Sovereign Gold Bond scheme opens from Oct 15; here's how you can get it

The sovereign gold bonds will be sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices, and recognised stock exchanges including National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited. Image source: Reuters

The first tranche of the scheme will be open for subscription between October 15-19, while the issuance of the bonds will be on October 23. The next tranche between November 5-19 (issue Nov 13), followed by December 24-28 (issue Jan 1); January 14-18 (Jan 22) and February 4-8 (Feb 12). For the current fiscal, the first tranche of the sovereign gold bond (SGB) and its subscription was opened on April 16. Image source: Reuters

The scheme was first launched in November 2015 to reduce the demand for physical gold and shift a part of the domestic savings, used for the purchase of gold, into financial savings. Under the scheme, the bonds are denominated in units of one gram of gold and multiples thereof. Image source: Reuters

Minimum investment in the bonds is one gram with a maximum limit of subscription of 500 grams per person per fiscal year, while the maximum limit of subscription is 4 kg for individual and HUF and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March). Image source: Reuters

RBI said the payment for the bonds will be through cash payment (up to a maximum of Rs 20,000) or demand draft or cheque or electronic banking. The investors will be issued a holding certificate for the same. Image source: Reuters

The Bonds are eligible for conversion into demat form and can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time. The interest on gold bonds will be taxable as per the provision of Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961). Image source: Reuters