New Delhi, Oct. 18 -- India's gold reserves hit a record high as it crossed the $100 billion mark for the first time in history, the latest foreign exchange reserves data of the Reserve Bank of India showed on Friday.

The rise in India's gold reserves came amid a global rally in gold prices despite the central bank slowed its purchases rapidly this year.

The gold holdings of India rose by $3.595 billion in the week through October 10, logging at $102.365 billion, as per the latest RBI data.

In contrast, the overall foreign exchange reserves of the country. declined $2.18 billion to $697.784 billion.

The gold reserves of India is the highest since 1996-97, traders said, with the share of gold in India's total reserves climbing to 14.7 ...