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Gold Monetization Scheme, 2015

UPDATED: Mar 25, 2025

1. Query: Are banks required to obtain RBI approval to participate in the Gold Monetization Scheme, 2015?

Response: No. However, banks should submit to RBI the implementation details including names of the Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs) and refiners with whom they have entered into tripartite agreement and the branches operating the scheme. Banks should also report the amount of gold mobilised under the scheme by all branches in a consolidated manner on a monthly basis in the prescribed format.

2. Query: Who is eligible to make a deposit? +

Response: Resident Indians [Individuals, HUFs, Proprietorship & Partnership firms, Trusts including Mutual Funds/Exchange Traded Funds registered under SEBI (Mutual Fund) Regulations, Companies, charitable institutions, Central Government, State Government or any other entity owned by Central Government or State Government].

3. Query: What are the various deposits under the scheme, the duration of such deposits, applicable interest rates, periodicity of interest payments?

Response: The scheme envisages the following types of deposits –

Sr. No.	Type of Deposit	Duration	Minimum Lock-in Period	Applicable Interest Rate	Periodicity of Interest Payment
i.	Short Term Bank Deposit (STBD)	1-3 years	As determined by banks	As determined by banks	As determined by banks
ii.	Medium Term Government Deposit (MTGD)	5-7 years	3 years	2.25% p.a.	Simple Interest annually or cumulative interest at time of maturity compounded annually.
iii.	Long Term Government Deposit (LTGD)	12-15 years	5 years	2.50% p.a.	Simple Interest annually or cumulative interest at time of maturity compounded annually.

It may be noted that consequent to Government of India’s press release ID 2115009 dated March 25, 2025, mobilization of MTGD and LTGD, including renewal of existing deposits, has been discontinued with effect from March 26, 2025.

4. Query: What is the procedure for a customer to make a deposit under the scheme? Does interest on deposit start accruing from Day 1 of depositing the gold with CPTC/GMCTA/designated branch?

Response: An eligible depositor can open a Gold Deposit Account with any of the designated banks after meeting the KYC norms. Generally, deposits under the scheme shall be made at the CPTC/GMS Mobilisation, Collection & Testing Agent (GMCTA) which would then test the purity of the customers’ gold in their presence and issue deposit receipts of the standard gold of 995 fineness to the depositor and also inform the customers’ respective bank about acceptance of deposit. The designated bank will credit Short-Term Bank Deposit (STBD) account of the customer, as is applicable, either on the same day of receipt of deposit receipt by the depositor or within 30 days of deposit of gold at CPTC/GMCTA (regardless of whether the depositor submits the receipt or not), whichever is earlier.

Thereafter, the interest on deposits will start accruing from date of conversion of gold deposited into tradable gold bars or 30 days after receipt of gold at the CPTC/GMCTA, whichever is earlier.

5. Query: What is the minimum and maximum amount of gold that can be deposited under the scheme?

Response: The minimum deposit at any one time is 10 grams of raw gold (bars, coins, jewellery excluding stones and other metals) and there is no maximum limit for deposit under the scheme. The quantity of gold deposited will be expressed up to three decimals of a gram.

6. Query: What changes have been carried out in the Scheme from March 26, 2025 ?

Response: Government of India, vide its press release ID 2115009 dated March 25, 2025 has discontinued the Medium and Long Term Government Deposit (MLTGD) components of GMS. Accordingly, the mobilization of a MLTGD, including renewal, has been discontinued with effect from March 26, 2025. There is no change in the provisions pertaining to STBD under GMS.

7. Query: What will be the impact on existing deposits upon discontinuation of MLTGD from March 26, 2025 ?

Response: The existing MLTGD are not impacted and will continue to be governed by the extant provisions as contained in the Master Direction. These deposits shall run till maturity unless these are prematurely withdrawn (as per the provisions in para 2.2.2. (e), 2.2.2. (f) and 2.2.2. (g) of the Master Direction – Gold Monetization Scheme, 2015).

8. Query: I deposited gold under the Scheme on March 25, 2025 with a CPTC/GMCTA for opening a Medium Term Government Deposit (MTGD)/ Long Term Government Deposit (LTGD). Will the bank open my deposit account?

Response: The designated banks will open a Gold Deposit Account for the MTGD/LTGD corresponding to a deposit receipt issued by CPTC/GMCTA to a depositor on or before March 25, 2025.

9. Query: My existing MTGD/LTGD deposit under GMS matured before March 25, 2025 but was not redeemed. Can I renew this deposit now?