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India’s First Private Gold Mine Since Independence Opens In Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh

The Mine Has An Estimated Operational Life Of 15 Years, With Initial Annual Production Of 400 Kilograms, Set To Scale Up To 900 Kilograms In The Next Phase

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated independent India’s first private integrated greenfield gold mining project at Jonnagiri in Kurnool district, marking a historic milestone in the country’s mining sector. The launch brings commercial-scale domestic gold production back into focus at a time when gold prices are at historic highs.

Until now, India’s only operational gold mines were located at Kolar and Hutti in Karnataka, both established during the British era. While the Hutti mine continues to be operated by a Karnataka government enterprise, mining at Kolar was suspended long ago. No new gold mining project had been commissioned since Independence, making Jonnagiri a watershed moment for the sector.

The Jonnagiri project has been developed by Geo Mysore Services India Pvt. Ltd. and Deccan Gold Mines, backed by Lloyds Metals and Energy and the Thriveni Group, with a total investment exceeding Rs 405 crore. Naidu inaugurated the mine, laid the foundation stone for its second expansion unit, and flagged off heavy vehicles transporting gold-bearing ore for processing. He also visited a training centre on site where local women and youth are being trained on simulator machines to operate heavy mining equipment.

The project is spread across approximately 598 hectares, covering the villages of Jonnagiri, Erragudi, and Pagidirayi in Tuggali mandal. Certified gold resources currently stand at around 13.1 tonnes, with exploration pointing to the potential for significantly larger reserves across the broader mineralised belt. The mine has an estimated operational life of 15 years, with initial annual production of 400 kilograms, set to scale up to 900 kilograms in the next phase and eventually reach two tonnes per year.

Addressing a public meeting after the inauguration, Naidu invoked the region’s ancient heritage, noting that Jonnagiri was once known as Swarnagiri and flourished as a centre of mineral wealth during the reign of Emperor Ashoka and later under Sri Krishnadevaraya.

Naidu also outlined an ambitious long-term vision, saying the state aimed to scale annual gold production to 50 metric tonnes, significantly reducing India’s dependence on imports. India currently imports between 700 and 1,000 tonnes of gold each year, making gold the country’s second-largest import after crude oil.

In a symbolic gesture, Geo Mysore Services and Deccan Gold Mines presented the state government with a map of Andhra Pradesh crafted from gold produced at Jonnagiri. The Chief Minister announced the memento would be displayed at the proposed museum in Amaravati. The first batch of gold from the mine was handed over to jewellery companies from the state.

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India’s Major Retail Jewellery Players Made A Strong Start To FY27

The Common Drivers Are Clear: Strong Same-Store Sales, Fast Store Expansion, Premiumisation, and A Better Product Mix.

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India’s organised jewellery retailers have made a strong start to FY27, with Kalyan Jewellers, P N Gadgil Jewellers and Titan Company all showing that branded players can still grow quickly even in a record gold-price environment. The common drivers are clear: strong same-store sales, fast store expansion, premiumisation, and a better product mix.

Kalyan’s broad-based growth

Kalyan Jewellers reported about 38% consolidated revenue growth in Q1 FY27, with India operations also rising by more than 38% despite the 28-day Adhik Maas period, which usually softens wedding-related demand. Same-store sales growth was around 28%, showing that existing stores remained the main engine of momentum. Candere was a standout, posting about 112% growth, while Kalyan added 12 Kalyan showrooms and five Candere outlets during the quarter.

The company also highlighted a shift toward recycled gold through its “Shine with India” campaign, with recycled gold contributing more than 46% of revenue in Q1 and over 55% in June. That suggests Kalyan is not only growing demand but also improving sourcing efficiency at the same time.

PNG’s premium mix

P N Gadgil Jewellers reported 41% year-on-year revenue growth in Q1 FY27, with retail revenue up 56% and same-store sales up 46%, which points to very strong productivity at existing stores. Retail now contributes roughly 78% of revenue, while franchise and e-commerce also expanded healthily. The company’s retail stud ratio increased to 10.9%, indicating improving demand for studded jewellery and a higher-value product mix.

PNG also noted that newer stores in North and Central India are already showing higher studded jewellery penetration than its traditional Maharashtra and Goa markets. That matters because it signals that the brand is successfully taking its premium assortment to new geographies, not just expanding store count.

Titan’s steady momentum

Titan’s jewellery business also continued to grow strongly, with domestic jewellery operations rising around 18% to 39% depending on the business-update frame reported, supported by Akshaya Tritiya demand and healthy early-quarter buyer traffic. Titan said consumers increasingly preferred lightweight and lower-karat jewellery as gold prices climbed, while plain gold jewellery grew in the mid-teens and studded jewellery delivered early double-digit growth. Tanishq’s like-to-like sales grew in early double digits, and CaratLane also posted healthy double-digit like-to-like growth.

Titan expanded its jewellery network by adding 19 net stores in the quarter, including Tanishq, Mia and CaratLane outlets. That reinforces the same theme seen across the sector: scale, distribution and brand trust are helping large organised players win share.

What it means

The quarter suggests that high gold prices are changing what consumers buy, not whether they buy. Buyers are shifting toward lighter designs, lower karatage, studded jewellery and branded channels, which helps organised retailers defend growth even when raw material prices are elevated. In that setting, store expansion and premiumisation are offsetting pricing pressure, while digital channels and recycled-gold initiatives are adding another layer of resilience.

For the upcoming festive and wedding season, the sector appears well positioned, especially if gold prices stay volatile but not sharply disruptive. The strongest signal from these updates is that organised jewellery retail is gaining share from unorganised players rather than simply riding higher ticket values.

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