India's gold demand falls 15 pc in Jan-Mar to 118.1 tonnes on high prices: WGC
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New Delhi (PTI): India's gold demand witnessed a 15 per cent on-year decline to 118.1 tonnes in the January-March quarter of this year, even as value grew by 22 per cent to Rs 94,030 crore due to surging prices, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Wednesday.
According to the WGC forecast, India's gold demand for 2025 is expected to be between 700-800 tonnes.
Gold prices have risen 25 per cent since the beginning of 2025, approaching the key psychological threshold of Rs 1,00,000 per 10 grams, affecting consumer buying patterns.
"The elevated prices have impacted affordability. Yet, the enduring cultural significance of gold, especially ahead of Akshaya Tritiya and the upcoming wedding season, continues to support buying sentiment," WGC India CEO Sachin Jain said in its quarterly report.
According to experts, the gold market is humming with excitement on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, which holds immense cultural significance in India, traditionally marking a surge in gold purchases.
Record prices have pushed consumers towards smaller, lightweight pieces, with some postponing purchases hoping for price dips. Despite this, wedding-related demand remained relatively stable given its essential nature.
Experts believe, while the current price levels might prompt some to exercise caution, the inherent cultural significance of gold during Akshaya Tritiya, coupled with its enduring status as a reliable asset, suggests continued positive momentum in buying, they added.
Investment demand, however, remained resilient with a 7 per cent rise to 46.7 tonnes, from 43.6 tonnes in the corresponding period.
Moreover, amid financial market uncertainty, gold's role as a safe asset has become more pronounced, and got reflected in a sharp uptick in demand for gold bars and coins.
However, jewellery demand declined by 25 per cent to 71.4 tonnes during the first quarter of 2025 calendar year, from 95.5 tonnes in the year-ago period. This was the lowest volume since 2020, though value was 3 per cent higher year-on-year, according to WGC.
Gold imports rose 8 per cent to 167.4 tonnes in the January-March quarter, while recycling fell 32 per cent to 26 tonnes, as consumers held onto their gold amid record prices.
The average quarterly gold price in the first quarter of this year was Rs 79,633.4 per ten grams, compared to Rs 55,247.2 in Q1 2024.
Meanwhile, global gold demand has increased 1 per cent to 1,206 tonnes in the January-March quarter of 2025 -- the highest first-quarter level since 2019.
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Faridabad: Woman throws 2-yr-old son in canal believing tantrik he was 'jinn'
Faridabad, May 12 (PTI): A woman here threw her two-year-old son into a canal after being convinced by a tantrik that he was a 'jinn', police on Monday said.
Megha Lukra allegedly threw the child into the Agra Canal from the BPTP bridge, they said.
However, as she was doing it, she was spotted by some passersby, who handed her over to police.
A team of police, fire department, State Disaster Management, and local divers are searching for the child in the canal.
The tantrik, also a woman, has been taken into custody.
According to a complaint, Megha got married to Kapil Lukra 16 years ago. The couple has two children and lives in a flat in Sainik colony in Faridabad. Her elder daughter Manya is about 14 years old, while son Tanmay alias Ronik is about two.
Kapil Lukra in his complaint said Megha had been seeing tantrik Mita Bhatia for a long time. Over the period, Bhatia convinced Megha that her son is the son of a "white jinn" and he will destroy her entire family.
The suggestion sent Megha into a mental turmoil.
"On Sunday around 5 pm, Megha left the house with our son in her arms without telling anyone. As soon as I got to know about it, I started looking for her," Kapil Lukra said in his complaint.
He said he was shocked to see Megha sitting in the police station.
Some locals raised an alarm when they saw Megha throwing the child and dialled 112.
The investigation and the search for the boy is on, police said.
