Gold Reserves of India: 50 Years of Change
India currently holds 876 tonnes of official gold and is actively accumulating. Here is how its reserves rose and fell over the last half-century.
India's gold reserves by decade
Approximate official holdings in tonnes, compiled from IMF International Financial Statistics and World Gold Council records.
Key moments in India's gold history
- In the 1991 crisis India famously airlifted gold to London as loan collateral — a national humiliation that still shapes policy.
- Bought 200 tonnes from the IMF in 2009 and has added steadily every year since 2017.
- The RBI has also been repatriating gold from the Bank of England to domestic vaults since 2022.
The 50-year picture
India belongs to the accumulator camp — countries whose central banks have added gold over the modern era rather than sold it. Since the 2008 financial crisis, and especially after the freezing of Russia's currency reserves in 2022 showed that foreign-currency assets carry political risk, official buying worldwide has run at record levels, and India's holdings of 876 tonnes reflect that shift.
Whatever an individual country does, the global trend is unambiguous: central banks collectively bought more than 1,000 tonnes a year from 2022 through 2025 — the heaviest official buying since the Bretton Woods era — and that demand is one of the forces behind today's record gold prices. For the full worldwide table, see gold reserves by country.
India vs Pakistan
India876 t
Pakistan64.7 tFAQs — India Gold Reserves
How much gold does India have?
India holds approximately 876 tonnes of official gold reserves according to the latest IMF/World Gold Council reporting, ranking around #8 among all countries. At today's international price that gold is worth roughly $114 billion.
Is India buying or selling gold?
India has been a net buyer in recent years — its central bank has been adding gold as part of reserve diversification.
Why do central banks hold gold?
Gold carries no counterparty risk, cannot be frozen or printed by another country, and historically holds value through currency crises — which is why central banks bought more gold in 2022–2025 than in any period since the 1960s.
Where does India rank compared with Pakistan?
Pakistan holds about 64.7 tonnes. India, with 876 tonnes, ranks above Pakistan in official gold holdings.
Disclaimer: The gold and silver rates provided on this website are aggregated from various local bullion markets and Sarafa Associations across Pakistan. While we strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information, these prices are indicative and subject to continuous market fluctuations. They do not include making charges, local taxes, or dealer commissions. We recommend verifying the final price with your local jeweller before making any transaction.
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