The government on Tuesday dismissed reports and social media claims suggesting that it is planning to monetise gold held by temples and religious institutions across the country, calling such speculation “completely false, misleading and without any basis.”
In an official statement, the Ministry of Finance said that there is no proposal to issue gold bonds to temples in exchange for temple gold reserves, nor has any plan been approved for monetisation of temple gold holdings.
The clarification came amid circulation of several media reports and social media posts claiming that temple gold could be brought under a government-backed monetisation scheme.
The Ministry also rejected claims that gold plates installed on temple towers, doors or other temple structures would be treated as “Strategic Gold Reserves of India”, terming such reports entirely baseless and misleading. Further, it urged citizens not to believe or circulate rumours and unverified information, stating that such misinformation creates unnecessary confusion and may mislead the public.
The government also advised people to rely only on official communications issued through authorised channels, adding that any policy decision or new government scheme would be announced through official press releases, government websites and verified public communication platforms.
