National News

IBJA proposes establishment of self-regulatory division for digital gold

Published

11 months ago

December 2, 2025

The India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) today announced a major initiative to enhance market integrity and consumer confidence in India’s rapidly expanding Digital Gold industry: the proposal to establish a dedicated, self-regulatory division. This crucial step is intended to foster consumer trust and ensure market integrity, while proactively demonstrating effective self-governance to potentially pre-empt the need for external government regulation2 .

Key Components of the Proposed Initiative

The IBJA will formally establish a distinct Self-Regulatory Division (SRD) solely focused on the governance of digital gold. This division will be responsible for drafting the Self-Regulatory Framework (SRF), registering entities, and setting up the compliance monitoring and enforcement mechanism.

Consultative and Development Process

To ensure broad industry acceptance, IBJA’s initial action will be to convene a Digital Gold Industry Consultative Meeting (DGICM). Key invitees will include major digital gold providers, custodians, consumer advocacy groups, and regulators for informational exchange. Following the DGICM, IBJA will formulate a comprehensive Consultation Paper (CP) detailing proposed rules in critical areas, including:

• Custody Standards: Clear rules on minimum purity physical backing, insurance, and segregation of the underlying bullion. • Consumer Protection: Rules on clear communication of risks, fees, and a defined grievance redressal mechanism.

• Compliance & Audit: Requirements for independent, periodic audits. Framework Timeline and Enforcement The Final Self-Regulatory Framework (F-SRF) is targeted for official publication by March 31, 2026. It is scheduled to become fully effective from April 1, 2026, onwards, allowing the industry a 4-month transition period to align systems and processes. Adherence to the F-SRF will be mandatory for all participating entities registered with the IBJA-SRD-DG.

Transparency and Audit Mechanism

A cornerstone of the F-SRF is transparency, aiming to eliminate public doubts about the physical backing of digital gold. The framework will mandate a quarterly independent audit of the physical gold reserves of all member entities.

• Auditor Requirement: Audit to be conducted by industry experience auditing firm.

• Transparency Portal: IBJA will establish a Digital Gold Transparency Portal to publicly display anonymized, aggregated compliance data and summaries of audit findings. The SRD will have the authority to impose penalties, fines, and suspension for non-compliance with the audit mandate or the F-SRF rules.

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National News

PNG Jewellers Marks 25 Years Of Paud Road Store With ‘Choosing Gold’ Marathi Edition Launch By Actress Shreya Bugade

Launched Within Three Months Of The English Edition, The Marathi Memoir Was Unveiled In The Presence Of Actress Shreya Bugade At PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road Store.

Published

6 hours ago

October 29, 2026

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Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director of PNG Jewellers, launched the Marathi edition of his debut memoir, Choosing Gold, in Pune, in the presence of popular Marathi actress Shreya Bugade. The Marathi edition comes just three months after the book’s English release in August 2026, bringing Dr Gadgil’s personal and professional journey closer to readers in his mother tongue. The launch took place at PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store, which also celebrated 25 glorious years of serving customers and building lasting relationships in Pune.

Choosing Gold offers a deeply personal account of Dr. Gadgil’s journey as the sixth-generation custodian of PNG Jewellers, one of India’s oldest and most respected jewellery businesses with a legacy spanning 194 years. Originally published in English by Penguin Random House India in August 2026, the memoir reflects on the challenges, defining decisions and experiences that shaped his leadership and the evolution of the business. With the launch of its Marathi edition, this journey now reaches readers in a language closely connected to Dr. Gadgil’s upbringing, family and roots.

More than the story of a successful entrepreneur, Choosing Gold is an honest reflection on the responsibility of carrying forward a legacy while finding one’s own identity. Having taken over the leadership of PNG Jewellers, Dr. Gadgil navigated several defining moments that tested his conviction and shaped his outlook. The memoir revisits the lessons learned from setbacks, conversations with his grandfather and mother that stayed with him over the years, and personal experiences that influenced his decisions. It also offers insight into his approach to leading and transforming a nearly two-century-old family business while remaining rooted in the values on which it was built.

Speaking on the launch, Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director, PNG Jewellers, said:

“Ever since the English edition of Choosing Gold was released, I had been eagerly looking forward to bringing the book to Marathi readers. Marathi is my mother tongue, and seeing my experiences, decisions and learnings reach readers in my own language is a moment of immense pride and happiness for me. Writing this book allowed me to revisit several moments in my life. Some decisions worked out, some did not, and the significance of a few became clear only years later. Each of these experiences has shaped the person I am today. My family’s values, the rich legacy of PNG Jewellers and the trust our customers have placed in us have all played an important role in this journey.

I am particularly happy that the Marathi edition will allow me to connect with readers in a more personal way. If even one experience from my journey helps someone approach a difficult decision with greater confidence, I would consider the purpose of this book fulfilled.”

Popular Marathi actress Shreya Bugade, who graced the occasion as the chief guest, said:

“It is truly an honour to be part of the launch of the Marathi edition of Dr. Saurabh Gadgil’s Choosing Gold. What makes this occasion even more special is that we are also celebrating 25 glorious years of PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store. It is a double celebration, and I am delighted to be part of it.”

The launch of the Marathi edition marks another significant milestone in Dr. Gadgil’s journey as an author. Going beyond the world of business, the memoir explores leadership, family, relationships, responsibility and the importance of believing in one’s decisions. Its themes extend beyond entrepreneurs and business professionals, offering relatable experiences and reflections for readers navigating their own ambitions, challenges and choices.

The occasion also marked the silver jubilee of PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store, celebrating 25 glorious years of customer trust and relationships. Over the past two and a half decades, the store has built a strong connection with generations of customers in the neighbourhood, making it an important part of PNG Jewellers’ journey in Pune.