Gold Monetisation Scheme: All You Need to Know About It

In a bid to rein in gold imports and attract investors away from physical assets, PM Modi launched 3 gold schemes.

Prime Minister Modi recently launched three gold schemes.

Similar Story

How Mushroom Cultivation Is Changing the Fortunes of Women in Rural India

Chattisgarh's tribal communities, with limited job and economic opportunities, saw a significant chance when an organisation offered to train tribal women in starting a mushroom cultivation business. Jayashiree Elango explores further.

Read more >

• Gold Coin and Bullion scheme
• Gold Monetisation Scheme
• Gold Sovereign Bond Scheme

#1. India Gold Coin and Bullion Scheme

• The coin will be the first ever national gold coin minted in India and will have the National Emblem of Ashoka Chakra engraved on one side and Mahatma Gandhi on the other side.
• Initially, the coins will be available in denominations of 5 and 10 grams.
• The Indian Gold coin is unique in many aspects and will carry advanced anti-counterfeit features and tamper proof packaging that will aid easy recycling.

#2. Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), 2015

• Scheme allows you to earn some regular interest on your gold and saves you carrying costs as well.
• It replaces the existing Gold Deposit Scheme, 1999.
• It offers options to resident Indians to deposit their precious metal and earn an interest of up to 2.5 per cent.

Who can make deposits?

• Resident Indians (individuals, HUF, trusts, including mutual funds/exchange traded funds registered under Sebi norms) can make deposits under the scheme.
• No maximum limit for deposit under the scheme and the metal will be accepted at the Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTC) certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

#3. Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme

• Investors can earn an interest rate of 2.75 per cent per annum by buying paper bonds.
• Sovereign Gold Bonds will be issued in multiple tranches subject to the overall borrowing limits.
• The bond would be restricted for sale to resident Indian entities and the maximum allowable limit is 500 grams per person per year.
• They can be used as collateral for loans and can be sold or traded on stock exchanges
  

  ---

  

A few more things to know

1. Minimum investment in the bond shall be 2 grams.
2. The bonds can be bought by Indian residents or entities and is capped at 500 grams.
3. The RBI has fixed the public issue price of sovereign gold bonds at Rs 2,684 per gram.
4. The borrowing through issuance of Bond will form part of market borrowing programme of Government.
5. The Bonds will be eligible for Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR).

Why was there a need for such schemes?

1. To lure tonnes of gold from households into banking system.
2. According to the World Gold Council, an estimated 22,000-23,000 tonnes of gold is lying idle with households and institutions in India.
3. Huge gold imports pushed India’s current account deficit (CAD) to a record $190 billion in 2013, prompting the hike its duty on imports to a record 10 percent.
4. The government wants to reduce the reliance on gold imports over time.

But, will these schemes succeed in bringing down gold imports?

1. Experts who believe, investors will still find 8 percent offered for bank deposits as more attractive.
2. The present scheme will not bring out even 20 tonnes of gold.
3. Investors fear that the tax department will hound them questioning the source of gold.

Okay! But tell me how good are they from investing point of view?

1. A section of experts feels the interest rates being offered (on both deposits and bonds) are attractive.
2. For people who have gold as an investment asset, it is a good opportunity to gain some interest out of it.
3. Gold is always written off as a zero-yield instrument compared to equities, which give dividend and fixed income which gives fixed interest.

From now on, gold will not only be an instrument of security but will also give earnings and will become part of nation building.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected], or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).