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
Coffee With CKM – Special Edition: In Conversation With Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Enriching Conversation On Wisdom, Success, Spirituality & Humanity….and More
“I don’t have to conquer the world. The world has always been mine. You conquer only that which is not yours.” With these profound words, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar instantly captivated hearts and minds, elevating the latest episode of Coffee with CKM into a deeply moving and spiritually enriching experience.
In this special edition, Dr. Chetan Kumar Mehta (CKM) welcomed Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, globally revered spiritual master, humanitarian, and peace ambassador, for a soul-stirring dialogue that transcended the ordinary and ventured into the realm of wisdom, consciousness, and human purpose.
Widely celebrated for his contribution to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and humanitarian service, Gurudev was recently honoured with the World Peace and Security Leadership Award by the Boston Global Forum and AI World Society in 2025. Established in 2015, the prestigious award recognizes global leaders who embody ethical courage, moral governance, and compassion in advancing peace and humanity.
In a conversation marked by warmth, spontaneity, and Gurudev’s trademark childlike innocence, profound insights emerged effortlessly — offering timeless lessons for entrepreneurs, leaders, families, and society at large.
Gems of Wisdom from Gurudev
On the need for guidance and wisdom
“When you have questions, when you search for answers, you need a guru. If you have all the answers, you don’t need a guru.”
On karma
“Karma is simply the impression that creates similar situations around you.”
On spirituality
“Spirituality is not religion or rituals — it is what unites an individual with the cosmos.”
On measuring success
“Measure success by the smiles on your face and the confidence that you exhibit.”
On wisdom versus information
“Information is not wisdom. One has to go through experiences in life and process them into wisdom.”
On energy and emotions
“When we are filled with positive energy, people around us are energized. Thoughts and emotions affect our energy levels.”
On balancing business and relationships
“When it comes to business, use your mind. When it comes to personal relationships, use your heart.”
On leadership and institution building
“Don’t try to build grand organisations. Just do what is right for society and humanity. When we started, we built people, character, and uplifted vision.”
On today’s generation
Reflecting on the digital age, Gurudev observed that the younger generation increasingly seeks instant experiences through social media and the internet, often leading to shorter attention spans and weakened interpersonal bonds. He stressed the urgent need for parents to provide children with a strong foundation in personal values and life skills.
On emotional well-being
“For peace and joy, you need real-time emotional connectivity — something social media can never replace.”
The episode stands as a powerful reminder that true success lies not merely in achievement, but in inner stillness, emotional balance, and meaningful human connection. With this special edition, Coffee with CKM once again reinforces its position as a platform for transformational conversations — where business, leadership, philosophy, and humanity seamlessly converge.
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