The limitations on bullion imports will be reviewed by March end, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday.
"I am certain that by the conclusion of this year we will be bright to repeat some of the limitations on bullion introduce but we will do so only when we are extremely sure that we have a firm grasp on the present description shortage," Chidambaram said while addressing tax officials at the civilization Day in New Delhi.
To enclose the increasing gold imports, the government had augmented customs duty on the blonde metal three times in 2013. The levy at present stands at 10 per cent.
Besides, the Reserve Bank of India has also connected imports of the metal to exports among a widening current account deficit (CAD) and depreciation of the rupee.
Gold imports , which touched a high of 162 tonnes in May, knock down to 19.3 tonnes in November in the wake of a sequence of curbs by both the management and the RBI.
The imports in December was a "slight superior" than in November, Finance Secretary Sumit Bose tell the media.
Chidambaram said there has been about 1-3 tonnes of bullion smuggled into the nation each month subsequent the boundaries compulsory on consignment last year.
"I know bullion smuggling has augmented...But the limitations on gold introduce were totally necessary since it is these boundaries which have brought down bullion introduce which in April and May had crossed 300 tonnes.
"If we had not compulsory boundaries, there was no way we could have managed stability of expenditure or the present explanation shortage," he said.
With the clamour for a responsibility cut on bullion imports rising, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had last week printed to Commerce Ministry in this observe.
Gold imports represent the succeeding major module in the bring in bill after simple oil. burst in bullion introduce had pressed CAD to a evidence high of $88.2 billion or 4.8 per cent of GDP last financial.