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  • Vividobots Bags INR 1.47 Crores, Led by IPV to Transform Building Maintenance

    • Vividobots is a Chennai-based robotic automation startup transforming the high-rise real estate maintenance sector.
    • The funds will be utilized to enhance product innovation and expand vertical-specific robotic deployments.
    • The startup is among the ‘Top 10 Real Estate Tech Startups’ by Mahindra LEAP 2023 and a portfolio company of Brigade REAP.
    • So far, Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) has invested over INR 800 Cr across 210+ startups.

    Vividobots, a robotic automation startup, has raised INR 1.47 Crores in a Seed Round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The funds will be utilized to enhance product innovation and expand vertical-specific robotic deployments.

    Founded in 2021 by postgraduate engineers Dhinesh B (CEO), Velmurugan B (CPO), and Kesavaraj S (CTO), Vividobots was born out of a tragic incident involving a painter’s fall. This moment of vulnerability inspired the trio to innovate for real-world impact. With backgrounds at Flipkart, Air Defence Agency, and TCS, respectively, the founders bring deep domain and technical expertise to the problem they set out to solve.

    Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner & CIO, Inflection Point Ventures, said, “As real estate in India continues to boom, high-rise buildings are becoming increasingly common and so are the challenges that come with maintaining them. Vividobots is tackling this head-on with innovative robotic solutions that make exterior maintenance of the building safer and more efficient. At IPV, we’re excited to support a startup that’s not just keeping pace with urban growth, but shaping its future through technology.”

    Vividobots, a robotic automation startup based in Chennai, is on a mission to make high-rise building maintenance safer, faster, and more efficient. By leveraging AI-powered robotics, the company is revolutionizing exterior painting and cleaning operations an area historically reliant on manual labor and prone to fatal risks. Their solutions significantly reduce time, cost, and material wastage while improving safety and precision.

    Vividobots is currently operational in Chennai, with plans to scale into new metros where real estate growth and vertical maintenance are surging. The startup’s robotic systems deliver up to 70% time savings, 50% cost reduction, and 15% lower material wastage, setting a new benchmark in high-rise operations. Their proprietary technology ensures AI-powered precision, safety, and repeatability, making exterior maintenance predictable and scalable.

    “At Vividobots, we are revolutionizing the way robotics addresses real-world challenges. Inspired by the delicate balance of human effort and resilience, we are steadfast in our mission to build a future defined by safety, speed, and sustainability. Our partnership with IPV fuels our drive to innovate boldly, push boundaries, and redefine the possibilities of robotics and its impact on society,” said Dhinesh B, CEO.” 

    Among its key milestones, Vividobots was named one of the Top 10 Tech Startups in Real Estate by Mahindra LEAP 2023 and is a part of the Brigade REAP accelerator portfolio.

    The Indian market for painting and cleaning services is estimated at USD 4.46 billion Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM), with a total addressable market (TAM) of USD 178.7 billion. Globally, the SOM is USD 45 billion, with a projected TAM of USD 1.56 trillion, showing the immense opportunity for automation in this sector.

    About Vividobots

    Vividobots is a robotic automation platform founded by Dhinesh B, Velmurugan B, and Kesavaraj S. The company develops high-precision robotic solutions for high-rise maintenance, focused on enhancing safety, reducing cost, and driving operational efficiency in the real estate sector.

    About Inflection Point Ventures and Physis Capital

    Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) is an angel investing platform with over 23,500+ CXOs, HNIs, and Professionals to invest in startups. The firm supports new-age entrepreneurs by providing them with monetary & experiential capital and connecting them with a diverse group of investors. IPV has launched a $50 Mn CAT 2 VC fund, Physis Capital, to invest in Pre-Series A to Series B growth-stage start-ups. The fund has already deployed capital in two startups so far, with a few deals in advanced stages of pipeline.

    DriverShaab Raises INR 2.82 Crore in Pre-Series A Round Led by Inflection Point Ventures
    DriverShaab, a leading B2B mobility solutions provider based in Kolkata, has raised INR 2.82 crore in a Pre-Series A round led by Firstport Capital and Inflection Point Ventures (IPV).
    StartupTalkyMuskaan Kapoor

  • Maharashtra Approves New EV Policy With Infra Push and Tax Waivers

    Under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the new electric vehicle (EV) policy 2025. The new policy aims to increase the state’s manufacture and use of electric mobility.

    The policy will be in place till 2030 and will be implemented with INR 1,993 Cr during the following five years. According to a media report, the new EV policy will waive tolls for certain electric vehicles travelling on highways. In addition, subsidies will be offered for the purchase of these vehicles in an effort to reduce air pollution.

    According to the article, Fadnavis stated that the state government has authorised a new EV policy that will provide incentives for passenger EVs. The state should see a rise in EV production and usage.

    Additionally, the policy prioritised the adoption of the clean mobility transition model by providing incentives to individuals who transitioned to electric vehicles until 2030.

    Charging Infrastructure will be Strengthened

    According to the CM, the new EV strategy would also boost the state’s charging infrastructure and put charge stations on national highways every 25 kilometres.

    Under the new policy, electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, private four-wheelers, buses operated by the state transport corporation, private buses and transport projects run by civic organisations will all be eligible for a 10% purchase price reduction.

    This apparently follows the Delhi government’s consideration of providing a purchase subsidy of up to INR 30,000 for the purchase of two-wheeler EVs as part of its future Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0.

    Centre to Shorten Time For EV Subsidy Settlement

    According to reports, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) intends to cut the 40-day processing period for EV subsidy claims to just five days. The Centre aims to resolve technical bottlenecks and expedite verification procedures in order to carry out such a move.

    Under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) programme, the government is taking this action in an effort to reduce the backlog and guarantee the prompt distribution of EV subsidies.

    There is already a massive backlog of 126,000 pending subsidy claims for 2024–2025. There are 109,000 claims for e-2Ws alone out of 893,000 claims altogether.

    Face authentication concerns have been blamed for these delays since buyers’ appearances may differ from their Aadhaar images, which makes identity verification difficult. One of the MHI’s main initiatives to hasten EV adoption and build out supporting infrastructure nationwide is the PM E-DRIVE Scheme.

    The programme will replace previous programmes like FAME and EMPS-2024 and has a budgetary investment of INR 10,900 CR. It will run from October 2024 to March 2026.

  • India’s Tata Facility Starts Producing iPhones

    A second Foxconn facility in Bengaluru is preparing to begin shipments as early as next month, while Apple has begun production at a brand-new Tata Electronics plant in Tamil Nadu.

    Given the growing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, these events represent a significant step in Apple’s strategy to diversify its supply chain and lessen its dependency on China.

    Apple is acting quickly to protect itself from the threat of new US tariffs on Chinese imports, some of which are reportedly above 100%.

     Although the US administration has indicated that this could change in the upcoming weeks, the corporation has so far been exempt from the worst of the trade war tariffs on electronics. India is now a vital component of Apple’s worldwide jigsaw because of this uncertainty.

    iPhone’s Production in India is Scaling Up

    Older iPhone models are now being produced on a single line at the new Tata plant in Hosur, southern India.

    According to media reports, Foxconn’s impending $2.6 billion factory in the capital of Karnataka is anticipated to begin trial production of the iPhone 16 series soon. When fully operational by the end of 2027, the plant is expected to create about 50,000 jobs and be able to produce between 300 and 500 iPhones per hour at full capacity.

    Apple Moving Away from China

    There is more to Apple’s intention to increase its manufacturing presence in India than merely reacting to trade constraints. It’s a calculated restart. India now produces around 18% of the world’s iPhones, compared to China’s more than three-quarters, according to Counterpoint Research. And Apple wants a big increase in that share.

    By the end of 2026, the tech giant plans to move the majority of iPhones headed for the US to Indian factories. That urgency is supported by the numbers. Apple delivered a record 600 tonnes of iPhones to the US from India in March alone, totalling an incredible $2 billion. More than half of that volume came from Foxconn.

    Despite being a relatively new supplier to Apple, Tata has become a significant player. With these additional facilities, Apple now has five significant plants in India that are jointly operated by Tata and Foxconn.

    A media report claims that the factory where the iPhone 16 and 16e models will be constructed can generate between 300 and 500 iPhones per hour.

    China has lost around $150 billion in electronics exports to the US, giving nations like Mexico, Vietnam, and India the chance to profit from the redirected investment and production.

    Another benefit for Apple is that the minimum wage in China is significantly lower than that in the US, at about $2.10 per hour. However, as businesses look for alternatives to China, India is becoming more and more appealing due to its even lower labour costs.

  • Karnataka High Court Orders Centre to Block Proton Mail

    Proton Mail, which uses end-to-end encryption to safeguard customer data, has been ordered to be blocked in India by the Karnataka High Court. A Bar and Bench article claims that during the hearing of a petition submitted by M Moser Design Associates India, Justice M Nagaprasanna made the directives.

    The email service was allegedly used to send offensive emails about the petitioner’s employees, according to the plea, which also stated that investigations are impossible due to the anonymity of the site.

    To impose the blocking order, the court cited Rule 10 of the 2009 blocking rules and Section 69A of the IT Act, 2008. The petitioner contended that Proton Mail does not require identity verification and enables users to evade Indian surveillance.

    The request claimed that Proton Mail poses a concern to national security and was also used to make recent bomb threats, citing media sources.

    Not Following India’s Guidelines

    Advocate Jatin Sehgal argued on behalf of the petitioner, claiming that the Proton Mail website offers guidance on how to avoid being monitored by Indian authorities. Additionally, he underlined that there is no need for any kind of ID verification and that creating a Proton ID only takes 30 seconds.

    During the hearing, the Center’s attorney informed the court that any cooperation from Swiss authorities—where Proton is headquartered—must be initiated by a trial court and go through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).

    Until the Proton Mail website in India is blocked, the HC ordered the immediate removal of the “offensive” URLs listed in the petition. Proton Mail is under increasing pressure in India as a result of the most recent instance.

    Bomb Threats Emails Sent Using the Proton Mail

    After 13 Chennai schools received fictitious bomb threats using Proton Mail in February of this year, the Tamil Nadu police petitioned the Union IT ministry to block the service nationwide.

    The local law enforcement agencies claimed that they were unable to determine the origin of the emails at the time due to the Swiss company’s lack of cooperation and the service’s end-to-end encryption.

    Then the IT ministry accepted a block order after the Section 69A blocking committee recommended it. In the past, Proton Mail and Centre also had disagreements.

    It withdrew its physical servers from India in 2022 in opposition to new CERT-In rules requiring cloud service providers and VPNs to retain data. According to the corporation, the Telecommunications Act of 2023 is a “threat to democracy”, and the country’s monitoring regulations are “regressive”.

  • With 7-inch Display, Amazon Releases Kindle Paperwhite in India for INR 16,999

    The Kindle Paperwhite, which has the largest screen in the range, was introduced by Amazon in India on April 30. The updated model features a lighter, thinner design and a 7-inch glare-free e-ink display with narrow bezels on either side.

    Additionally, it is the first Paperwhite to receive an improved dual-core processor, which, according to Amazon, increases responsiveness and speeds up page turns by 25%.

    The Kindle Paperwhite comes in a black hue and costs INR 16,999. For INR 1,999, customers can get individual covers in the colours black, marine green, and tulip pink.

    Features of Kindle Paperwhite

    The new Paperwhite’s 7-inch glare-free E Ink display, which now has oxide thin-film transistors for better contrast, is its main attraction. Both readability and mobility should be enhanced by the larger screen and smaller mass, even though the resolution stays at 300 ppi.

     In low-light conditions, readers can also activate the dark mode and change the display’s warm glow. According to Amazon, the new Kindle Paperwhite’s battery lasts 12 weeks between charges, thanks to USB-C integration. With 16GB of inbuilt space, storage is also increased.

     In terms of software, Amazon claims that the Kindle app for iOS and Android now makes the setup process easier. Another feature on the Kindle is X-Ray, which offers more background information on characters or settings in a book.

     Integrated dictionary for fast translations and word searches. Word Wise, which aids in reading flow by placing brief definitions over challenging words. Like its predecessors, the new Kindle Paperwhite is tightly integrated with Amazon’s e-book ecosystem, offering access to more than 1.5 crore volumes in Hindi, Tamil, and Marathi, among other languages.

    Over 20 lakh eBooks are available to Kindle Unlimited users, while Prime members receive a free rotating selection of books.

    Factors that Attract Readers to Kindle

    For anyone who enjoys reading on a screen or while on the road, the Kindle has been the standard e-reader. Since Kindles use e-ink displays, their panels are glare-free in contrast to those of smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

    Although it still can’t match the visual experience of paper and printed text, it is the next best thing for readers. The e-ink display’s refresh rate is a drawback because it is much slower than that of conventional screens.

    However, Amazon has made substantial improvements to the speed of its Kindles in recent years. The new Kindle Paperwhite, which has a 25% faster page turn speed, may do even better in this area.

    According to Dilip R.S., Director and Country Manager, Amazon Devices India, “Its lightweight design makes it convenient to carry and read on the go, and its largest-ever display adds reading comfort. We are excited for our customers to use this new Kindle to unlock stories from a wide variety of Indian and international titles available on Amazon.”

  • ChatGPT Moves Into Shopping: A Strategic Shift in AI Utility

    In a bold move that indicates the increasing impact of artificial intelligence, OpenAI has appended shopping hallmarks to ChatGPT, its well-liked conversational AI. The development allows users to scour for prices, peruse evaluations, and access direct links to make purchases, all within the app. OpenAI was at pains to point out that these recommendations are made without any sort of sponsorship, distinguishing them from the usual way that most products in the app are recommended.

    This shift isn’t simply a technological enhancement. This is intentional; they’re moving into online shopping, an area that’s currently under the control of Amazon, Google, and content-driven review platforms like the New York Times. Now, with its new functionality, ChatGPT is more than a chatbot. It’s also your digital personal shopper, serving as a discovery layer for e-commerce, streamlining choices that seem infinite and that some would argue are a little too curated.

    A New Front in the Search Engine War

    OpenAI’s update also escalates the profit in the search engine market. Although Google holds 89% of the traffic, it seems to be loosening its grip. OpenAI’s search tool, introduced last year, reaches over one billion web searches a week. Some users have found that OpenAI’s search tool yields richer results for certain prompts.

    OpenAI now competes with Google not only in information retrieval but also in consumer intent, in which search leads to purchase, by integrating shopping directly into search. This reflects what Amazon is doing; the company launched its own AI shopping assistant earlier this year. And it puts OpenAI on a more direct competitive footing with emerging players like Perplexity.

    Streamlining the Shopping Experience

    OpenAI’s latest feature has a clear aim: to make online shopping quicker and more efficient. It takes customer reviews, prices, and purchasing links, and puts them all in one place. This update is designed to make it easier for consumers to get what they want, when they want it. It lets them query its large language model and get back all the info they need to make a buying decision, without having to traverse the internet itself. 

    Take, for instance, the question of how well this works in reality. ChatGPT itself can be a bit hit-or-miss. It excels when there’s a clear answer to a question (like a math problem) but often struggles when the answer involves synthesizing a lot of different kinds of information (like comparing multiple products). This may resonate particularly well with younger, tech-savvy users who place a premium on speed and personalization in their online lives. OpenAI says the rollout will take several days to reach all users but assures that when it is complete, all users will have access to the feature.

  • Oil Markets Plunge as Trade Tensions and Surplus Stocks Spark Historic April Decline

    In recent weeks, crude prices have confronted a pressure that seems unending, falling to levels not seen in four years. The energy market, which had been relatively stable, even and predictable a few months ago, has been turned upside down by a combination of weakening consumption indicators, rising stockpiles, and geopolitical uncertainties that always seem to send markets reeling.

    Trade War Fallout Erodes Demand Outlook

    The present drop in oil demand is intimately linked to an upsurge in protectionist policies. The broad brush trade tariffs coming from the US administration, especially those aimed at China, have disrupted global trading patterns. Energetic growth is now much less likely than it was just a year ago, and we’ve seen the impact: larger importer countries are buying less energy. China’s story here is the most notable.

    Economic indicators highlight how serious the problem has become. Consumer confidence in the US has sunk to its lowest level in almost five years, and the next batch of GDP data is expected to show a much slower rate of growth, if not an outright downturn. With global growth now faltering, energy markets around the world must deal with the aftermath of having held off too long in making policy decisions.

    Rising Stockpiles Add to Market Anxiety

    Simultaneously with weakening demand, an increase in oil inventories has additionally sobered market sentiment. According to estimates from the American Petroleum Institute, US commercial crude stockpiles rose by 3.8 million barrels during the past week. The increase was accompanied by a modest uptick at Cushing, Oklahoma, a key storage hub that often reflects broader market trends.

    The increased supply has led to speculation that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) might respond by relaxing production limits even more. Analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. have put out the theory that OPEC might ramp up the supply even more when it gets together to have a meeting in not too long. If it does do that, the meeting could of course be interpreted as a market share maintenance meeting, but the result could be an even more oversupplied market.

    Russia’s Output Rises Despite Sanctions

    In the global supply situation, Russian oil exports have increased for two consecutive weeks. For the four weeks ending April 27, crude shipments from Russian ports went up to 3.26 million barrels per day. This is a 1% increase over the previous week, but it is particularly interesting that half of the tankers impacted by sanctions are now back to transporting Russian crude.

    The revival of sanctioned ships highlights a slow but clear weakening of enforcement, letting Russia push back into international energy markets. The added flow from one of the world’s top producers could further hammer global prices if demand stays soft. As April comes to a close, the oil market confronts a perfect storm of dwindling demand, swelling inventories, and surging supply. A still-clouded outlook, courtesy of geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, does not lend itself to optimism for a near-term recovery. The next few weeks could well determine whether the current downturn will morph into something longer-term.

  • Mother Dairy Hikes Milk Prices Across Key Markets Amid Rising Procurement Costs

    Mother Dairy will up the price of its milk variants by as much as INR 2 per litre, effective April 30, 2025. The price hike will hit consumers in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttarakhand, the six states where the company has its largest markets. A company statement characterized the price increase as a necessary step to counteract sharply rising procurement costs, which the company says have shot up by INR 4 to INR 5 per litre to the dairy cooperative.  

    The increase in price is a reflection of three things. First, the dairy supply chain has been challenged and is under stress. Second, the chain has experienced disruptions because of severe weather conditions in some parts of the country. And third, those conditions have caused a reduction in milk production and have pushed up the costs of milk and its ingredients.

    New Rates Across Milk Variants

    The new pricing structure sees the cost of bulk vended toned milk in the Delhi-NCR area move to INR 56 per litre, up from INR 54. Pouched full cream milk will now cost INR 69 per litre, only a slight bump up from the previous price of INR 68. Toned milk in pouches sees a price increase to INR 57 per litre from the previously lower price of INR 56. Double toned milk sees an even more substantial increase in price, jumping to INR 51 per litre (up from INR 49). Cow milk’s price moves to INR 59 per litre, from the previous price of INR 57.

    Balancing Consumer Interests and Farmer Support

    Although the price increase is likely to affect household budgets, the company maintains that the adjustment is necessary to sustain its overall viability. They see it as a kind of tough love that, instead of pushing all the way for a price that recoups all our higher costs, aims at finding a balance between keeping milk affordable and making sure cattle owners are compensated well enough to stay in the business.

    This pricing strategy indicates a continuous strain in the dairy sector between trying to keep prices down for the consumers and assuring “stable, workable prices for farmers and other suppliers.” Even as dairy companies in India adjust upwards to cope with rising input costs, the sector also faces a demand crunch.

    Outlook for Consumers and Industry

    The latest price hike is just one in a series of cost increases affecting consumers in recent months. Yet, from an industry perspective, it may be essential to enact such moves if the supply chain is to be stabilized and if quality is to be maintained during some pretty adverse climate for the past few years.

    Mother Dairy’s announcement also comes against the backdrop of a broader surge in inflation, with various sectors, from auto to travel, upping prices in the early part of 2025. As we move further into summer, the dairy sector will be watched closely to see if further adjustments are made, depending on weather and procurement dynamics.

  • IndusInd Bank CEO Steps Down Amid Derivatives Accounting Controversy

    The managing director and chief executive officer of IndusInd Bank left his post on April 29, just hours after the stock market closed and right after the bank allegedly announced that it was thinking of redoing assets on its balance sheet, something that S&P Global Ratings had already flagged as a concern. The poor handling of derivatives by the bank was also cited as a reason for Kathpalia’s swift departure. And the bank’s low capital ratios were a huge problem. The bank’s plan was to raise capital through a rights offering; however, the offer was downsized in respect to the amount of stock that insiders would buy.

    The resignation comes after a stormy few months for the lender. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted only a one-year extension to Kathpalia, who had been asking for a full three-year term to finish his work. Kathpalia’s exit lines up with that of Deputy CEO Arun Khurana, who has also stepped down and admitted to having a part in overseeing the treasury operations involved in the accounting mess.

    Derivatives Discrepancies Rock Bank’s Financials

    Central to the crisis is a mismatch in the bookkeeping of the bank’s internal derivative trades. An initial disclosure from IndusInd Bank indicated a possible adverse effect of 2.35% on its net worth as of December 2024. This led to a one-day stock plunge of 26%, incriminating a lot of investor coffers in the bank.

    The damage was later estimated by the external audit firm PwC at INR 1,979 crore, slightly lowering the potential impact to 2.27% of net worth. A forensic audit submitted on April 26 by Grant Thornton found that the main reason for the misreporting was the incorrect recording of notional profits from internal derivative trades that were terminated prematurely.

    The consequences of these disclosures are being felt at the highest levels of the bank. The following urgent actions are now taking place:

    • Responsibilities at the senior level are being restructured.
    • Stricter internal controls are being implemented.
    • Interim Leadership and Regulatory Response

    RBI’s Calming Influence

    After high-level departures, IndusInd Bank has asked for the Reserve Bank of India’s approval to set up a committee of senior executives to manage the CEO’s responsibilities during the interim period.  The board is said to be reviewing existing leadership positions, with an eye toward sorting out who should be held accountable for what, and going forward, ensuring that lapses of this kind don’t happen again.

    In spite of the upheaval, the Reserve Bank of India has tried to calm the market. It has specifically stated that IndusInd Bank is well-capitalized and in good financial health. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra has even called it an “episode” instead of a call for the Indian banking system as a whole being under duress, saying that the Indian banking system is safe and stable.

    The bank must now confront two tasks: regaining the trust of investors and stabilizing its leadership. Although we can expect continued stock volatility in the short term, the bank’s swift actions, including appointing independent auditors and starting a forensic review, indicate a willingness to address head-on the sorts of internal weaknesses that gave rise to this mess.

  • Buying Sovereign Gold Bonds on Akshaya Tritiya? Make the Most of This Gold Investment

    The Government of India launched Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) in 2015, and since then, they have provided investors an exclusive means to latch onto gold’s price uptrend while pocketing fixed returns. Storage and authenticity worries do not plague SGB investors as they do with direct gold ownership. Additionally, SGBs pay interest at an annual rate of 2.5 percent (crediting semi-annually), and they can be redeemed (along with the price appreciation) after five years, with mandatory holding till year eight for those who don’t redeem early. SGBs are freely traded on the NSE and BSE.

    Since fresh issuances have been halted starting FY 2024-25, the only way left for investors to get Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) exposure is through the secondary market. So this Akshaya Tritiya, which is a day typically associated with buying gold, is the perfect occasion to discuss the all-important aspect of investing in gold via SGBs in the secondary market.

    More than 60 tranches of SGBs have been issued since inception, but only a few are actively traded. Some of the series, like the SGB 2023-24 Series I and III, are known for their better liquidity. Others are known to trade infrequently. As of April 2025, a number of SGBs have been found to be priced above the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) gold reference rate. The premium is said to be driven by rising gold prices and limited supply.

    Bonds that trade more actively are likely to be closer in value to the IBJA rate and hence offer better value. Conversely, if a bond is thinly traded, it might carry a premium of 10% or more which would definitely eat into any potential returns, especially if the price of gold does not move appreciably higher over the life of the bond. A good rule of thumb is to check the price of the bond against the rate that IBJA is posting before making a purchase.

    Strategic Moves for Maximising SGB Returns

    Individuals looking to purchase SGBs this Akshaya Tritiya can make use of these practical strategies to enhance their investment experience:  

    – Put liquidity first: Actively traded series are your best bet for a smooth exit when you need one. And that helps you avoid low-volume, high-price traps that can short-circuit your returns.

    – Avoid bonds priced more than 10% above the Indian Bullion Jewelers Association (IBJA) rate. Bonds above that price may not give you sufficient returns for the risk taken.

    – In contrast, bonds priced at 10% or less above the IBJA rate may pay you back with a little more than the typical risk-free product. These are the bonds you want to buy.

    – Align with Your Objectives: Invest in bonds that match your goals. If you’re saving for retirement and expect to live primarily off your assets for 15 to 30 years, then you might choose to invest in bonds maturing in 2030 or 2031. Those bonds are long-term assets.

    – Optimizing the Tax Benefits: When you hold SGBs to maturity, the gains you realize are not taxed. This is a bigger seller than any other gold investment. Even the tax in the hands of the gold bond issuer is paid at a lower rate. There are no annual tax consequences with SGBs. Thus far, SGBs seem to be on a tax honeymoon.

    – Monitor Worldwide Changes: With the price of gold soaring to USD 3,100 an ounce in 2025 because of geopolitical crises and plummeting global interest rates, sovereign gold bonds continue to serve as a protective device against the twin perils of inflation and economic uncertainty.