New Delhi, Oct. 31 -- The festive season in India, traditionally commencing with Dhanteras, has long been synonymous with the purchase of gold and silver in physical form. For centuries, these precious metals have been revered by Indian families not just as ornaments, but for the value and security that they offer, as they get passed down through generations.

Over the last few years, the traditional rush for physical gold during the festive season has been mirrored by a massive surge in paper gold investment. This September witnessed the highest-ever inflows into gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) with a four-fold rise, crossing the Rs.8,300 mark. This shift signals a change in the way the average retail investor is thinking, prioritising...