The Government has introduced the following measures to restrict the import of gold in the country:
- Imposition of restriction on duty free gold imports from the South Korea as allowed under the existing India-Korea CEPA.
- Imposition of self-use condition on Premiere Trading House and Star Trading House authorised to import precious metal (gold) directly from overseas bullion supplier (DGFT Notification No. 34/2015-20 dated 18.10.2017).
- Issuances of Trade Notice by DGFT for grant of licence for import of Gold to the refinery who holds a valid license from BIS (DGFT Trade Notices No.4 dated 21.04.2017 and No. 14 dated 24.08.2017).
- Restriction imposed on export of gold jewellery and articles, including medallions and coins (excluding legal tenders) of purity above 22 carats. (DGFT Notification No. 21/2015-20 dated 14.08.2017).
The above measures have yielded the desired results with 31.25% reduction in the import of gold and 4.29% reduction in import of gold & other precious metal jewellery during the current year (Apr-May 2018) over the corresponding period of the previous year.
India’s import of gold and gold & other precious metal jewellery has increased by 22.31% and 727.51% respectively during the year 2017-18 over the year 2016-17. The details of import of gold and gold & other precious metal jewellery during last three years and the current year are as below:
(Value in US$ millions)
| Years | Gold | % Change | Gold & other precious metal jewellery | % Change |
| 2015-16 | 31770.74 | — | 706.37 | — |
| 2016-17 | 27518.03 | -13.39 | 381.63 | -45.97 |
| 2017-18 | 33657.21 | 22.31 | 3158.05 | 727.51 |
| 2017-18 (Apr-May) | 8811.89 | — | 126.21 | — |
| 2018-19 (Apr-May)* | 6058.28 | -31.25 | 120.79 | -4.29 |
Source: DGCI&S, Kolkata (*: Provisional)
This information was given by the Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, C. R. Chaudhary, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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