The government astounded gold bars markets by observance the introduce duty on gold and silver unmoved at 10 per cent in its Union Budget for 2014-15, a move likely to limit out of the country purchases by the second-biggest bullion shopper and further hearten smuggling.
India's major bullion trade group had on Wednesday said the economics minister would likely cut the gold introduce duty to 6 per cent in the just now elected government's first budget arrangement.
FULL COVERAGE: Union Budget
Indian bullion futures jumped 2 per cent on Thursday, widening the premium over global prices which had pointed on the probability of a duty cut.
"This will basically force jewellers, who were on the sidelines pregnant a duty cut, to re-stock," said Sudheesh Nambiath, senior analyst with Thomson Reuters GFMS.
Premiums should get better to $20-30 an ounce in the next few days, he said, against $10 on Wednesday.
India, anxious to orderly a wide open present account shortage, took a slew of actions last year to limit require for bullion, its second-biggest import after oil.
Besides the duty compulsory by the finance ministry, India's central bank also imposed the so-called 80-20 rule that necessary a fifth of all gold imports be re-exported.
BUDGET SPEECH: Full text | Video
The rules have curly supply and pressed premiums up to as high as $160 an ounce in December.