RBI Repatriates 274 Tonnes of Gold in Strategic Reserve Shift

India’s Gold Comes Home as RBI Reshapes Reserve Strategy  
In a significant shift in sovereign asset management, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has brought back 274 tonnes of gold from foreign vaults between March 2023 and September 2025. This includes 64 tonnes repatriated in the first half of FY 2025, following earlier transfers of 102 tonnes in October 2024 and 100 tonnes in May 2023.

Traditionally, India stored part of its gold reserves with the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements. However, rising geopolitical tensions—especially the freezing of Russia’s reserves—have prompted a strategic rethink. As of September 2025, India holds 880 tonnes of gold, with 576 tonnes now stored domestically, up from just 38% in 2022.

Key highlights  

• RBI repatriates 274 tonnes of gold since March 2023  
• 64 tonnes brought back in H1 FY 2025  
• Domestic holdings now exceed 65% of total gold reserves  
• Move driven by geopolitical risk and reserve security concerns  
• Gold now accounts for 13.92% of India’s total forex reserves  

Sources: The Hindu BusinessLine, Moneycontrol, Firstpost, Adda247, Discovery Alert, Economic Times, ScanX News