National News
SRK Becomes First Company in the World to Craft Carbon-Negative Natural Diamonds
In a proud moment for India and the global diamond industry, Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK) has achieved a historic breakthrough again in sustainability practices by becoming the first company in the world to craft natural diamonds with a negative carbon footprint. This milestone, announced aligns strongly with India’s climate goals and reflects the nation’s rising leadership in the sustainable development.
SRK’s diamond crafting process now removes more carbon than it emits. The company reports a verified product carbon footprint of (negative)–0.239 kg CO₂e per carat of polished diamond and an overall organisational carbon footprint of (negative)–893 metric tons CO₂e. These numbers are not just estimates but are independently verified by Deutsch Quality Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd. under globally accepted frameworks including ISO 14064-1:2018, ISO 14067:2018, ISO 14068-1:2023, and the GHG Protocol.
SRK has been actively contributing to 14 out of the 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (DDG), making it one of the most sustainability-aligned companies in India’s manufacturing sector. From clean energy adoption to water conservation, waste recycling to responsible consumption, SRK’s efforts reflect how Indian industry can balance growth with environmental stewardship.
The company is on the verge of releasing the second edition of its “Pure Impact Report”, a transparent and visually engaging publication that shares its journey towards sustainability. The report outlines the company’s initiatives in solar-powered operations, net-zero energy and emission buildings, ethical sourcing practices and future-ready water and waste management systems.
At a time when India is actively advancing its GHG emissions reduction roadmap as per the Gazette notifications of 2025, SRK has gone a step ahead by becoming climate-positive. This achievement complements the broader national vision of “Lifestyle for Environment” (LiFE) and the principles of circular economy being promoted across industries.
As of this year, India has entered the Top 100 countries in the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index for the first time. SRK’s achievement stands as a shining example of how Indian enterprises can directly contribute to these global goals while maintaining their excellence in manufacturing and innovation.
Shreyans Dholakia, Entrepreneur & Brand Custodian at SRK says, “For us, true luxury goes beyond brilliance, it lies in impact. We are proud to show that even in industries like natural diamonds, sustainability is not a dream but a reality. This is not just our milestone, it is India’s milestone too.”
As India continues to rise as a responsible global leader, companies like SRK brings pride to the nation and encourages industries across the board to innovate for a greener tomorrow. This success is not just about luxury, it is about leadership, purpose, and progress.
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.
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