Sovereign Gold Bonds 2018-19 tranche-I issue opens on Monday

The first tranche of the government's gold bonds scheme in the new fiscal -- the "Sovereign Gold Bonds 2018-19, Series-I -- will open for public subscription from April 16 to 20, 2018, according to an official announcement on Friday.

A Finance Ministry statement here said the bonds would earn an interest of 2.5 per cent per annum, payable every six months on the nominal value. The bond certificates would be issued on May 4.

"Price of bond will be fixed in Indian rupees on the basis of simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association for the last 3 working days of the week preceding the subscription period.

"Issue price of the gold bonds will be Rs 50 per gram less for those who subscribe online and pay through digital mode," the ministry said in a statement.

It said that the tenure of the bond will be for a period of eight years, with an exit option from the fifth year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.

While the minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold, "the maximum limit of subscribed shall be 4 kg for individual, 4 kg for HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March)".

"The annual ceiling will include bonds subscribed under different tranches during initial issuance by government and those purchase from the secondary market," the statement said.

"In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 kg will be applied to the first applicant only."

The bonds would be sold through banks, designated post offices, Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL) and recognised stock exchanges -- the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange.

SGBs are denominated in multiples of gram of gold with a minimum unit of 1 gram and can also be held in demat form for ease of trading.

The government launched the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme in November 2015 as an alternative to purchasing metal gold and mobilise the idle gold held by households and institutions into productive use in the long run.

This will help reduce the current account deficit by reducing the country's reliance on the import of gold to meet the domestic demand.

--IANS

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