India’s position in global gold reserves

India holds the 7th largest gold reserves in the world, rising from 10th place in 2015. Over the years, the Reserve Bank of India has been actively purchasing gold to diversify its reserves and strengthen its foreign asset position. Gold now accounts for 12% of India’s net foreign assets.

In FY25, the RBI purchased 57.5 tonnes of gold, its second-highest annual purchase since December 2017. As a result, India’s gold reserves increased from 653 tonnes in FY20 to 880 tonnes by March 2025, a 35% rise over five years, according to RBI data.