Gold imports in Apr-Sept at 528 tonnes

New Delhi: India imported over 528 tonnes of gold, worth Rs 1.12 lakh crore, between April-September this year, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha has said.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Sinha said in 2014-15 fiscal 915 tonnes of gold was imported which was worth Rs 2.10 lakh crore.

The highest volume of gold import was in 2012-13 when it was 1,013 tonnes, while it was brought down to 661 tonnes in 2013-14.

Sinha further said gold exports in April-September of current fiscal were 76 tonnes.

In 2014-15, gold exports stood at 70 tonnes, against 72 tonnes in 2013-14 and 93 tonnes in 2012-13.

Sinha further said forex reserves maintained by RBI includes 557.75 tonnes of gold valued at Rs 1.21 lakh crore (USD 19 billion) as on July 24, 2015.

"It is estimated that there are stocks of over 20,000 tonnes of gold in India," Sinha said, adding the government has launched the gold monetisation scheme, sovereign gold bonds scheme and Indian gold coin.