Page 43 - Banking Finance February 2026

ARTICLE
ARTICLE

India's Gold Loan

Ecosystem: Growth,

Risk, and Regulation

in a Time of Surging Harsh Sen

Prices Chief Manager (Research)
SBFI, 'Chetana'
Indore

According to the World Gold Council, in the past decade (2015-2024), the global annual average
demand for gold has been around 4,338 tonnes against the average annual supply of 4,771 tonnes,
which was largely driven by 75% of mined gold and 25% of recycled gold.

Introduction: Historical and Cultural Sig- as a marker of wealth and power. While often revered, some
cultures link gold with curses, moral corruption, and greed.
nificance of Gold- Beyond mythology, the cultural influence of gold is evident

Gold has captivated all of humanity for thousands of years, in Homer's timeless epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, where
symbolizing wealth, divinity, prosperity, and auspiciousness. he describes gold as godlike and a symbol of wealth.
In Hindu mythology, it is associated with deities like
Lakshmi, and in epics like Ramayan, it has been portrayed Originally regarded as a sacred object, gold gradually
evolved into one of the most valued as-
sets and a driver of economies. From the
pyramids of Egypt to the gold rush in Cali-
fornia and the mines of Sudan, the
search for gold has impacted both the
great works of art and stories of violence
and suffering. In World War II Nazis ex-
tensively used looted gold in financing
their war activities. Even today, gold is
seen as one of the most valuable and
safest asset classes in the world, both by
individuals and governments, and mod-
ern economies and central banks view
gold as a mitigant against geopolitical
Image Source: Created using various data sources available regarding gold uncertainties. Over the last sixty years,
price in India gold has proved itself to be a generously

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