The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check on Tuesday dismissed as false a media report claiming that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had sold gold worth approximately $12 billion from the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
In a post on X, PIB Fact Check clarified that the claim, attributed to a Bloomberg report, was inaccurate and not supported by official RBI data.
According to the RBI, the share of gold in India’s foreign exchange reserves has continued to increase over recent months. The proportion of gold in the country’s reserves rose from 13.92 per cent at the end of September 2025 to 16.70 per cent on March 31, 2026, and further to 16.85 per cent as of May 22, 2026.
The RBI’s latest data also indicates that India’s physical gold holdings have remained stable. As of May 22, 2026, the country’s gold reserves stood at 880.52 metric tonnes, virtually unchanged from previous weeks.
Official figures show that the value of gold held by the RBI increased significantly, reaching $120.24 billion as of April 24, 2026, compared to $81.82 billion during the corresponding period last year. The rise reflects higher gold prices and an increase in reserve holdings rather than any reduction in stocks.
PIB Fact Check noted that details regarding India’s gold reserves are publicly available through the RBI’s Monthly Bulletin and other official publications and urged citizens and media organisations to rely on verified information available through the RBI’s official website for accurate updates on India’s foreign exchange reserves.
As per RBI data, India’s total foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 698.49 billion as of April 24, 2026. Foreign Currency Assets accounted for $554.62 billion, while Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and the Reserve Tranche Position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) contributed $18.77 billion and $4.86 billion, respectively.
The clarification comes amid heightened interest in central bank gold holdings as countries worldwide continue to diversify reserve assets in response to evolving global economic conditions.
