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Income Tax Act, 2025: A New Era of Simpler and Smarter Taxation in India

  Income Tax Act, 2025: A New Era of Simpler and Smarter Taxation in India India’s tax system is entering a historic phase with the introduction of the Income Tax Act, 2025, which will officially replace the six-decade-old Income-tax Act, 1961 from 1 April 2026. This transition is one of the biggest reforms in India’s direct tax administration and is designed to simplify tax laws, improve compliance, reduce confusion, and modernize the taxation framework for businesses, professionals, salaried individuals, and investors. The new law does not introduce any new tax burden. Instead, its primary objective is to make tax laws easier to understand, more transparent, digitally aligned, and less dependent on complex legal interpretation. The government has also issued detailed transition FAQs to ensure taxpayers face minimal difficulty while shifting from the old regime to the new one. Why Was a New Income Tax Act Needed? The Income-tax Act, 1961 served India for more than 60 years. During...
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NSE Launches Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR): A New Era for India’s Gold Market

  NSE Launches Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR): A New Era for India’s Gold Market India’s relationship with gold is timeless—deeply rooted in culture, tradition, and investment. From weddings to wealth preservation, gold has always played a central role. However, despite its importance, the gold market has long faced challenges such as lack of transparency, fragmented pricing, and inefficiencies in trading physical gold. A major transformation is now underway. The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has officially launched Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) —a groundbreaking initiative designed to modernize and formalize India’s gold ecosystem. What Are Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs)? Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) are digital securities that represent ownership of physical gold . Instead of holding gold in physical form, investors can now own it electronically, similar to shares or bonds. Each EGR: Is backed by actual physical gold Is stored securely in SEBI-accredit...
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Revamping India’s Gold Monetization Scheme: A Strategic Proposal to Reduce Imports and Strengthen the Economy

  Revamping India’s Gold Monetization Scheme: A Strategic Proposal to Reduce Imports and Strengthen the Economy India has long held a deep cultural and economic connection with gold. However, this affinity has also resulted in a heavy reliance on gold imports, leading to significant foreign exchange outflows and pressure on the Current Account Deficit (CAD). A recent proposal submitted by the Precious Metals Refineries Forum (PMRF), under the aegis of the India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA), outlines a comprehensive roadmap to revamp the Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) and unlock the immense potential of idle domestic gold reserves. The Core Challenge: High Gold Imports and Idle Domestic Reserves India imports approximately USD 60 billion worth of gold annually. At the same time, an estimated 30,000 tonnes of gold lies idle in households and religious institutions across the country. This paradox presents both a challenge and an opportunity. By mobilizing even 1–2% of t...
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Digital Gold Regulation in India: IBJA Introduces New Self-Regulatory Framework for Digital Gold & Silver

  Digital Gold Regulation in India: IBJA Introduces New Self-Regulatory Framework for Digital Gold & Silver India’s digital gold market is entering a new phase of transparency and accountability with the introduction of a self-regulatory framework led by the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA). As digital investments in gold and silver continue to grow rapidly, the new initiative aims to build trust, improve compliance, and create safer standards for consumers and businesses alike. According to an official press release dated 22nd April 2026, IBJA has launched a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) system for companies offering digital gold and silver products. This move is expected to strengthen the structure of the fast-growing digital precious metals industry. What Is Digital Gold? Digital gold allows customers to buy, sell, and store gold online in small denominations without physically holding it. Investors can purchase gold worth even a few rupees through apps o...
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Gold Import Licence Delays Shake India’s Bullion Industry: Supply, Prices & Jobs at Risk

 Gold Import Licences Stall: How Renewal Delays Are Squeezing India’s Bullion Industry India’s bullion market is facing growing uncertainty as delays in renewing gold import licences for dore refineries begin to impact the supply chain. Industry experts warn that if the situation continues, it could lead to higher costs, reduced supply, pressure on manufacturing, and job losses across the jewellery sector. Gold has always played a major role in India’s economy and culture. From jewellery demand to investment buying, the country remains one of the largest gold consumers in the world. However, behind the scenes, the import and refining system is now under stress due to regulatory slowdowns. What Is Happening? According to reports from the bullion sector, the government has not renewed the licences of several refineries whose import quotas for dore gold have been exhausted or whose licence period has expired. Dore gold is an unrefined form of gold that is imported and then processed i...
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India Restricts Jewellery Imports Under CTH 7113: What Businesses Need to Know Right Now

  DGFT's Notification No. 02/2026-27 changes the import landscape for precious metal jewellery with immediate and sweeping effect — no transitional grace period applies. 📅 1 April 2026 📄 DGFT Notification No. 02/2026-27 🌍 Ministry of Commerce & Industry 🕑 6 min read In a significant move that will reshape India's gems and jewellery trade, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued Notification No. 02/2026-27 on 1 April 2026, amending the import policy for articles of jewellery and parts thereof falling under Customs Tariff Heading (CTH) 7113 of ITC (HS) 2022, Schedule-I. The change is stark and immediate: several categories that were previously freely importable are now classified as "Restricted" — meaning an import licence is required before goods can enter India. ◆ ◆ ◆ Background: What Is CTH 7113? CTH 7113 covers articles of jewellery and parts thereof made of precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) or metal clad with precious metal. This is on...
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Impact of Revised Import Duty on Gold and Silver: Prices Update from April 1, 2026

 As of April 1, 2026 , a new revision in duty structure has come into effect, directly influencing the pricing of precious metals in the domestic market. This change is particularly significant for traders, jewellers, investors, and consumers tracking gold and silver rates closely. Updated Rates (Effective April 1, 2026) Based on the revised duty and the latest exchange rate, the updated indicative prices are: Gold: 8199.75 Silver: 12446.66 Exchange Rate: 94.25 These figures reflect the immediate impact of the revised duty calculations combined with the prevailing currency conversion rate. What Has Changed? The adjustment in import duty alters the cost structure of precious metals entering the country. Since India relies heavily on imports for gold and silver, even a minor tweak in duty can significantly affect domestic prices. The updated exchange rate of 94.25 has also played a crucial role. A higher exchange rate typically increases the landed cost of imports, thereby pushin...
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