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
India Hosts Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026 In Mumbai
Kimberley Process Meeting Focuses On Monitoring, Compliance and Sustainable Diamond Trade
The Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2026 commenced in Mumbai under India’s Chairship. The meeting, being held from May 11 to May 14, 2026, has brought together representatives from Kimberley Process Participants, Observers, and industry stakeholders from across the world to deliberate on key issues related to the global trade in natural diamonds.
Addressing the gathering, KP Chair 2026, Suchindra Misra, stated that the Kimberley Process has played an important role in supporting peace, protecting livelihoods, and strengthening legitimate diamond trade across producing nations. He emphasised the need to further strengthen trust in the system, enhance cooperation among participants, and ensure that the Kimberley Process remains relevant and effective in a changing global environment.
He also highlighted that natural diamonds represent a sustainable product and that the Kimberley Process continues to remain one of the most progressive certification systems globally.
The Intersessional Meeting will include discussions and meetings of various Working Groups and Committees over the coming days. The deliberations will focus on implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), monitoring and compliance mechanisms, artisanal and alluvial diamond production, statistics, and measures aimed at strengthening trust in the natural diamond value chain. The proceedings of the Intersessional Meeting will continue till May 14, 2026.
The meeting is also expected to provide an opportunity for Participants and Observers to exchange views on emerging challenges and collaborative approaches for enhancing consumer confidence in ethically sourced natural diamonds.
Senior officials of the Department of Commerce, Government of India, representatives from Kimberley Process Participants, members of the World Diamond Council, Civil Society Coalition members, and other stakeholders are participating in the Intersessional Meeting.
Quote attributed to Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC :
“India today stands at the heart of the global natural diamond industry, not only as the world’s largest cutting and polishing center, but also as one of the fastest-growing diamond jewellery markets globally. As an industry, we remain committed to strengthening consumer confidence, promoting transparency, and working together with global stakeholders to ensure that natural diamonds continue to remain a symbol of trust, aspiration, and shared prosperity across the world.
GJEPC, as co-organizer of the Intersessional under India’s Kimberley Process Chairship, is pleased to support this important global platform that will help strengthen confidence, enhance compliance, and reinforce the credibility of the global diamond ecosystem.”
India’s Chairship theme for 2026 focuses on the 3Cs — credibility, compliance, and consumer confidence in the natural diamond sector, with emphasis on strengthening the future of responsibly sourced natural diamonds through constructive dialogue and international collaboration.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), established pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 (2000), is an international initiative aimed at preventing the flow of conflict diamonds into the legitimate diamond trade. At present, the Kimberley Process has 60 Participants representing 86 countries, with the European Union and its Member States participating as a single bloc.
India assumed the Chairship of the Kimberley Process on January 1, 2026, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening responsible sourcing, transparency, and sustainability in the global diamond sector. As one of the world’s leading centres for diamond cutting and polishing, India continues to play an important role in advancing the objectives of the Kimberley Process.
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