National News

JEA 2025 Second Jury Round Marks a Sparkling Milestone in Jewellery Design Excellence

Published

8 months ago

July 2, 2025

1,043 Views

The Second Jury Round of the Jewellery Eminence Awards (JEA) 2025 lit up Jaipur with brilliance on 13th June at Rose’ Amer, setting a new standard for creativity and craftsmanship in the Indian jewellery industry.

The prestigious event brought together some of the most innovative and breathtaking jewellery designs, evaluated by an expert panel of jurors known for their sharp insights and deep industry knowledge. Their discerning judgment helped spotlight the most exceptional entries, narrowing down the finest talents for the final stage of the competition.

More than just a jury round, the day became a celebration of artistry, innovation, and dedication. It reflected the tireless effort of designers, the collaborative spirit of the organizing team, and the unwavering support of sponsors and partners who continue to believe in the vision of JEA.

This successful milestone not only moves the competition closer to its grand finale but also reaffirms JEA’s commitment to nurturing and recognizing excellence in jewellery design on a national scale.

National News

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

Published

11 hours ago

February 28, 2026

JewelBuzz Spread The Buzz

1,402 Views

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.