Silver climbs Rs 4,000 to Rs 2.68 lakh/kg; gold rises to Rs 1.61 lakh/10g
New Delhi (PTI): Silver prices climbed Rs 4,000 to Rs 2.68 lakh per kilogram in the national capital on Wednesday, while gold edged up to Rs 1.61 lakh per 10 grams tracking strong global trends.
According to the All India Sarafa Association, the white metal jumped by Rs 4,000, or 1.5 per cent, to Rs 2,68,500 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes) from Tuesday's closing level of Rs 2,64,500 per kg.
Gold of 99.9 per cent purity also witnessed buying by traders, with prices rising Rs 600, or 0.4 per cent, to Rs 1,61,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had settled at Rs 1,60,700 per 10 grams in the previous session.
"Gold and silver advanced on Wednesday supported by growing expectations of a more aggressive rate cut by the Federal Reserve," Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst, Commodities at HDFC Securities, said.
He added that the move followed softer US economic data, as December retail sales fell short of forecasts, signalling a slowdown in consumer spending and reinforcing concerns about moderating growth.
"Post-data markets have now raised the probability of three Fed rate cuts this year, up from two just a week ago, a lower interest rate scenario favours non-yielding metals like gold," Gandhi said.
In the global markets, spot silver gained USD 4.71, or nearly 6 per cent, to USD 85.51 per ounce, while gold was trading 1.06 per cent higher at USD 5,078.72 per ounce.
Spot gold was trading higher on a weaker US dollar on Wednesday as investors await the crucial US nonfarm payroll data (January) due to release later in the day, Praveen Singh, Head of Commodities, Mirae Asset ShareKhan, said.
The outcome of data numbers is likely to trigger heightened volatility in precious metals in the overseas market.
On the geopolitical front, Gandhi said renewed tensions also underpinned safe-haven demand for precious metals.
In the latest developments, Washington is reportedly considering intercepting tankers carrying Iranian crude and may deploy additional naval assets if negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme break down.
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Caste bias halts Anganwadi services in Odisha village after Dalit woman’s appointment as cook
Bhubaneswar: An anganwadi centre in Nuagaon village of Rajnagar block in Odisha’s Kendrapara district has remained closed for nearly three months after villagers allegedly boycotted it following the appointment of a Dalit woman as helper-cum-cook.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express, 23-year-old Sarmista Sethi was appointed to the post on November 24, 2025. Soon after she joined, several families reportedly objected to food being prepared by a Dalit woman and stopped sending their children to the centre.
Sethi said resistance began immediately after her appointment. She claimed that some villagers openly told her not to cook for the children. When she refused to resign, parents stopped sending children to the anganwadi. She added that women in the village gradually stopped visiting the centre as well. Nuagaon has around 45 households, including seven Dalit families.
The boycott has affected nearly 60 children who are now deprived of supplementary nutrition and early childhood education services. Pregnant and lactating women have also stopped visiting the centre, missing out on health and nutrition support, said Ghadiamala sarpanch Sailendra Mishra. He said repeated appeals to villagers to resume participation have not yielded results.
Anganwadi worker Lizarani Pandav reported the matter to the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Rajnagar block. CDPO Dipali Mishra said efforts were made to resolve the issue through dialogue. Meetings were held with villagers, including by the tehsildar, but the centre has not resumed normal functioning.
On Tuesday, a group of Dalit leaders visited the village and demanded legal action against those blocking the anganwadi’s operations. Nagen Jena, district president of Dalit Samaj, referred to a 2004 interim order of the Supreme Court in the PUCL versus Government of India case, which prioritises Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates in appointments of cooks under government nutrition schemes.
Kendrapara district collector Raghuram R Iyer said he has sought a detailed report from the district social welfare officer. He added that appropriate action would be taken after examining the findings against those found to be illegally preventing children and women from accessing anganwadi services.
