National News
FinMin Urges RBI to Exempt Small Gold Loans from Draft Norms, Proposes 2026 Rollout
In response to growing concerns over the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) proposed gold loan regulations, the Union Ministry of Finance has urged the central bank to exempt small-ticket borrowers — those availing loans below ₹2 lakh — from the draft guidelines. The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has also recommended that the implementation of these new norms be deferred until January 1, 2026, to allow sufficient time for adaptation at the ground level.

The Ministry’s intervention follows a letter from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who highlighted the vital role gold-backed loans play in supporting small and marginal farmers. Stalin argued that such borrowers often lack formal land titles or income documentation, making gold loans their most accessible form of institutional credit. “This is not ornamental gold — it is their shield against life’s uncertainties,” Stalin said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), warning that the proposed RBI rules could harm the dignity and survival of poor and middle-class families.
The Finance Ministry stated on X that the DFS, under the guidance of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has examined the draft regulations and submitted suggestions to the RBI to ensure that small borrowers are not adversely affected. Notably, nearly 70% of gold loan borrowers fall under the ₹2 lakh category, with the average loan size at ₹88,000, as per data from Muthoot Finance.
Muthoot Finance’s Managing Director, George Alexander Muthoot, welcomed the Ministry’s recommendations, calling them a progressive step toward balancing regulatory oversight with financial inclusion. He emphasized that the proposed exemption and phased rollout reflect a clear understanding of the realities faced by rural and underserved borrowers.
The RBI’s draft guidelines, released on April 9, seek to tighten regulations around gold loans amid a surge in lending and rising non-performing assets (NPAs). Key proposals include a 75% cap on the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for consumption loans, verification of gold ownership, and a 12-month maximum term for bullet repayment loans. The RBI also proposed restrictions on loans backed by financial assets linked to gold or silver, such as ETFs and mutual funds.
The DFS has stressed the need for practical, phased implementation and reaffirmed that the RBI is currently reviewing feedback from stakeholders before finalizing the framework. According to RBI data, total gold loan outstandings stood at ₹11.11 lakh crore as of December 2024, up from ₹8.73 lakh crore a year earlier. NPAs in the segment have also increased, reaching ₹6,824 crore in December 2024, including ₹2,040 crore from commercial banks alone.
The Finance Ministry’s intervention is seen as a critical step in ensuring continued access to gold loans for vulnerable sections of society, while allowing time to build necessary systems to support responsible lending.
National News
Bhima Gold Unveils Ashtalakshmi Coin Collection for Akshaya Tritiya, Blending Devotion with Exquisite Design
A culturally rooted, insight-led launch that reimagines festive gold buying through storytelling, symbolism, and spiritual relevance.
In a move that blends cultural storytelling with product innovation, Bhima Gold has unveiled its Ashtalakshmi Coin Collection for Akshaya Tritiya – positioning gold not just as a purchase, but as a deeply symbolic expression of prosperity, faith, and intent.
Timed with one of India’s most significant gold-buying occasions, Akshaya Tritiya, the launch reflects a deeper cultural shift in consumer behaviour. While the festival continues to drive strong purchase intent, there is a growing preference for meaningful, purpose-led buying experiences over purely transactional consumption.
Aligned with this evolving mindset, the Ashtalakshmi coin collection has been thoughtfully conceptualised to blend tradition with deeper symbolism. Inspired by the eight sacred forms of Goddess Lakshmi, each coin represents a distinct dimension of prosperity—from wealth and nourishment to courage, knowledge, and continuity.

By bringing together Adi Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Veera Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi and Vidya Lakshmi, the collection reframes gold coins from being a generic festive purchase to a story-driven, culturally immersive product experience – one that resonates across generations and belief systems.
This launch also aligns with Bhima Gold’s larger centenary narrative of “Together Purever,” which focuses on legacy, shared traditions, and evolving consumer meaning. The collection becomes an extension of that philosophy – reinforcing how heritage brands are reinterpreting tradition for a more aware and emotionally driven consumer.
Customers can pre-book their favourite jewellery by paying just 10% in advance & get their jewellery on Akshaya Tritiya at the lowest rate, which gives customers more flexibility and helps them plan their purchases with greater confidence, especially at a time when gold prices are high.
Akshaya Tritiya has traditionally been associated with intention, belief, and the aspiration for prosperity, extending beyond a purely transactional act of buying gold. The Ashtalakshmi Coin Collection has been conceptualised to reflect this deeper cultural and spiritual significance, with each coin designed to carry a distinct meaning and sense of purpose. The initiative also aligns with evolving consumer preferences, where there is a noticeable shift towards jewellery that offers emotional, cultural, and spiritual resonance in addition to intrinsic value.
With gold prices near record highs and consumer sentiment becoming more considered, Bhima’s Ashtalakshmi Coin Collection signals a broader shift in the category — from price-led promotions to meaning-led engagement, where design, storytelling, and cultural relevance drive both differentiation and demand.
As legacy brands navigate a new era of conscious consumption, Bhima Gold’s latest offering highlights how tradition can be reimagined as experience, making gold buying not just an act of investment, but an expression of identity and belief.
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