India captures 27% of global gold jewelry demand despite slump

Young Indians embrace gold as investment

Gold isn't just for weddings or festivals anymore; young Indians are seeing it as a smart asset.
In early 2026, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw solid growth, and bars and coins became way more popular (up over 21% by volume).
Plus, outstanding retail bank loans backed by pledged gold jewelry reached around ₹4.3 lakh crore by February 2026, rising 124% YoY, as people used their old gold for quick cash instead of selling it off.