RBI holding gold reserves worth $27 bn

"As on April 20, 2012, the value of gold reserve was USD 27.02 billion, which accounts for 9.2 per cent of foreign exchange reserves of USD 294.6 billion," Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

RBI holds 557.75 tonnes of gold as part of foreign exchange reserves. The gold held by RBI is revalued on monthly basis as per accounting policies, he said.

On whether the government has earned huge profit due to steep hike in global gold prices, Meena said that gains and losses on valuation of gold due to movements in the price of gold are not taken to the profit and loss account but booked under a balance sheet head.

On steps taken to boost gold reserves in the coming years, Meena said RBI had purchased 200 tonnes of gold at the cost of USD 6.7 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of the foreign exchanges reserves management operations in 2009.