Gold
Gold, from jewellery to funds, and what it is really worth.
Gold price in India vs the international price: why they differ
The international gold price is quoted in US dollars per troy ounce. The Indian rate per 10 grams starts from that price, then changes with the rupee-dollar rate, customs duty, the 3% GST and, for jewellery, making charges. Here is the conversion step by step, with a worked illustration, why city rates differ, and where official reference rates are published.
Read the lesson → GoldGold vs silver as an investment: how they differ, and how to hold each
Gold and silver are both precious metals, but they behave differently. Gold is bought mainly as a store of value, including by central banks. Silver is also an industrial metal, so its price swings more. Here is how they compare, the regulated ways to hold each in India, and how they are taxed.
Read the lesson → GoldHow to invest in silver in India: bars, coins, jewellery, ETFs and the tax on each
You can hold silver as bars and coins, as jewellery, or through a silver ETF or silver fund of funds. There is no government silver bond. Here is how each route works, what it costs (3% GST on physical silver, customs duty raised to 10% in May 2026), how each is taxed, and why silver swings more than gold.
Read the lesson → GoldSelling old gold in India: how the buyback price is worked out, and the tax
When you sell or exchange old gold jewellery, the jeweller pays for the gold content at the day's rate for its actual purity, minus deductions, and making charges are not refunded. Here is how purity is tested, why a hallmark with HUID helps, exchange vs cash sale, the 2 lakh rupee cash limit under the Income-tax Act, 2025, and how the gain is taxed, with a worked illustration.
Read the lesson → GoldSilver ETF explained: how it works, its price, costs and tax
A silver ETF is a SEBI-regulated fund that puts at least 95% of its money in silver and silver-linked instruments, and trades on the stock exchange like a share. Here is how it works, why its price follows the Indian price of silver, how it compares with a silver fund of funds, and how gains are taxed.
Read the lesson → GoldDigital gold: what it is, and why SEBI warns about it
Digital gold lets you buy gold online for as little as a few rupees, stored by the seller in a vault. It is convenient, but it sits outside SEBI's rules, so the investor protections of regulated products do not apply. Here is how it works, what it costs, and the regulated alternatives.
Read the lesson → GoldGold ETF vs gold fund: which route to gold fits you
A gold ETF and a gold fund both track the price of gold, and both are regulated by SEBI. The ETF trades on the stock exchange and needs a demat account. The gold fund simply buys that ETF for you, so you need no demat account, but you pay a little more in yearly costs and wait longer for lower tax.
Read the lesson → GoldGold hallmark and HUID: how to check jewellery before you pay
A hallmark is the government-backed stamp that certifies how pure your gold jewellery is. Since 2021 it carries three marks: the BIS logo, the purity grade and a six-character HUID code unique to that piece, which you can check in the BIS CARE app. Here is how to read it, and what else to check on the bill.
Read the lesson → GoldAlready hold Sovereign Gold Bonds? What you need to know now
The government stopped issuing new Sovereign Gold Bonds after early 2024, but bonds already issued carry on: 2.5% yearly interest, an 8-year term, and an early exit window after year five. From April 2026, the tax-free treatment on redemption is narrower. Here is what applies to the bonds you hold.
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