880 tonnes and counting: Why RBI keeps buying gold despite India’s 7th-largest reserves??
Amid global economic shocks — from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war to rising geopolitical tensions and U.S. trade conflicts — gold prices have surged to record highs. In response, central banks around the world have stepped up their gold purchases, treating the yellow metal as a safe-haven asset.
India’s Growing Gold Reserves
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has significantly ramped up its gold acquisition efforts. In FY 2024–25 alone, it purchased 57.5 tonnes, making it the second-highest annual buy since 2017.
— Over the past five years, the RBI’s gold holdings have grown by 35%, rising from 653 tonnes in FY20 to 880 tonnes by March 2025.
— India has also climbed the global gold rankings — now seventh in the world in terms of gold reserves, up from tenth in 2015. Gold now accounts for 11.35% of India’s total foreign exchange reserves, up from 6.86% in 2021, according to the World Gold Council.
What Are Gold Reserves and Why Do They Matter?
Gold reserves are the gold held by a country’s central bank (in India, the RBI) as part of its foreign exchange reserves, which also include foreign currencies Assets (like US dollars), Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), Gold Reserves and Reserve Position with IMF. These reserves act like a nation’s financial safety net, used to:
— Stabilize the currency (e.g., the rupee) during economic crises.
— Pay for imports or foreign debts when foreign currency is scarce.
— Build global trust in the country’s economic stability.
Why RBI is Buying Gold?
— While the U.S. dollar remains the dominant global reserve currency, fluctuations in its value and spikes in U.S. treasury yields have increased the risk for central banks holding large dollar reserves. As a result, many are rebalancing their portfolios with gold.
Since September 2022, the RBI has repatriated 214 tonnes of gold back to India, reflecting a strategic shift toward domestic storage amid global instability.
— The increasing gold reserves could also support India’s efforts to promote the rupee in global trade and expand platforms like UPI for international settlements.
Why Repatriate Gold to India?
Since September 2022, the RBI has brought back 214 tonnes of gold from foreign vaults (primarily the Bank of England) to India, increasing domestic holdings to 510.46 tonnes (60% of total reserves) by September 2024. Key reasons include:
— Geopolitical Security: Post-2022, the freezing of Russian assets raised fears about the safety of gold stored abroad. Domestic storage is seen as safer amid global tensions.
— Cost Savings: Storing gold overseas incurs insurance and storage fees (tens of millions annually). Domestic vaults in Mumbai and Nagpur reduce these costs.
— Sufficient Domestic Capacity: Former RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had stated that India now has adequate storage facilities, making repatriation logical.
— Market Management: Domestic gold can be used to stabilize local gold prices or support bullion markets, meeting India’s high demand for gold-based investment products.
As of September 2024, 324.01 tonnes remain with the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), and 20.26 tonnes are held as gold deposits for liquidity.
How Gold Helps India?
— Economic Stability: Supports rupee and covers 11.2 months of imports.
— Global Standing: 7th rank enhances India’s financial credibility.
— Crisis Protection: Gold aided India during the 1991 crisis; prepares for future shocks.
— Domestic Benefits: Stabilizes gold prices, supports ETFs, and reduces import reliance.