Topics Covered: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme
What to study?
For Prelims: Features of the SGB scheme.
For Mains: The scheme and its significance for India.
Context: Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds.
About the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme:
- The sovereign gold bond was introduced by the Government in 2015.
- Government introduced these bonds to help reduce India’s over dependence on gold imports.
- The move was also aimed at changing the habits of Indians from saving in physical form of gold to a paper form with Sovereign backing.
Key facts:
Eligibility: The bonds will be restricted for sale to resident Indian entities, including individuals, HUFs, trusts, universities and charitable institutions.
Denomination and tenor: The bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram. The tenor will be for a period of 8 years with exit option from the 5th year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.
Minimum and Maximum limit: The minimum permissible investment limit will be 1 gram of gold, while the maximum limit will be 4 kg for individual, 4 kg for HUF and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March) notified by the government from time to time.
Joint Holder: In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 kg will be applied to the first applicant only.
Collateral: Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
Insta Links:
Prelims Link:
- Eligibility for scheme?
- Can they be used as collateral?
- What is the minimum and maximum permissible limit?
- Who can issue these bonds?
Mains Link:
Discuss the key features and significance of Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme.
Sources: pib.
