New Delhi, Oct. 19 -- Indian investors can buy gold and silver in several ways, from physical coins and bars to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds and Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs). While these options offer exposure to precious metal prices, they differ in costs, liquidity, regulation, storage requirements and taxation.

Choosing the right route requires looking beyond the price of gold or silver. Investors must also consider how much they pay to enter an investment, the ease of selling it and whether they want to own the physical metal or simply benefit from price movements.

SEBI-regulated gold ETFs, silver ETFs and mutual funds offer alternatives to buying physical metal. However, digital gold sold through payment apps and onlin...