Mumbai: India’s gem and jewellery industry has warned that any broad reduction in gold jewellery purchases could impact employment linked to the sector, which supports over one crore people directly and several allied industries indirectly.

Responding to PM Narendra Modi’s appeal to avoid buying gold for a year amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia, All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) chairman Rajesh Rokde said the industry supports the government’s national interest concerns but cautioned against measures that could hurt livelihoods.

“Whatever the Prime Minister has said is absolutely correct from the perspective of patriotism and national interest,” Rokde said.

“More than one crore people are directly employed in the industry. Insurance, banking, furniture, packaging and logistics sectors are also dependent on jewellery trade,” he said, warning that restrictions on jewellery buying could raise concerns over unemployment.

At the same time, Rokde supported discouraging bullion and coin purchases made purely for investment purposes. “Stopping unnecessary buying of bullion and coins is absolutely right,” he said.

The industry has instead urged the Centre to strengthen and modernise the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) to bring idle household gold into the formal economy and reduce dependence on imports.

According to Rokde, Indians are estimated to hold around 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of gold. “If even 10-20% of this gold is monetised, India may not need to import gold for the next 10 years,” he said, adding that the GJC has already submitted an end to end monetisation proposal to the government.

GJC vice-chairman Avinash Gupta said gold remains significant for Indian households, but excessive imports also affect the current acc ount deficit and foreign exchange reserves. He said a properly regulated GMS could help channel dormant household gold into the financial system.

Meanwhile, the digital precious metals industry has launched the Digital Precious Metals Assurance Council of India (DPMACI), a self-regulatory body formed by firms including MMTC-PAMP, SafeGold, Augmont, PhonePe, BharatPe, Mobikwik, Gullak, Lenden Club and CRED to improve transparency and consumer protection in the digital gold and silver market.

Mumbai: The city woke up to clear skies, but the summer heat persisted in Mumbai and the MMR region, with the early-morning temperature recorded at 32°C at 9:00 am. The overall air quality in Mumbai was recorded in ‘good’ category, with an AQI of 38 during the morning hours.

According to AccuWeather data, Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai are expected to have a sunny day today, with a breeze in the afternoon. The maximum temperature is expected to range between 36°C and 38°C.

Yesterday, a post by Mumbai Rains claimed that the ‘feels-like’ temperature in Thane crossed 60°C. In Mumbai, the feels-like temperatures in Borivali, Santacruz, and Chembur were recorded at 47°C, 45°C, and 55°C, respectively.

The overall air quality in Mumbai was recorded in the ‘good’ category, with an AQI of 38, according to data from aqi.in. However, despite the overall air quality remaining in the ‘good’ category, several areas recorded poor air quality levels.

The best AQI was recorded at Green Hills at 5, while Juhu Scheme recorded the worst air quality, with an AQI of 157, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. Apart from this, areas like Sion recorded an AQI of 62, while Kannamwar Nagar Station 2 recorded an AQI of 57, placing them in the ‘moderate’ category.

Several parts of Maharashtra is likely to see thunderstorms, lightning, rainfall, and gusty winds over South Madhya Maharashtra, while hot and humid conditions are expected to continue over Konkan and Goa.

According to the weather department, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and light to moderate rainfall are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of South Madhya Maharashtra. Gusty winds with speeds ranging between 40 and 50 kmph are also expected during the weather activity.

Meanwhile, residents in Konkan and Goa are likely to continue experiencing hot and humid weather conditions over isolated pockets, adding to the discomfort caused by the ongoing summer heat.

Mumbai: The Kandivali unit of the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has arrested two accused in a major drug bust near Yari Road in Versova area of ​​Andheri West.

During the raid, 765 grams of heroin, estimated to be worth around Rs 4 crore in the international market, was recovered from the accused.

The arrested accused are Arman Ayub Malik (32), a resident of Dehradun, Uttarakhand
▪️ Danish Bhoora Ali (23), a resident of Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Both the accused were arrested on May 10, 2026 at around 3 am. In this case, a case under Sections 8(a), 21(a) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 has been registered under FIR No. 50/2026.

According to police officials, investigations are also underway against other people involved in this drug racket. This operation was carried out by a police team of Kandivali ANC Unit led by Mumbai Police Commissioner Mr. Devan Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mr. Lakshmi Gautam, Additional Commissioner of Police Shailesh ANC and Senior Police Inspector Shashi Kant Jagdale of Kandivali Unit.