Physical gold means any form of the precious metal that can be touched – jewellery, coins, and bars. With about 25,000 tonnes of gold held in some form by households in India, gold enjoys both cultural and financial significance. Traditionally, it has circulated as a repository of wealth, a hedge against inflation, and a symbol of prosperity.
However, owning physical gold comes with challenges. The foremost is storage and security, which can entail renting lockers and safes. Besides, there are making charges, purity issues, and possible illiquidity for selling, to name a few.