Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme

Why in News?

SGBs are government securities denominated in grams of gold. They are substitutes for holding physical gold. Investors have to pay the issue price in cash and the bonds will be redeemed in cash on maturity. The Bond is issued by the Reserve Bank on behalf of the Government of India
The quantity of gold for which the investor pays is protected, since he receives the ongoing market price at the time of redemption/ premature redemption
The SGB offers a superior alternative to holding gold in physical form
The risks and costs of storage are eliminated. Investors are assured of the market value of gold at the time of maturity and periodical interest
SGB is free from issues like making charges and purity in the case of gold in jewellery form
The bonds are held in the books of the RBI or in demat form eliminating risk of loss of scrip etc

There may be a risk of capital loss if the market price of gold declines. However, the investor does not lose in terms of the units of gold which he has paid for

Persons resident in India as defined under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 are eligible to invest in SGB
Eligible investors include individuals, HUFs, trusts, universities and charitable institutions
Individual investors with subsequent change in residential status from resident to non-resident may continue to hold SGB till early redemption/maturity and joint holding is allowed
The Bonds are issued in denominations of one gram of gold and in multiples thereof
Minimum investment in the Bond shall be one gram with a maximum limit of subscription of 4 kg for individuals, 4 kg for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities notified by the government from time to time per fiscal year (April – March)
In case of joint holding, the limit applies to the first applicant
The annual ceiling will include bonds subscribed under different tranches during initial issuance by the Government and those purchased from the secondary market. The ceiling on investment will not include the holdings as collateral by banks and other Financial Institutions