National News
Retail Gold Sales Drop 25% Amid Rising Prices, Lightweight Jewelry in Demand
A 4% rise in gold prices in March has led to a significant 25% decline in retail gold sales at jewelers and a 60% drop in Zaveri Bazaar. Indian families with upcoming weddings are feeling the pinch of higher gold prices, turning to lighter, lower-carat jewelry to meet bridal jewelry demands. Despite this, demand is expected to pick up during Akshay Tritiya in April, though lightweight jewelry remains the preferred choice.
Gold prices saw a near-4% increase in the first half of March, bringing down retail sales by 25% compared to the same period last year. Zaveri Bazaar, a hub where retail jewellers buy bullion and jewelry in bulk, saw a 60% drop in sales.
Senco Gold & Diamonds, Joy Alukkas, PNG Jewellers, Mamraj Musaddilal Jewellers, and senior executives from the India Bullion & Jewellers Association mentioned that Indian families, especially those with weddings planned for the upcoming season, are stressed by the escalating prices. As a result, they are opting for lightweight jewelry, as high prices make it difficult to stick to the traditional gold jewelry budgets.

Suvankar Sen, the chief of Senco Gold, shared that sales of small-ticket gold jewelry in the ₹30,000 – ₹40,000 price range have dried up. “The high prices are keeping customers away from spending on gold,” he said. On March 18, gold was priced at ₹88,256 per 10 gm in the physical market, with a 3% Goods and Services Tax (GST), pushing the cost to ₹90,903 per 10 gm.
“Those who have weddings in the family are buying lightweight jewellery as they cannot stretch the budget. Demand has dropped by 15% beginning from March and if this rally continues, the recovery in demand may not happen. The next big sales can only happen during Akshay Tritiya, which falls on April 30,” said the MD of Senco Gold & Diamond.
Despite the rise in prices, the demand has remained sluggish in South India too. “Compared to last March, demand is down by up to 25%. While the high price is a big factor in this demand drop, other things like board exams have slowed down demand as well,” said Baby George, CEO of Joy Alukkas.
Saurabh Gadgil, chairman of PNG Jewellers, also highlighted the shift in preferences. “People are buying lightweight jewellery, and many are exchanging old gold jewellery with new ones. The volumes are getting impacted but value-wise the jewellers are not facing any issue.”


Avinash Gupta, partner at Hyderabad-based Mamraj Musaddilal Jewellers, noted that while demand has softened, it hasn’t reached alarming levels. “Demand will bounce back in April due to weddings and Akshaya Tritiya, but definitely the preference will shift to lightweight and lower caratage jewellery.”
National News
GJEPC Applauds Export Promotion Mission as Catalyst for USD 100 Billion Gem & Jewellery Export Vision. Thanks Government for recognising Gems & Jewellery as a Priority Sector
- With over 85% of the industry comprising MSMEs, this visionary step will fast-track the sector’s journey towards achieving USD 100 billion in exports by 2047, empowering small exporters and transforming India’s gem and jewellery industry into a globally competitive, future-ready powerhouse.
- The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE), offering Rs.20,000 crore of collateral-free credit with 100% guarantee through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited, along with Interest subvention will play a pivotal role in providing cheap capital to this capital-intensive sector. This will also empower MSMEs with easier access to finance.
- Grant to participate in international fairs will help the sector diversify in new markets and also help small exporters to get access in established markets.
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) — a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening India’s export ecosystem with a total outlay of Rs.25,060 crore for FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31.
The Council extended its gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet, Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, and Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal for recognising the gem and jewellery sector among the priority industries under the Mission.

“This bold and visionary initiative comes at a pivotal time, as the Gems & Jewellery industry navigates global headwinds and challenging market dynamics. It will greatly enhance the ease of doing business and strengthen India’s Gem & Jewellery export competitiveness,” said Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC.
“The inclusion of key measures such as the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) — offering Rs.20,000 crore of collateral-free credit with 100% guarantee through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited — along with interest subvention, will play a pivotal role in providing affordable capital to this capital-intensive sector. These initiatives will empower MSMEs with easier access to finance and liquidity support.
Additionally, the grant for participation in international trade fairs will help the sector diversify into new and emerging markets while enabling small exporters to strengthen their presence in established destinations.
Most importantly, the Export Promotion Mission will accelerate our vision of achieving USD 100 billion in gem and jewellery exports by 2047, contributing meaningfully to the Government’s larger vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The GJEPC looks forward to working closely with the Government to translate this support into higher exports, greater value addition, and enhanced employment opportunities for our sector,” said Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC.
The GJEPC noted that the Mission’s integrated approach — combining financial and non-financial interventions through the Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha sub-schemes — reflects the Government’s commitment to building a more resilient, technology-driven, and inclusive export framework.

The gem and jewellery industry stands to benefit immensely from the Export Promotion Mission’s (EPM) targeted interventions. By enabling compliance and certification support, and facilitating branding, marketing, and global linkages, the Mission will significantly strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises that form the backbone of the sector. These measures will empower MSMEs to expand their global footprint, enhance value addition, and contribute more meaningfully to India’s export growth story.
The gem and jewellery sector, one of India’s most labour-intensive industries, employs over 4.3 million people and contributes around 6.8% to the country’s total merchandise exports. Enhanced access to affordable finance, branding assistance, and export logistics support under the EPM will help Indian jewellers strengthen their global footprint, especially in new and emerging markets.
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