National News
Loans against gold surge 128.5% year-on-year to Rs. 3.38 lakh crore
According to the latest RBI data, outstanding gold-backed loans surged 128.5% year-on-year to ₹3.38 lakh crore as of October 2025, and grew 63.6% since March 2025.
Loans against gold jewellery are emerging as the strongest driver of retail credit growth, outpacing all other personal loan categories by a wide margin. According to the latest RBI data, outstanding gold-backed loans surged 128.5% year-on-year to Rs. 3.38 lakh crore as of October 2025, and grew 63.6% since March 2025.
This sharp rise means that nearly one-fourth of all new additions to banks’ personal loan books in the past year came from gold loans alone, underscoring a clear shift in consumer borrowing preferences toward secured, asset-backed credit.
A key factor behind this jump is the May 2024 reclassification, where agricultural loans secured against jewellery were moved into the retail gold-loan category, aligning with regulatory norms. However, even beyond reclassification, demand for loans against jewellery continues to gain momentum due to their speed, flexibility, and lower interest rates compared to unsecured options.
Secured Loans Lead Retail Credit
The broader retail credit ecosystem continues to favour secured lending:
- Housing loans grew 11% to Rs. 31.87 lakh crore
- Vehicle loans rose 12.5% to Rs. 6.77 lakh crore
- Education loans increased 14.7% to Rs. 1.49 lakh crore
In contrast, unsecured credit showed muted growth:
- Consumer durable loans grew just 1%
- Credit card outstanding rose 7.7%
- Other personal loans increased 9.9%
The slowdown in unsecured lending further strengthens the position of gold loans as a dependable, collateral-backed credit option for households, small businesses, and farmers.
Bank Credit Growth Supported by Retail Demand
Overall bank credit grew 11.3% year-on-year to Rs. 193.9 lakh crore, with personal loans remaining the strongest pillar. Services, NBFCs, and MSMEs also contributed significantly to non-retail credit expansion.
A Structural Shift Toward Gold-Backed Finance
The rise of loans against jewellery signals a structural trend:
Indian consumers are increasingly leveraging idle household gold to meet financial needs—without resorting to costlier unsecured borrowing. As banks deepen their gold-loan portfolios with better processes and digital onboarding, this segment is set to remain a high-growth, low-risk driver in the retail credit landscape.
National News
Cosmos Diamonds Makes History With World’s First LGD Jewellery Launched Into Space
The Launch Also Reinforces India’s Emergence As A Global Innovation Hub Where Startups From Diverse Sectors Are Forging Unconventional Partnerships.
In a landmark moment where luxury, science and space exploration converged, Sanjana Tripuramallu, founder of Bengaluru-based Cosmos Diamonds, has achieved a global first by collaborating with private space company Skyroot Aerospace to send Cosmos Bloom, the world’s first lab-grown diamond (LGD) jewellery creation into space aboard the Vikram-1 rocket.
The Cosmos Bloom Diamond is handcrafted in 18 kt gold using 32 pear-cut LGDs arranged in the form of a blooming lotus and mounted on a specially engineered aluminium base plate. It is designed to withstand the extreme conditions of launch and spaceflight. The space-bound jewel is valued at Rs 11 lakh and combines Indian craftsmanship, technology, and innovation.
Sanjana Tripuramallu, Founder- Cosmos Diamonds
The launch also reinforces India’s emergence as a global innovation hub where startups from diverse sectors are forging unconventional partnerships. While Skyroot Aerospace showcased the country’s private launch capabilities through Vikram-1, Cosmos Diamonds used the mission to tell a powerful story of Indian design and scientific ambition on an international stage. With the successful launch of the world’s first lab-grown diamond jewel into orbit, Sanjana Tripuramallu and Cosmos Diamonds have etched their names into both jewellery and space history, demonstrating that the future of luxury may well extend beyond Earth itself.
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