Union Budget 2013: Should import duty on gold be hiked further?

Prithviraj Kothari
RiddiSiddhi Bullions

Government had increased import duty on Gold before the Budget. The government's move to hike the customs duty from 4 to 6 percent will have a loud impact on the Bullion sector. The hike sums up to around INR 60,000 (approx) per kilogram of gold. To be clear, with this duty hike a difference of 7 percent between the international and domestic price of the yellow metal is evident. Due to this, the increase in duty on the actual price of gold is being passed on to the retail consumers by the jewellers. This may also lead to rise of illegal channels and malicious activities with respect to importing gold and related products like jewellery etc., in the country. In turn it will lead to an increase in unemployment among the skilled artisans of the country (around 1-2 million families depend on this sector to earn their livelihood) as well the businesses of local jewelers across the country. I expect that this budget will address this issue and a fix duty structure will be levied. The extra revenue generated from the increased duty should be used by the government for creating new hallmarking centers, Research & development in mining sector.