Gold Price in Punjab today -

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The purity and quality of gold is something buyers are always apprehensive of. There are different types of gold that buyers can choose from. Buyers often have a tough time distinguishing between the Hallmark gold and the KDM gold. 

1) Hallmark Gold: Hallmark gold is the type of gold upon which, tests are conducted at assaying centers and is approved for sale by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Hallmark gold is available in four varieties being 23 Karat, 22 Karat, 21 Karat, and 18 Karat.

2) KDM Gold: KDM gold is a type of gold made combining 8% cadmium with 92% gold. Not only does this tamper with the purity of gold, but it also has certain health risks associated with it because of which the production of this gold has been terminated. 

Gold is one of the most valuable metals known to humankind, and it can be used for multiple purposes. Besides, making jewellery, gold is also commonly used to avail funds during a financial crunch.

Thus, it is vital to measure the purity of gold to make the most of its equity. Following are some of the ways.

• Karat System

It constitutes one of the most common ways to determine the quality and purity of gold. Denoted by “K”, this measurement system depends on a scale that ranges from 0 to 24. For instance, a god article of 1 Karat means that that particular gold item consists of 1 part of gold and 23 parts of other metals or alloys. It also means, the closer to 24K, the purer the gold.

• Hallmarking

Most gold articles, including jewellery, come with an inscription called “hallmark” that carries the symbol of gold purity, its fineness, date of manufacturing, etc. Most countries, including India, have mandated gold jewellers to carry the BIS hallmark.

• Other Methods

Besides these, most traders use conventional acid test or use an electronic gold tester to determine gold purity accurately.

Irrespective of the method, assessing gold purity is essential for both buyers and traders.

Goods and Services Tax has unified the earlier payable taxes like Value Added Tax (VAT), Customs duty, Central Excise duty, etc., and the whole indirect tax structure has been brought under one umbrella.

• GST on Gold

GST on gold is levied when individuals opt for buying gold jewellery or bars. Individuals need to pay several taxes depending on the various processes involved in gold trading, manufacturing, and purchasing. To be precise, individuals need to pay GST of 5% on making charges, 10% on import duty and 3% on gold. However, the GST on making charges is a product of the new tax regime.

• Impact of GST on Gold Prices

The new tax structure and implementation of several taxes have made gold expensive by 0.75%. Apart from the impact on gold prices, GST has stretched its effects on gold imports as well as across the organised and unorganised sectors, which are invariably linked with the increasing price of gold. 

There are several reasons to put your gold to good use. For starters, people are always looking for the best way to generate high returns. On that note, gold has forever been the conservative investor's best avenue for yielding high returns. With the introduction of Gold ETFs and Sovereign Gold Bonds, the demand for gold has been steadily increasing. The top advantage of gold against cash is that the gold gram rate has never dipped below zero in it’s more than 3000-years' history. Gold also functions as a hedge against financial market fluctuations. Hence, whenever there is a recession, people move towards gold. Additionally, gold is a liquid asset, which means you can either sell it or pledge it in exchange for instant cash loan. Unlike physical money, gold is portable and can be stored anywhere. Lastly, identifying high-quality gold does not require expert understanding. Anyone can buy gold according to its purity while the seller's certificate acts as the proof of its purity.