for their money. Thus, if you were to create a gold price chart over time, you would be able to see how the rise and fall of the US dollar are inversely proportional to the price of gold witnessed globally.
9. Inflationary Trends – Inflation or the rise of prices with respect to goods and services over time is a sign of affluence if within a moderate range or a sign of some deep underlying economic disorder in case of high levels of uncontrolled inflation. In case inflation rises drastically i.e. hyperinflation, gold investments are considered safer and a lot more stable as compared to currency notes. Thus, high inflation equals high gold price as the demand for this glittering yellow metal increases.
10. Possibility of a Global Crisis – Only a few events in history can be truly classified as global crises and the most recent one is the subprime crisis of the US. In such cases, investors lose confidence in stock market investments and instead prefer to invest in stable and precious gold. No wonder gold rates went up by leaps and bounds only a few weeks into the most recent financial crisis. In fact, f after looking at a historic gold price chart, you would probably be able to pick out the timings of the major crises the world has witnessed through the years.

Unlike nations such as China, India uses gold predominantly in the form of ornaments and investments. Many financial experts believe that gold should be a part of every investor’s investment portfolio as the metal acts as a great hedge against various market uncertainties. Also, it has been observed that the value of this commodity in the long run always appreciates.

Also Read: How These 10 Factors Regularly Influence Gold Prices

Gold Weight Conversion Table

What are the different varieties of gold as per their ‘karat’ value?

The purity of gold is measured through a unit known as ‘Karat’, which is denoted by the letter ‘K’. High karat value signifies high gold purity. Let’s take a look at the different varieties of gold in terms of their karat value:

• 24K gold: It is the purest form of gold that you can get in the market. When we say “pure”, it means 99.99% and not 100% gold. This is because a 100% pure gold is too soft to be made into coins and bars. This kind of gold has a distinct bright yellow colour. Since it is the purest form of gold, thus, the gold price for the same is higher than 22K or 18K gold. This type of gold is best suited for investment purposes and also in the making of coins, bars, medical devices and electronics.
• 22K gold: A 22K gold ornament has 22 parts of gold mixed with the remaining 2 parts of other metals. It is also known as ‘916 gold’ because it comprises of 91.67% of pure gold. the presence of other metals with the gold makes it harder than a 24K pure gold and resultantly appropriate to make jewellery. However, it is not preferred to make heavily studded ornaments. Its colour is pale yellow as it contains lesser amount of gold. Also, its colour can be changed by mixing other metals with it.
• 18K gold: It has 75% gold mixed with 25% other metals such as copper and silver. Studded jewellery and other diamond ornaments are usually made in 18K gold. As compared to 24K and 22K gold, this kind of gold comes with the lowest gold rate price tag. Its colour depends on the metals that are mixed with it.

What is the difference between 24K and 22K gold?

People usually prefer to buy 24K and 22K gold for jewellery and investment purposes. If you are confused which one out of the two will be best suited for your requirements, learn more about them from the comparison table given below.

• In 22K gold, 22 parts is gold and the remaining part comprises of metals such as silver, zinc, nickel and other alloys.
• The purity of this gold is 91.67%.
• It is mostly used to make ornaments and other decorative articles.

Last 4 Months Trend of Gold Rate in India

How to check the purity of gold?

There are multiple ways of checking the purity of gold in India:

• Examine the jewellery: When selling gold jewellery, reputed stores always stamp the jewellery with its purity data. So, if you want to check your piece’s purity standard, just put it under the magnifying glass and look for that stamp.
• Look for the BIS standard mark: BIS is the benchmark for purity standards for gold in India. Every legit jewellery item will carry its own logo.
• Approach a jeweller: If you are unable to figure it out on your own, go to a jewellery showroom to get your piece tested.

Why gold rate is different in different cities in India?

Gold rates are mainly influenced by global cues and therefore, it should ideally be same across the country. But it’s not the case. The gold rate in Kerala is not as same as the gold rate in Chennai. This is because in India multiple factors influence the current gold rate in various cities. Some of the key reasons why gold rate varies in various cities across India are:

• Gold Associations: Gold associations have it in their power to fix gold rates to a certain extent. This happens twice a day. It is especially true for larger cities such as Delhi and Hyderabad. This can be considered as the prime reason behind different price of gold from one city to another.
• Volume Play: Like all commodities, purchasing gold in large volumes is bound to cause a corresponding decrease in process and therefore, in larger cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata.
• Transportation Costs: This is probably the least important factor but transporting gold from one location to another requires special security arrangements and such expenditures could potentially affect gold prices locally.

How is the price of 22-Karat Gold determined?

India is a consumer and not a producer of gold. This implies that the country doesn’t mine gold. Earlier, places such as Kolar (Karnataka) used to have gold mines but now they are closed. Therefore, now India’s gold demand heavily lies on imports. The rate of imported gold is used to determine the rate of 22K gold in India. As far as the wholesale gold prices in India are concerned, gold importers like banks, many private companies, etc. play an important role in fixing it. Otherwise, gold rate is decided by the bullion association. When the gold is imported in the country, charges such as GST, etc. are levied on the imports. Then the gold is sold to wholesalers, who sell it to retailers across India, which again attracts charges. Also, gold rates change every day.

How much GST (tax) is imposed on 24K Gold?

Taxes calculated on gold depend on what it is used for. The taxes charged on the resource vary. Gold prices have slightly increased after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Before GST was launched, gold jewellers had to pay 1% excise duty, 1.2% VAT and 10% customs duty on bullion purchase. This effectively summed up to 12.43% tax on gold. Now, gold jewellers will have to pay 3% GST on gold, an import duty of 10% and 18% tax on making charges of the jewelry. Prior to GST, no tax was imposed on making charges of the jewelry. This effectively comes to 15.67%. Hence, buyers will have to pay an additional 3.24% as tax under the GST regime.

What are the various gold options available to buyers?

Physical gold is usually available in 24 Carat (purest), 22 Carat (jewellery grade), 18 Carat (less precious) variants and can be purchased in a variety of forms such as:

• Jewellery (with or without precious stones) – purity, safekeeping issue and manufacturing charges to contend with. Gold price is different from exchange traded rate.
• Gold Coins – These could be of historic nature as obtained from archaeological digs, coins minted under auspices of the Central Bank and guaranteed to be pure or unique collectable coins. Usually available in various denominations ranging from 2 grams to 50 grams. Available through antique dealers and some selected banks, gold rates only partially dictate the prices of gold coins.
• Gold Bars – These are minted by Reserve Bank of India designated mints, are guaranteed to be of 24 karat purity by the central bank and available only through select banking institutions. This format is available as per prevailing gold price fixed by the central bank.

Common Forms of Gold Purchase without Physical Gold Holdings

• Gold Exchange Traded Funds (Gold ETFs) – Gold ETFs are exchange-traded funds that track the domestic gold price. They represent physical gold in a dematerialised form. One gold ETF unit is equal to 1 gm gold of high purity. These are traded and listed on NSE (National Stock Exchange) and BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) like a single stock of a company. With gold ETFs people can buy or sell gold in electronic form similar to stock trading. However, redeeming gold ETFs rewards you with the cash equivalent, not with physical gold. The trading takes place through a demat account and a broker. This is a convenient way to invest in electronic gold. Gold ETFs charge a minimal fee (at the rate of up to 1.1% currently) for asset management. These charges are subject to change. Investors can choose to buy gold ETFs either in lump sum or in instalments. If you are a salaried individual or are a seasoned investor, it is recommended to invest systematically rather than trying to time the market.
• Gold Mutual Funds – Gold mutual funds, also known as Gold Funds on Funds, are open-ended funds that invest in gold ETFs. Investors can invest any particular amount of money at any time. The process of investing in gold mutual funds is somehow easier as you do not need a demat account. Investors can also use the SIP route to invest in gold funds, which is not possible with gold ETFs. Gold mutual funds also closely relate and track the actual price of gold. However, the cost of asset management is slightly higher (it currently stands at 1.5%) and this sometimes lowers the returns.
• Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) – Sovereign Gold Bonds were first introduced in the year 2015. These are basically government securities that are issued in the units of grams and available in demat or paper form. The bonds are issued by RBI (Reserve Bank of India) on behalf of the Government of India. The price of the bonds are set on the basis of simple average of the closing rate of 999 pure gold published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Ltd. For the last 3 business days of the week preceding the subscription period. Investors have to pay the issued price of the bonds in cash and it can be redeemed in cash on maturity. This investment is also a protected one because the investor will receive the ongoing market price of the gold in case of mature or premature redemption. Investors do not have to worry about the records as well because these are maintained in the books of RBI or in demat form. The only risk factor associated with SGBs is the declined market price of the gold but even then, the investors have the gold units for which they have paid for. The minimum investment that you can make in this scheme in a financial year is of 1 g. The maximum investment that can be made by individuals and HUFs is 4 kg and 20 kgs for trusts and similar entities per fiscal year. Investors can even make investment in this scheme on behalf of their children through a bank branch.

• Digital Gold – As compared to other gold investment options such as gold ETFs, gold funds, gold futures, etc., Digital Gold is new. It is a new way to sell, hold, liquidate and purchase gold online. It is accessible and affordable as it allows you to invest in gold in small denominations. Since in Digital Gold, the gold rates are linked to live market prices and are not set by some local gold association, therefore, you can expect equal and fair pricing throughout the country. Also, you get pure gold (24K), which you can convert anytime and from anywhere into physical gold coin/bar and get it delivered to your home address but for this additional nominal charge will be involved.The amount of money received at the time of liquidation for these paper/demat instruments would be affected by the prevailing price of gold in domestic or global markets.

Demand for Gold in India

In India, gold has long been associated with wealth and prosperity and the metal has also been considered the perfect gift for festive and a variety of religious occasions such as marriage ceremonies. Traditionally, investing in gold has always been considered safe as gold prices have historically gone up over a period of time and they are considered to be easier to liquidate as compared to other assets such as property hence, a preferred investment option during difficult times.

Demand for Gold in Rural India

Rural India deserves a special mention as it accounts for nearly two-thirds of the total demand for gold in India. However, demand in rural India has been a bit bleak owing to inflation and decreased wages, compounded by demonetization. In India, about 8% of savings of rural households go towards buying gold, primarily jewelry. So, any impact on wages (especially the one triggered by demonetization) has dampened the demand for gold. Further, demand will pick up only after incomes stabilize and more currency is available in the market.

Why you should buy gold in India?

Gold has always been considered a good investment in India. Due to gold investments being considered as a hedge against hard times, Indians have historically chosen to maintain at least a portion of their assets in the form of gold as they could easily be liquidated in case of emergencies in comparison to land estates and other property. Gold is also much easier to transport if it was necessary to move assets from one location to another in hurry. Traditionally gold investments in India have been made mainly in the form of jewelry. However, gold bullion i.e. bars as well as coins, have also been considered in recent times from an investment perspective.

Must Read: Raising The Curtains On The Gold Monetization Scheme

Various Gold Options Available To Buyers

Common Formats for Gold Purchase in a Physical Form

Physical gold usually available in 24 karat (purest), 22 karat (jewellery grade), 18 karat (less precious) variants may be purchased in a variety of forms such as:

• Jewellery (with or without precious stones) – purity, safekeeping issue and manufacturing charges to contend with. Gold price is different from exchange traded rate.
• Gold Coins – These could be of historic nature as obtained from archaeological digs, coins minted under auspices of the Central Bank and guaranteed to be pure or unique collectable coins. Usually available in various denominations ranging from 2 grams to 50 grams. Available through antique dealers and some selected banks, gold rates only partially dictate the prices of gold coins.
• Gold Bars – These are minted by Reserve Bank of India designated mints, are guaranteed to be of 24 karat purity by the central bank and available only through select banking institutions. This format is available as per prevailing gold price fixed by the central bank.

Common forms of gold purchase without physical gold holdings include (Gold ETFs vs Sovereign Gold Bonds):

• Gold Exchange Traded Funds (Gold ETFs) – Gold ETFs are exchange-traded funds that track the domestic gold price. They represent physical gold in a dematerialised form. One gold ETF unit is equal to 1 gm gold of high purity. These are traded and listed on NSE (National Stock Exchange) and BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) like a single stock of a company. With gold ETFs people can buy or sell gold in electronic form similar to stock trading. However, redeeming gold ETFs rewards you with the cash equivalent, not with physical gold. The trading takes place through a demat account and a broker. This is a convenient way to invest in electronic gold. Gold ETFs charge a minimal fee (at the rate of up to 1.1% currently) for asset management.
• Gold Mutual Funds – Gold mutual funds are open-ended funds that invest in gold ETFs. Investors can invest any particular amount of money at any time. The process of investing in gold mutual funds is somehow easier as you do not need a demat account. Investors can also use the SIP route to invest in gold funds, which is not possible with gold ETFs. Gold mutual funds also closely relate and track the actual price of gold. However, the cost of asset management is slightly higher (it currently stands at 1.5% currently) and this sometimes lowers the returns.
• Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) – These are government security gold bonds and a substitute measure for holding physical gold. Investors have to pay the issued price of the bonds in cash and it can be redeemed in cash on maturity. The bonds are issued by RBI (Reserve Bank of India) on behalf of the Government of India. This investment is also a protected one because the investor will receive the ongoing market price of the gold in case of mature or premature redemption. Investors do not have to worry about the records as well because these are maintained in the books of RBI or in demat form. The only risk factor associated with SGBs is the declined market price of the gold but even then, the investors have the gold units for which they have paid for.

The amount of money received at the time of liquidation for these paper/demat instruments would be affected by the prevailing price of gold in domestic/global markets.

Must Read: Why You Should Buy Sovereign Gold Bonds Over Physical Gold

Gold as an Investment Option in India

Out of all precious metals, gold is the most popular investment option. For most Indian investors, gold is a big part of their investment portfolios to diversify the overall market risk. Just like shares and mutual funds, gold too is subject to volatility and speculation. While gold rates may change over time, its value relatively remains the same. In comparison with many other asset classes, the returns on gold investments are high provided you stay invested in it for a long term. It is considered to be the most stable investment option and the most effective hedge against inflation and global crisis.

Traditionally, people buy gold in India in the form of ornaments, bars and coins. Even now many people prefer investing traditionally but besides these options investors have other lucrative choices such as Gold ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), Gold Mutual Funds, Sovereign Gold Bonds, etc. Gold is also traded as a commodity on commodity exchanges. The best part is that most of these modern investments can be done online anytime and from anywhere.

Gold as a Trading Commodity in India

Commodities trading are a relatively new development in India and gold is one of the key commodities that are being traded in India’s commodities exchanges. You can carry out gold trading through any of the three dedicated commodities exchanges – National Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd., Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. and the National Commodity and Derivative Exchange. All three exchanges have a pan-India presence and offer electronic trading/settlement systems. Being a separate entity, the exchanges are regulated by the Forward Markets Commission.

The commission advises the Central Government on matters such as giving or withdrawing recognition to any association. It collects and publishes information about the prices, and supply and demand of any commodity or goods including gold. The commission also has the power of deemed civil court for receiving evidence on affidavits and requisitioning for discovery and production of any related document. Commodities exchange brokers are not required to register themselves with a regulator.

An individual who wants to invest in commodities can start with an investment corpus as low as Rs. 5,000 and the trades may be completed without having a Demat account either. However, a dedicated commodity, demat account from the National Securities Depository Ltd. is mandatory for trades on the NCDEX similar to stocks. The individual also has to go under a normal account contract with the broker and provide details such as Aadhar Card, PAN card no. and bank account no. to complete the process of identification.

Gold Futures Contracts on MCX:

MCX India trades in the futures of gold as well as a range of commodities and also in energy futures. Currently, MCX offers multiple gold futures contracts options for the interested investors:

• Gold: Has a trading unit of 1 kg and a maximum order size of 10 kg. The maximum allowed open position for an individual is higher of 5 metric tonne for all gold contracts combined together or 5% of the market wide open position. The maximum allowed open position for a member who is dealing collectively for all clients is higher of 50 metric tonne or 20% of the market wide open position for all Gold Contracts taken together.
• Gold Mini: Has a trading unit of 100 gm and a maximum order size of 10 kg. The maximum allowed open position for an individual and for a member who is dealing collectively for all clients is same as that for Gold Futures Contracts. In other words, it is higher of 5 metric tonne for all gold contracts combined together or 5% of the market wide open position for an individual and higher of 50 metric tonne or 20% of the market wide open position for all gold contracts taken together for a member collectively for all clients.
• Gold Guinea: Each Gold Guinea Contract represents a smaller amount of 8 gm and targeted at individuals with a smaller capital base. Despite starting from a lower amount, the maximum allowable open position stands at 5 metric tonne for all gold contracts combined together or 5% of the market wide open position for individual clients, and higher of 50 metric tonne or 20% of the market wide open position for a member collectively for all clients.
• Gold Petal: This contract involves only 1 gm of gold per unit and designed only for small investors. The maximum allowed open position is same as that for all above contracts. One can own up to 20,00,000 Gold Petal Contracts. The contract is ex-Mumbai.
• Gold Petal (New Delhi): All criteria for these futures are same as that for Gold Petal. The only difference is that the price is ex-Delhi.
• Gold Global: It is an international price based contract designed specifically for the requirements of refiners, exporters, jewellers, and larger bullion physical market participants. This is a new product from MCX and was launched in July 2015.

In the following table, we will compare some key criteria of the available gold futures contracts options on the MCX:

Why is gold considered a valuable asset?

The primary reason that drives the value of gold is its rarity. Though several thousand metric tonnes of gold have been mined through the centuries, gold constitutes only a fraction of the quantity of metal in circulation today when compared to more common metals like iron and aluminium. The other factor that affects gold rate is the cost of manufacturing and purifying it. Due to its rarity, extreme care is taken when gold is purified so that losses are minimised and at the same time, only small quantities of gold are purified at a single go, which drives up the unit pricing gold gold (per gram pricing). Gold has some financial advantages as well such as:

• High shelf life (no rust) and long-term value.
• Gold has no counterparty risk. It means that gold does not require the backing of any financial institution. Gold cannot suffer a default at any point of time.
• Once the person has physical gold, he or she does not have to depend on anyone to fulfil a contract to retain its value.
• Gold is highly liquid and it can be easily converted into cash in any situation.
• It is also highly portable which means that you can put Rs. 50 lakh in a small coin tube.
• The biggest advantage of gold for the modern economy is that it cannot be printed, counterfeited, or inflated. It takes quite a long time for mining and actual production. Nonetheless, regardless of the measures implemented, technology will always catch a fake gold piece due to the high demand and low supply. Also, no banking institution can reproduce the gold to inflate its value.

Demand for Gold in India

In India, gold has long been associated with wealth and prosperity and the metal has also been considered the perfect gift for festive and a variety of religious occasions such as marriage ceremonies. Traditionally, investing in gold has always been considered safe as gold rates have historically gone up over a period of time and they are considered to be easier to liquidate as compared to other assets such as property hence, a preferred investment option during difficult times.

Why you should buy gold in India?                 

Gold has always been considered a good investment in India. Due to gold investments being considered as a hedge against hard times, Indians have historically chosen to maintain at least a portion of their assets in the form of gold as they could easily be liquidated in case of emergencies in comparison to land estates and other property. Gold is also much easier to transport if it was necessary to move assets from one location to another in hurry. Traditionally gold investments in India have been made mainly in the form of jewellery. However, gold bullion i.e. bars as well as coins, have also been considered in recent times from an investment perspective.

Must Read: Raising The Curtains On The Gold Monetization Scheme

How to Sell Gold in India?

Before selling your gold, there are a few dos and don’ts that one will have to follow to get the most bang for the buck when finally selling off their gold assets in physical form.

1. Retain invoice: To be able to sell to a reputed jeweller and get the most value from your investment, it is important that you keep the original invoice intact.
2. Get your gold evaluated: Before giving away your gold, ensure to get its value double or even triple checked in order to avoid being cheated.
3. Check purity of gold: before selling gold, it is important to get it hallmarked. If in case your jewellery is not hallmarked, take it to a store and get its purity checked.
4. Sell your jewellery at a trusted shop: Ensure that you go to a reputed store to get a fair price on your jewellery. If, however, that is not possible, you can also approach pawn shops (but be careful as they might undervalue the gold rate).

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Ques. What is the Difference between Carat and Karat?

Ans. The word “carat” is a measure of mass, wherein, 1 carat equals 200 mg. Normally, diamonds and gemstones are measured using this measure and higher the carat value, greater the price of the gemstone. Karat on the other hand, is a measure of purity with respect to gold and common karat values are 24 karat, 22 karat, 18 karat and so on. Again, higher the karat value, greater will be the gold rate.

Karat: Gold is one of the soft metals and it needs to be added with different metal alloys to make jewellery. Usually, alloys like copper, zinc, and nickel are used for this purpose. A 24 karat rating denotes that the gold has the least form of alloys in it, while a 12 karat indicates that it has a 50% ratio of alloys in it. Also, any gold less than 10 karat is not considered gold at all. In India, the most preferred form of gold is 22 karat.

Carat: It is the weight of the precious stones and pearls and especially used for weighing diamonds. One carat is equal to 200 mg, also written as 0.2 gm in some places. This measurement is based on the popularly used metric system.

Ques. How much is one tola gold?

Ans. Use of ‘karat’ as the unit for measuring gold is a recent phenomenon. In ancient India, gold was measured in tolas. One tola is equal to 11.66 grams.

Ques. How is gold brought into India?

Ans. As mentioned in the beginning, India has minuscule gold reserves and depends largely on the global commodities market to meet its demand for the yellow metal. The country’s central bank gets the gold imported and divides it among distributors who, in turn, supply it to large retailers or jewellers.

Ques. Why gold always retains its value?

Ans. Gold will always retain its future value because it is the ultimate form of money. People have valued gold since the beginning of civilisation despite innumerable changes in the socio-economic and political structures across the history of mankind. The gold rate has never been zero and it has never defrauded an investor. Human civilisation understands the value of gold because we have chosen it and history has proven its zero counterparty risks.

Ques. How to buy gold bullion?

Ans. Gold bullion or gold in the form of coins and bars may be bought by an individual investor in India through leading jewellers as well as selected banking organisations. In case of 24K gold bars, the purchase denomination ranges from 5 gm to 100 gm and these are provided along with a certificate of purity through selected bank branches and jewellery stores across India. The limited availability and high investment volumes with regards to gold bars make these a preferred choice for serious investors. However, gold bars are not accepted by banks and NBFCs as security for a gold loan.

• Gold Coins: Gold coins are relatively more common and thus more accessible to the general public. The purchase denomination, in this case, ranges from 2g to 50g for 24K gold coins. Though traditional channels of purchase for gold coins have been through banks and jewellery stores, online purchase of gold coins in India is catching up fast. Some online portals such as Snapdeal, PN Gadgil, and FINCO India offer 24K BIS hallmark gold coins through online transactions. A number of banks in India offer gold loans using 24K gold coins of up to 50g as collateral.
• Contracts: These are the options where people have a delayed access to the actual bullion. Spot contracts and future contracts are available from MCX, NCEDX, Bullion India and RSBL, in addition to others. However, spot contracts are subject to market volatility and they are delivered immediately whereas future contracts offer protection against market volatility but come with delayed deliveries.

Ques. How much is an ounce of gold worth today?

Ans. Ounce, also known as troy ounce, is an imperial measure of gold that equals 31.1035 grams of gold. As gold rate changes daily and differ from one city in India to another, the gold price of an ounce would also vary accordingly. Thus, if the price of gold today is Rs. 3,000 /gram, then, an ounce of gold would be worth Rs. 3,000 x 31.1035 = Rs. 93,310.50. However, the same ounce of gold could be worth slightly more or less tomorrow depending on the change in the gold price.

Ques. Is gold BIS-hallmarked?

Ans. It is absolutely essential that you buy BIS-hallmarked gold. India has close to 14,000 BIS-hallmarked jewellery showrooms and approximately 330 hallmarking centres recognised by BIS.

Ques. What is the per gram price of gold?

Ans. As price of gold changes with every city and every day, do check the gold rate on the day you intend to buy gold jewellery. It is important to check gold prices today in order to ensure you are getting the optimum value from your jewellery.

Ques. How much gold are you getting for your money?

Ans. When buying gold jewellery, besides gold rate, several additional charges are also levied such as making and wastage charges. So, before making payment, ensure that you know the worth/value of the gold you are buying.

 News About Gold Rate in India

Hallmarking of gold and gold artefacts mandatory

15 Jan, 2020 – It has now become mandatory for all Jewellers to sell only hallmark gold Jewellery (standard mark which indicates the purity of the metal) with effect from the 15th January, 2021. This will allow Jewellers to register themselves with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and clear their old stock. Earlier getting the jewellery hallmarked was optional but from 15 January 2021, no jeweller will be allowed to sell any ornaments without hallmarking thus, ensuring that consumers are not cheated while buying jewellery. Here are few things which consumer should know about hallmarking: 1. Hallmarking will be done in 3 categories-14 carat, 18 carat, 22 carat 2. Hallmark gold jewellery now has 4 marks- BIS mark, Purity in KT, hallmarking centre’s name, and Jeweller identification mark

Due to weak global cues, gold drops by Rs. 150

14 Nov, 2018 – In the national capital, gold prices of 999 and 995 fine gold fell by Rs. 150 to Rs. 31,900 and Rs. 31,750 per 10 gram, respectively. Sovereign, however, continued to be at Rs. 24,800 per piece of 8 gram. As per traders, the slight drop was due to weak position of the precious metal in the global market. Moreover, the fading demand from local jewellers and retailers at the domestic spot market maintained pressure on gold prices. Globally, gold fell by 0.08 per cent to $1,201.90 an ounce and silver by 0.11 per cent to $14.07 an ounce in Singapore Wednesday. Silver ready remained steady at Rs. 37,450 per kg while the weekly-based delivery fell by Rs 443 to Rs 36,219 per kg on speculative selling. Silver coins also fell by Rs 1,000 to Rs 73,000 for buying and Rs 74,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

Gold prices slide to Rs. 32050 on weak demand

13 Nov, 2018 – On Tuesday, at the bullion market, the capital city witnessed a drop in gold prices. The prices of 99.99 per cent and 99.5 per cent pure gold fell by Rs. 100 each to Rs. 32,050 and Rs. 31,900 per 10 grams, respectively. Despite firm gold price trend across overseas markets, the prices dropped due to the lacklustre demand for gold by local jewellers and retailers. Silver too followed the same path and cracked below Rs. 38,000-mark by dropping by Rs. 700 to Rs. 37,450 per kg due to reduced off take by industrial units and coin makers. Post-festive season as the demand reduced, silver coins too slipped by Rs 1,000 to Rs 74,000 for buying and Rs 75,000 for selling of 100 pieces. However, sovereign gold remained flat at Rs 24,800 per piece of 8 grams. Globally, gold increased by 0.22% to $1,203.50 an ounce and silver by 0.68% to $14.18 an ounce in Singapore.

Gold price in India increases amid wedding season demand

12 Nov, 2018 – On Monday, the gold prices of 999 and 995 fine gold were recovered by Rs 80 each to Rs 32,150 and Rs 32,000 per 10 gram, respectively. The reason for such an increase is the wedding season. Jewellers are buying gold to meet the wedding season demand. Silver too is going higher than before by Rs. 150 at Rs. 38,150 per kg. The depreciation of rupee against the dollar by 54 paise to 73.04 is also supporting the upside in gold prices in India and is also making the imports costlier. Overseas, the weak silver price and gold price has capped the gains.

Gold prices drop from a 6-yr high on weak global cues, end of the festive demand

10 Nov, 2018 – At bullion market, during the week, gold prices dropped from near 6-year high by Rs. 580 to Rs. 32, 070 per 10 g. The reason for the drop is credited to the fall in demand from jewellers and retailers due to the end of the festival season in India. Besides, a weak gold trend abroad also damped the spirit as the dollar firmed after the US Federal Reserve kept the rates of interest steady, thus reducing the appeal of gold as a safe heaven. Nationally, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity dropped slowly to end the week lower by Rs. 580 each to Rs. 32,070 and Rs. 31,920 per 10 g, respectively. Globally, gold dropped to $1,210.40 and silver at $14.25 an ounce against previous week’s closing of $1,233.20 and $14.82 an ounce.

RBI adds another 6.8 t of gold to forex reserves

12 Sep, 2018 – Amidst the depreciating value of rupee, RBI adds another 6.8 t of gold to Forex reserves. In July, the central bank added 6.8 t, which has been the highest monthly accretion after 2009. This came at a time when RBI spent more than $25 billion defending the falling rupee. After buying 200 t of gold from IMF in 2009, the central bank made its first token purchase in December, 2017 with 300 kg and then added more than 2.2 t in March this year. As per a data compiled by the World Gold Council, in 2018-19, in four months, RBI added 12.7 t of gold, out of which 11.2 t was purchased in June and July. Analysts tracking the international gold reserves say that the need was felt because countries like Russia, Turkey and China have been adding gold to their reserves to diversify their Forex reserves.

*Disclaimer : The gold price given in this site is provided by sources which we consider are authentic and reliable. We have made every effort to make sure the gold price shown here are accurate. However, this data is intended for information purpose only and should not be considered as investment advice. We accept no liability for any loss arising from the use of the above data. Please contact your investment advisor before making investment decisions.