Will Government Monetise Gold Held by Temples? Centre Responds The Indian government's recent denial that it plans to monetize gold held by temples and religious institutions has raised more questions than answers.
On the surface, the clarification seems straightforward enough: no, the Centre is not planning to issue gold bonds to temples in exchange for their gold reserves, nor will gold plates on temple structures be treated as "Strategic Gold Reserves of India.
" India's temple treasures are a significant asset, with an estimated 20,000 temples across the country holding vast quantities of gold.