An increase in the prices of gold and silver was seen on Friday. According to the India Bullion and Jewelers Association (IBJA), the price of one kilogram of silver rose by ₹4,855 to ₹241,013. Earlier, on April 9, the price was ₹236,158 per kg. At the same time, the price of 10 grams of 24-carat gold increased by ₹368 to ₹150,305. Earlier on Thursday, the price was ₹149,937 per 10 grams.
4 reasons due to which gold prices vary in different cities
**Transportation and Security:** Transporting gold from one city to another involves fuel and security costs; As a result, as the distance increases, the prices also start increasing.
**Purchasing Volume:** Due to high consumption in South India (about 40%), jewelers buy in bulk; However, the benefits of bulk discounts remain limited.
**Local Jewelry Associations:** State and city-level jewelry associations set prices based on local demand and supply.
**Old Stock and Purchase Price:** The jewelers later sell it to the customers based on the rate at which they purchased their stock.
This year gold became costlier by ₹ 17,110 and silver by ₹ 10,593
This year there has been continuous fluctuation in the prices of gold and silver. So far in 2026, gold has become costlier by ₹17,110 and silver by ₹10,593. The price of 10 grams of gold on December 31, 2025 was ₹ 1.33 lakh, which has now increased to ₹ 1.50 lakh. Similarly, the price of silver was ₹2.30 lakh per kg, which has now increased to ₹2.41 lakh. During this period—specifically on January 29—gold reached its all-time high of ₹1.76 lakh, while silver touched a record high of ₹3.86 lakh. However, since February 28, after the start of the conflict between the US and Israel and Iran, prices have seen a steady decline. Since then, in a span of 42 days, gold prices have fallen by ₹8,792 and silver prices by ₹25,687.
License will now be required to import foreign jewelery
The government has removed jewelery made of gold, silver and platinum from the ‘free’ category and put it in the ‘restricted’ category. This is having a direct impact on the market supply, due to which the prices of gold and silver are increasing. According to a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), it will now be necessary to obtain a special license or permission from the government to import jewelery made of these precious metals from any country. The government has taken this step to prevent misuse of free trade agreements (FTAs).
Keep these 2 things in mind while buying gold from jewelers
1. **Buy only certified gold:** Always buy certified gold which is hallmarked by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This hallmark number is alphanumeric—meaning it can appear in a format like AZ4524. Hallmarking serves to indicate the purity (carat value) of gold.
2. **Double-check the price:** Double-check the correct weight of the gold and its current market price on the day of purchase from multiple sources (like the website of India Bullion and Jewelers Association). Gold rates vary depending on karat purity—specifically for 24-karat, 22-karat, and 18-karat gold.
4 ways to identify real silver
**Magnet Test:** Real silver does not stick to a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is fake.
**Ice Test:** Place a piece of ice on the silver. Ice melts very quickly when placed on real silver.
**Smell Test:** Genuine silver has no smell. Fake silver often has a distinct odor, similar to copper.
**Cloth Test:** Rub the silver on a white cloth. If there is a black mark on the cloth, then it is genuine.
