National News

IIG announces ₹1 Lakh Course Giveaway at IIJS 2025 – All it takes is a selfie and the power of your network

Published

7 months ago

July 25, 2025

1,933 Views

The International Institute of Gemology (IIG), one of India’s premier institutes for gem and jewelry education, is bringing excitement and innovation to IIJS 2025 with a campaign that blends learning, networking, and fun. In a unique initiative, IIG is offering a free course worth ₹1,00,000 to one lucky participant, and all it takes to win is a selfie and the strength of one’s network.

The contest is simple yet meaningful: Visitors to IIJS can visit IIG’s booth, take a selfie at the Jharokha-themed selfie corner, and post it on their Instagram story by tagging @iigofficial. But here’s the twist: to actually win, participants must encourage their network to repost their story. The individual with the maximum shares stands to win a master course worth 1 Lakh by IIG.

The selfie corner itself is a heartfelt highlight of the experience; designed in the form of a traditional Jharokha, entirely conceptualized and crafted by IIG’s own students. As part of a merchandising project, students have carved, hand-painted, and styled the installation to reflect the IIJS 2025 theme of ‘Architecture’, blending cultural heritage with creative expression. It’s not just a photo spot; it’s a reflection of learning in action.

Rahul Desai, MD & CEO of IIG and Founder of RD Consultancy, shared his thoughts on the initiative: I love giving back to the industry. It has given me incredible opportunities and shaped who I am today. But I also believe giveaways should be fun. When there’s a little twist, and when you earn it through your energy and network, the reward becomes so much more meaningful. This isn’t just about IIG; it’s about celebrating the joy of connection, visibility, and community; things I deeply believe in.

Aligned with this year’s IIJS theme of ‘Architecture’, IIG’s booth showcases how the institute continues to lay strong educational foundations for the industry. From short-format practical workshops to long-term advanced programs, IIG offers skill-building opportunities for students, working professionals, and business owners alike. This year, the booth also introduces visitors to RD Consultancy, Rahul Desai’s newly launched advisory firm that offers strategic solutions for manufacturers, jewelry retailers, startups, and growth-focused entrepreneurs.

The synergy between IIG’s academic ecosystem and RD Consultancy’s business-forward mindset presents a compelling vision for the future, where education meets execution, and talent is empowered through both knowledge and action.

Visitors to IIJS are invited to explore the complete range of IIG’s offerings, meet the team, participate in the giveaway, and discover how this collaborative ecosystem can support their professional growth.

National News

Outstanding gold-backed loans surge by 128% from a year earlier

Published

2 hours ago

February 28, 2026

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India’s appetite for borrowing against gold is reshaping the country’s credit landscape. Outstanding gold-backed loans have surged 128% from a year earlier, crossing Rs.4 lakh crore ($48 billion) for the first time, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India. As of Jan. 31, loans secured by gold jewellery stood at Rs.4,00,517 crore, marking one of the fastest expansions in retail credit in recent years.

The boom in gold loans has helped propel overall non-food bank credit growth to 14.4% year-on-year. Personal loans now account for 34.5% of total bank lending, outpacing other segments and underscoring a broader shift toward consumer-driven credit expansion

Gold loans alone contributed roughly 9% of incremental bank credit during the period. Between January 2024 and January 2026, outstanding gold-backed credit rose by nearly Rs.3.1 lakh crore—an increase of about 338% over two years—more than quadrupling the size of the portfolio.

Two factors are driving the surge. First, gold prices have climbed roughly 152% over the past two years, increasing the collateral value of household holdings. Second, regulatory guidance requiring banks to classify loans secured by gold explicitly as gold loans has sharpened reporting and accelerated balance-sheet growth in the segment.

The trend highlights a distinctive feature of India’s financial system: households’ vast stock of physical gold, long viewed primarily as a store of wealth, is increasingly being mobilized as collateral for formal credit.

While personal lending and credit to nonbank financial companies within the services sector continue to expand rapidly, industrial credit remains uneven. Loans to micro, small and medium enterprises are growing steadily, but borrowing by large corporations has stayed relatively muted.

Since March 21, 2025, banks have added Rs.21.8 lakh crore to their non-food loan books, translating into 12% growth for the financial year to date. Yet it is gold—rather than factories or infrastructure—that is emerging as one of the most dynamic engines of India’s current credit cycle.