Mumbai, April 30 -- India's gold demand witnessed a 10% on-year rise to 151 tonnes during the January-March quarter of this year, driven by a sharp surge in investment demand amid a significant jump in prices of the yellow metal, the World Gold Council (WGC) said in a report on Wednesday. According to the report, there has been a more pronounced structural shift in the country's gold demand, with investment-led buying gaining momentum, which rose by 54% across bars and coins and ETFs to 82 tonnes, offsetting weakness in jewellery demand. Jewellery demand faced notable headwinds during the quarter, declining 19% year-on-year to 66 tonnes, as elevated prices and affordability constraints continued to weigh on consumption, particularly in price-sensitive segments. For the full year, demand for gold could stand between 650-750 tonnes, compared to 712 tonnes last year, as rising gold prices in recent months have outstripped consumer budgets. The country's total gold demand during the first quarter of 2025 stood at 137 tonnes, according to the WGC's Q1 2026 Gold Demand Trends report. In value terms, demand nearly doubled, surging 99% year-on-year in the March quarter of 2026 to a record Rs.2,27,500 crore ($25 billion), the report added. "India's gold market in Q1 2026 reflects a continued divergence between volume trends and value growth, shaped by record-high prices and evolving consumer preferences. Total gold demand for the quarter stood at 151 tonnes, marking a 10% increase compared to Q1 2025. In value terms, demand nearly doubled to Rs.99,900 crore, up 99% year-on-year, underscoring the impact of the sharp rise in gold prices," WGC Regional Chief Executive Officer, India, Sachin Jain told PTI. Domestic gold price (MCX spot gold price) rose 81% year-over-year during the first quarter of 2026, reaching a record quarterly average of Rs.1,51,108 per 10 grams compared to Rs.83,375 during the same period last year....