Author
LoansJagat Team
Read Time
7 Min
27 Mar 2025
Ramesh, a Delhi-based shopkeeper, believed gold jewellery was his best investment. By 2024, he'd stored ₹5,00,000 worth of gold in his locker. When gold prices surged, Ramesh thought, "Paisa ban gaya!"
Net profit? ₹25,000 gone in expenses!
Frustrated, Ramesh explored Gold ETFs. He invested ₹5,00,000 in ETFs. After one year:
Ramesh's new plan saved him ₹25,000 in unnecessary expenses and earned him ₹20,000 more in profit— without any hassle. As Ramesh now puts it, "Ab sona locker mein nahi, stock market mein chamkega!"
People today no longer need to handle physical gold because digital gold investment in 2025 provides innovative advantages to investors.
Suppose you plan to invest ₹1,00,000 in gold for your future security. Now, you must choose between traditional physical gold and the modern digital gold option.
Aspect | Physical Gold | Digital Gold |
Investment Amount | ₹1,00,000 | ₹1,00,000 |
Locker Fees | ₹10,000 | ₹0 |
Making Charges | ₹5,000 | ₹0 |
Gold Price Increase | 10% (₹10,000) | 10% (₹10,000) |
Final Value | ₹1,05,000 | ₹1,10,000 |
Total Profit | ₹0 (Expenses cancelled gains) | ₹10,000 |
Digital gold enables you to avoid ₹15,000 in extra expenses while gaining an extra profit of ₹10,000 without the hassles of locker fees or making charges.
As they say, "Sona bhi apka, sukoon bhi apka!"
By investing in Gold ETFs, investors gain a better alternative to financing gold ownership that avoids locker rental expenses and making costs.
The following chart shows the top-ranking gold exchange-traded funds performance in India for 2025.
Expense Ratio: The annual charge imposed by the fund. The lower the ratio, the more savings there are.
CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate): Five-year average annual return.
ETF Name | Expense Ratio | 5-Year CAGR | ₹1 Lakh Becomes | Profit After 5 Years |
IDBI Gold ETF | 0.41% (Lowest cost) | 14.45% (Best growth) | ₹1,96,000 | ₹96,000 |
Aditya BSL Gold ETF | 0.54% (Moderate cost) | 14.09% (Strong growth) | ₹1,93,000 | ₹93,000 |
SBI Gold ETF | 0.65% (Slightly higher) | 13.97% (Steady gains) | ₹1,92,000 | ₹92,000 |
ICICI Prudential Gold ETF | 0.50% (Balanced option) | 13.96% (Consistent) | ₹1,92,000 | ₹92,000 |
Axis Gold ETF | 0.55% (Moderate cost) | 13.99% (Stable growth) | ₹1,92,500 | ₹92,500 |
People who want easy wealth expansion and want to skip locker fees or storage worries can rely on Gold mutual funds, which provide SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) investment opportunities.
For example, starting a ₹5,000 monthly SIP today in Nippon India Gold Savings Fund could result in the following investment growth:
Your consistent monthly investment of ₹5,000 during 5 years can transform ₹3 lakh into ₹4.12 lakh through the Nippon India Gold Savings Fund while eliminating the costs of managing physical gold.
Fund Name | 1-Year Return | 3-Year CAGR | 5-Year CAGR | ₹5,000 SIP for 5 Years Becomes |
Nippon India Gold Savings Fund | 15.32% | 12.85% | 13.76% | ₹4,12,000 |
HDFC Gold Fund | 14.89% | 12.64% | 13.45% | ₹4,05,000 |
ICICI Prudential Gold Savings Fund | 14.62% | 12.48% | 13.38% | ₹4,03,000 |
SBI Gold Fund | 14.75% | 12.52% | 13.41% | ₹4,04,000 |
Aditya BSL Gold Fund | 15.10% | 12.70% | 13.60% | ₹4,08,000 |
Those days of complicated gold investments are long gone. Now, with digital gold platforms like Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay, you can begin investing in digital gold starting from just ₹1 — without needing a Demat account.
Numerical Example
Suppose you choose to invest ₹500 every month in gold in digital form for 3 years.
For Gen Z and millennials, digital gold is the 'UPI Wala' Gold, which is instant, secure, and ideal for accumulating wealth while on the move. "Ab sona kharidna utna hi aasan jitna chai peene ka UPI scan!"
Gold Derivatives: ‘Dhoom’ Returns, But Handle With Care!
Gold derivatives, such as gold futures and options, are investment vehicles that allow you to benefit from gold prices without holding physical gold. They are "betting on gold prices"—if "prices rise or fall as you forecast, you can reap big rewards.
Gold Futures: With Gold Futures, you enter into an agreement that requires purchasing or selling gold at predetermined prices during a specified future time. The outcome of profits or losses depends on the movement of gold prices.
Gold Options: Through Gold Options, you pay a small fee (premium) to obtain a right to purchase or sell gold at designated prices with minimal spending requirements. This prevents significant financial losses from occurring.
Aspect | Gold Futures | Gold Options |
Investment Needed | ₹1,00,000 (Margin Money) | ₹2,000 (Premium) |
Profit if Gold Rises by ₹200 | ₹20,000 | ₹18,000 (After ₹2,000 premium) |
Loss if Gold Falls by ₹200 | ₹20,000 (High Risk) | ₹2,000 (Limited Risk) |
Risk Level | High | Lower (Limited to Premium) |
Investing in futures and options products quickly generates financial gains, although price movements against you may cause severe losses for your investment.
Gold Mining Stocks: “Be The ‘Shark Tank’ Investor In Gold!”
Instead of buying gold directly, you can invest in gold mining stocks — companies that extract and sell gold. These stocks often rise faster than gold prices during bullish markets, offering higher returns.
For example, if you invest ₹1,00,000 in gold versus gold mining stocks:
Investment Option | Initial Investment | Gold Price Increase | Stock Growth | Final Value | Profit |
Physical Gold | ₹1,00,000 | +10% (₹10,000 gain) | N/A | ₹1,10,000 | ₹10,000 |
Gold Mining Stocks | ₹1,00,000 | +10% (Gold Price Rise) | +20% (Stock Rise) | ₹1,20,000 | ₹20,000 |
Debt Consolidation: “Gold Ke Dum Pe, Loan-Free Future!”
A debt consolidation loan is the act of taking out a single loan to pay off multiple debts and liabilities. If you have more than one loan, your gold can assist you in paying off debt effectively.
Suppose you have ₹4,00,000 of outstanding credit card and personal loan debt, both at a high interest rate of 18%. While you have gold worth ₹5,00,000.
You can lower your debt burden in two ways by using your gold intelligently:
Aspect | Option 1: Sell Gold | Option 2: Gold Loan |
Gold Value Used | ₹4,00,000 (Gold sold to clear debt) | ₹3,75,000 (Loan approved for 75% of gold’s value) |
Interest Rate | 0% (No EMI since debt is paid) | 10% (Gold loan interest) |
Interest Paid in 1 Year | ₹0 | ₹37,500 (10% of ₹3,75,000) |
Savings on Interest | ₹72,000 (18% on ₹4,00,000 saved) | ₹34,500 (₹72,000 - ₹37,500) |
Gold Ownership | Lost (Gold sold) | Retained (Gold returned after full repayment) |
Key Takeaway:
From ‘Kaccha Badaam’ To Solid Gold: Choose Finding Your Perfect Investment
As with the rise and fall of viral trends, various investments in gold are appropriate for various individuals. Choose the one that suits your risk appetite—be it digital gold or ETFs.
Aspect | Gold ETFs | Digital Gold |
Best For | Short-term traders looking for quick entry/exit | Beginners investing in small amounts |
Returns | Matches gold’s market price movements | Matches gold’s market price movements |
Investment Horizon | Flexible (Buy/Sell anytime) | Flexible (Buy/Sell anytime) |
Tax Benefits | No additional tax perks | No tax benefits |
Minimum Investment | 0.1 grams of gold is the smallest unit that a person can invest in an ETF. | As low as ₹1 |
Storage & Safety | Stored electronically in the Demat account | Stored digitally by trusted platforms |
Liquidity | Highly liquid — Trade like stocks | Highly liquid — Instant buy/sell through UPI apps |
Gold is no longer an attractive metal stored in a bank safe—it’s a vibrant investment instrument that can make your fortune without the overhead of charges on storage or undetectable expenses. From Gold ETFs to Mutual Funds, Digital Gold to Gold Mining Stocks, you can indulge in the advantages of gold without bothering to make charges or security issues.
As we can observe in Ramesh’s situation, a change from physical gold to ETFs saved him ₹25,000 in costs and brought him an additional ₹25,000 in profit. That’s the magic of intelligent investing!
Gold ETFs offer stock market flexibility; Digital Gold facilitates hassle-free UPI investments, and gold mutual funds enable you to grow your wealth systematically.
For higher risk, higher return, gold derivatives and gold mining stocks present thrilling possibilities. And if debt consolidation is your aim, investing in gold can reduce interest expenses.
The golden rule? Gold must sparkle in your portfolio, not merely in your locker. Select the investment that suits your purpose and allow your money to grow with ease.
As Ramesh quotes now, "Ab sona locker mein nahi, portfolio mein chamkega!"
You can invest in Gold ETFs, gold mutual funds, Digital Gold, gold derivatives, and Gold Mining Stocks, or opt for gold loans for monetary flexibility.
Gold ETFs save you from locker rents and making charges and provide better liquidity and tax advantages than physical gold.
Gold ETFs: Suitable for active investors, lower cost ratio, and intraday trading.
Gold Mutual Funds: Suitable for passive investors, provide SIP mode, and are handled by experts.
Gold Futures: High-risk, involves substantial investment, and gains are based on price movement.
Gold Options: Less risk, involves only paying a premium, caps possible losses.
Yes, you can borrow a gold loan in place of selling gold, assisting you in settling debts while you continue to own your gold.
Gold mining shares give more return than physical gold since they increase as per the company's performance and can give dividends.
Experts suggest between 5% and 15% of your investment portfolio be in gold for stability and diversification.
Gold ETFs and gold mutual funds are the safest online gold investments, being regulated and secured by physical gold reserves.
About the Author
LoansJagat Team
We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?
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