Top Gold ETFs in India (2026)

Overview of the Best Gold ETF Funds in India

Nippon India ETF Gold BeES

Nippon India ETF Gold BeES tracks domestic gold prices and invests in high-purity gold. The ETF trades on the exchange like an equity share. Its performance reflects movements in gold prices and trends in domestic demand. It offers exposure without the need for physical storage, handling, or insurance.

SBI Gold ETF

SBI Gold ETF provides returns that align with gold price movements in India. The fund holds physical gold as its underlying asset and trades on the stock exchange. Performance depends on gold price trends, currency movements, and domestic demand. It offers a demat-based way to gain exposure to gold.

Kotak Gold ETF

Kotak Gold ETF tracks the price of physical gold and mirrors domestic gold market movements. The ETF trades like a listed security and does not require physical storage. This gold ETF's returns depend on spot gold prices and currency trends. Investors use it for portfolio diversification linked to gold.

HDFC Gold Exchange Traded Fund

ICICI Prudential Gold ETF invests in physical gold and aims to reflect price movements in the domestic gold market. The ETF trades on stock exchanges, eliminating storage and security concerns associated with physical gold. Performance depends on global gold prices, rupee movement, and demand cycles.

ICICI Prudential Gold ETF

HDFC Gold ETF tracks domestic gold prices by investing directly in physical gold. It trades on the exchange and offers exposure without physical handling. Returns move with global gold trends and local price factors. The ETF suits portfolios that require allocation toward gold-linked instruments.

What are Gold ETFs?

Gold ETFs are passive investment instruments that track the price of gold. Each unit of a Gold ETF represents a specific amount of physical gold, typically measured in grams, and is backed by gold stored in vaults. Gold ETFs are listed on stock exchanges, such as the NSE and BSE, allowing investors to trade them like shares.

How to Invest in Gold ETFs?

Investing in gold ETFs using Tickertape is a straightforward process. Tickertape is a powerful stock analysis and screening tool that helps you make informed investment decisions. Here’s how you can use Tickertape to invest in Nifty gold ETFs:

1. Sign Up and Log In: You can create an account on the Tickertape or log in if you already have one.
2. Search for Gold ETFs: Go to Tickertape Stock Screener and search for the ‘’ETFs” sector.
3. Use Filters: You can apply over 200 filters to get stocks sorted based on criteria like market cap, P/E ratio, or dividend yield. You can create your own custom filter, in case your preferred parameters are not available. This can help you narrow down the top gold ETFs in India.
4. Analyse Stock Data: Tickertape provides comprehensive data on each stock, including financials, performance metrics, future projections, red flags, and more. You can review this data to assess each company’s health and potential in depth.
5. Add to Watchlist: You may keep track of potential investments by adding them to your watchlist.
6. Invest Through Your Broker: Once you’ve decided on a stock, you can place a buy order through your brokerage account linked to Tickertape.

You can stay updated with each of your favourite stocks’ alerts and announcements with Tickertape Alerts. Further, you can analyse your overall portfolio and potential red flags in it by connecting it to Tickertape. Check out detailed analysis of your portfolio now!

Union Budget Implications on Gold ETFs in India

1. Tax Rules for FY2026: The Union Budget 2026 kept the same tax structure for Gold ETFs as last year. If investors sell Gold ETFs within 12 months, profit is taxed at their regular income-tax slab rate. If they hold for more than 12 months, the tax is 12.5% as long-term capital gains, without indexation.
2. Government Continued Lower Import Duty: The government kept the import duty on gold and silver at 6%, reduced from 15% in 2024. This move helped lower gold costs and discouraged unofficial gold imports.

How Gold ETFs Work in India?

1. Underlying assets: Gold ETFs invest mainly in physical gold and permitted gold-related instruments. Their structure is designed to reflect domestic gold prices rather than function like an actively managed equity fund.
2. Exchange trading: Gold ETF units are bought and sold on stock exchanges through a demat and trading account. Investors trade these units during market hours, just like listed shares.
3. Price movement: The value of a Gold ETF generally moves in line with domestic gold prices. However, the market price may differ slightly due to the expense ratio, changes in supply and demand, and tracking error.
4. Creation and redemption: Large creation and redemption transactions usually happen between the fund house and authorised participants. Retail investors generally enter or exit by buying or selling units on the exchange.
5. Holding format: Gold ETFs are held electronically in a demat account. This removes the need for physical storage, locker costs, purity checks, and handling concerns linked to physical gold.
6. Investor experience: Gold ETFs give investors market-linked exposure to gold without directly owning the metal. The investment remains linked to gold prices, while trading remains similar to equity market transactions.

Gold ETFs vs Physical Gold

1. Form of holding: Gold ETFs exist in electronic format, while physical gold requires investors to store coins, bars, or jewellery themselves.
2. Additional purchase costs: Jewellery and coins often include making charges, wastage, and retail margins. ETF investors usually face brokerage and annual fund expenses instead.
3. Security and logistics: ETF investors avoid risks related to theft or locker costs because professional custodians store the gold. Physical buyers must arrange safe storage.
4. Ease of selling: ETF units can be sold on the exchange at market prices within trading hours. Physical gold sales depend on negotiations with jewellers and may involve deductions.
5. Quality standardisation: ETFs rely on regulated bullion standards. Physical buyers must depend on certifications and testing at the time of resale.

Gold ETFs vs Sovereign Gold Bonds

1. Nature of returns: Gold ETFs reflect only price movement in gold. Sovereign Gold Bonds combine price exposure with a fixed interest payout defined by the scheme.
2. Entry route: Investors usually buy ETFs from the secondary market at prevailing prices. Sovereign Gold Bonds open for subscription during specific periods announced by the authorities.
3. Holding flexibility: ETFs allow entry and exit at any time through exchange trades. Bonds follow maturity timelines, although exchanges may provide interim liquidity.
4. Use case differences: Traders often prefer ETFs for price-based transactions, while some investors look at bonds for the additional income component.
5. Variation in taxation: Capital gains rules and redemption benefits differ depending on how investors exit and how long they hold the instrument.

To Wrap It Up

Gold ETFs provide a modern, efficient way to gain exposure to gold through a mutual fund without the complexities of physical ownership. However, investors should remain aware of the risks associated with volatility, liquidity, and taxation. As the market evolves, Gold ETFs remain a structured way to diversify portfolios through gold exposure.