New Delhi, June 16 -- A striking shift is underway in the bedrock of global finance. Central banks around the world are aggressively doubling down on gold, with a record number of institutions planning to expand their bullion holdings over the next year.

According to the World Gold Council's (WGC) 2026 Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey, an overwhelming 89% of respondents believe global central bank gold reserves will rise over the next 12 months.

According to the report, "a record 45% of respondents expect their own gold reserves will also increase" over the coming year. In contrast, only 1 per cent of respondents expect their institution's gold reserves to decline, while the majority anticipate no change.

The WGC said central banks ha...