Budget 2026: Gold Investors Eye Digital Shift, SGB Reintroduction

• Gold investors expect Union Budget 2026 to offer better alternatives to physical gold, which often lies idle in Indian households.
• Converting physical gold into digital and regulated products could help India achieve its developed nation goal by 2047.
• Rising gold prices make physical gold difficult for retail investors, leading to a shift towards one-gram coins/bars or pure gold.
• Physical gold presents challenges like storage costs, purity concerns, insurance risks, and limited liquidity, which digital products address.
• Experts advocate for the reintroduction of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) and clear rules for digital gold to encourage regulated investment.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026 is anticipated to promote digital gold and reintroduce SGBs for easier, safer gold investment.