Guides
The parts of buying gold in India that the rate alone does not tell you.
Sovereign Gold Bonds explained, with a real worked example
How SGBs worked, what one tranche actually paid its holders, why no new bonds are being issued, and what to do if you hold one.
Last reviewed
Gold versus equity: what the record actually shows
Two assets that landed within 0.2% a year of each other over 25 years by completely different routes, and what decides which one suits a given purpose.
Last reviewed
Gold loans: how much you can borrow and your rights
The RBI loan-to-value tiers, how lenders must value your gold, the weight you are allowed to pledge, and the penalty a lender owes you for returning it late.
Last reviewed
Jewellery, coins, ETFs and digital gold compared
What each way of owning gold actually costs, why the tax holding period differs, and which one SEBI has warned about.
Last reviewed
Selling or exchanging old gold
How a jeweller values what you bring in, which deductions are legitimate and which are not, and what tax applies when you sell.
Last reviewed
GST on gold in India, with a worked example
Why a retail jewellery bill is taxed at 3% and not 3% plus 5%, what changes for custom work, and why exchanging old gold is not a taxable sale for you.
Last reviewed
Making charges and wastage on gold jewellery
The two ways jewellers quote labour, why wastage is charged on weight rather than value, and how a lower headline percentage can cost you more.
Last reviewed
How gold prices are set in India
From the London auction to your jeweller’s board, and why the Indian rate is not the international price converted into rupees.
Last reviewed
Gold purity in India: 999, 916, 750 and the BIS hallmark
What the fineness numbers mean, why 22K dominates Indian jewellery, and how to read the three marks on a hallmarked piece.
Last reviewed
More guides are being written. Every one cites its primary sources, and we update them when the rules change. See our corrections policy.