<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched three gold-related schemes, including a coin engraved with the images of national emblem Ashok Chakra and Mahatma Gandhi on its two sides, in a bid to put some 20,000 tonnes of idle gold into productive use.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The other two schemes launched here are the gold monetisation scheme to convert jewellery and other yellow metal assets with people into interest-bearing deposits, and the sovereign bond scheme with an eight-year tenure, while allowing an exit option after five years.<br /><br />According to the World Gold Council, an estimated 22,000-23,000 tonnes of gold is lying idle with households and institutions in India. The annual imports amount to around 850-1,000 tonnes valued at $35-$45 billion.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched three gold-related schemes, including a coin engraved with the images of national emblem Ashok Chakra and Mahatma Gandhi on its two sides, in a bid to put some 20,000 tonnes of idle gold into productive use.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The other two schemes launched here are the gold monetisation scheme to convert jewellery and other yellow metal assets with people into interest-bearing deposits, and the sovereign bond scheme with an eight-year tenure, while allowing an exit option after five years.<br /><br />According to the World Gold Council, an estimated 22,000-23,000 tonnes of gold is lying idle with households and institutions in India. The annual imports amount to around 850-1,000 tonnes valued at $35-$45 billion.</p>