Today's Gold Rate in India

Why Does the Gold Rate Change Every Day?

It really comes down to four things. One, the global gold price — gold trades all over the world in US dollars, around the clock. Two, the rupee: when it weakens against the dollar, gold gets pricier here even if the world price hasn't moved an inch. Three, tax and duty — India brings in almost all of its gold from abroad, so customs duty plus 3% GST get added on. And four, your jeweller's own margin and making charges, which change from shop to shop, brand to brand.

Since the first two never stop moving, there's really no single "fixed" price for the day — jewellers post a morning rate and often tweak it once or twice as markets shift. The numbers you see here refresh automatically every day from live gold and currency data, then get adjusted for Indian duty, GST and a typical margin, so they land close to what you'll actually be quoted. Just remember your final bill still depends on the shop and its making charges.

22K, 24K or 18K — Which Should You Actually Buy?

Here's the simple version. 24K (999) is the pure stuff — 99.9% gold — brilliant for coins, bars and investment, but honestly too soft for jewellery you'll wear every day. 22K (916) mixes in a touch of another metal for strength, which is exactly why nearly all Indian jewellery — your bangles, chains and wedding sets — is 22K. 18K (750) is tougher still and a favourite for diamond-studded and modern, lightweight pieces.

The purer the gold, the more it costs per gram, so 24K always tops 22K, and 22K tops 18K. The whole trick is matching the purity to the job: 24K when you're investing, 22K for jewellery you'll actually wear, and 18K for studded or contemporary designs. Whatever you go for, insist on BIS hallmarking with a HUID — that little 6-digit code is your guarantee you're getting exactly what you paid for.

Physical Gold vs SGB vs Digital Gold vs Gold ETF

If you're buying gold as an investment rather than jewellery, you have four main routes. Physical gold (coins and bars) is tangible and liquid, but you pay 3% GST, making charges on coins, and bear storage cost and risk. Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) (no new issues since February 2024; existing series trade on the NSE/BSE) are efficient for long holders — they track the gold price, pay 2.5% annual interest, and the capital gain is tax-free at maturity, with no making charges or storage. Digital gold lets you start from ₹1 and sell back instantly, ideal for small, flexible savings, though it carries a buy-sell spread and 3% GST. Gold ETFs trade on the stock exchange like shares, need a demat account, and suit investors who want easy in-and-out liquidity.

A simple rule of thumb: choose exchange-listed SGBs or gold ETFs for long-term holding, digital gold for small regular savings, ETFs for trading flexibility, and physical gold only when you actually want to hold or gift the metal. Use the calculator above to compare the real cost of physical gold against these paper alternatives before you commit.

Tax on Gold in India

When you buy gold, you pay 3% GST on the value of the metal, plus 3% GST on making charges for jewellery. When you sell, profits are taxed as capital gains: sell within a short holding period and the gain is added to your income at slab rate; hold longer and long-term capital gains rules apply. Sovereign Gold Bonds are the notable exception — the capital gain on redemption at maturity is fully tax-exempt. Keeping your purchase invoice and hallmark details makes any future sale or gold loan far smoother.