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There was again a sharp movement in the prices of precious metals in the Indian bullion market on Saturday. Gold prices have registered a rise due to mixed signals from global commodity markets and strong domestic demand. In the spot market of the national capital Delhi, the price of 24 carat pure gold has jumped to the level of ₹ 1,56,820 per 10 grams. On the other hand, silver prices have declined due to slow industrial demand and profit booking. This unexpected rise in gold price before the upcoming wedding and festive season has increased the heartbeats of common buyers and investors. Experts believe that due to increasing global purchases of gold as a safe investment and continuous demand from central banks, gold prices in the domestic market are continuously touching new psychological levels. What is the difference between 24 carat, 22 carat and 18 carat? Know the rate based on purity. It is very important for the customers purchasing gold to understand that there is a big difference in the prices according to the carat. 24 karat gold is 99.9 percent pure, which is mainly used for investment in the form of bullion and coins. The price of 24 carat gold in Delhi today has been recorded at ₹ 15,682 per gram i.e. ₹ 1,56,820 per 10 grams. Generally, 22 carat gold is used to make jewellery, in which 91.6 percent is pure gold and the remaining is mixed with other metals. Today the price of 22 carat gold in Delhi is around ₹ 14,376 per gram i.e. ₹ 1,43,760 per 10 grams. At the same time, the rate of 18 carat gold (75 percent purity) used in modern and light jewelery has today reached ₹ 11,765 per gram i.e. approximately ₹ 1,17,650 per 10 grams. While purchasing jewelery in the retail market, 3 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) and making charges of the concerned jewelers are additionally payable on these base prices. Gold remains shining but why did silver slip? Understand the movement of the market While on one hand gold is touching new heights, on the other hand silver buyers have got minor relief. After showing continuous rise in the previous trading sessions, a slight slippage has been seen in the price of silver today. In Delhi and NCR, pure silver rates slipped from around ₹2,55,000 per kg to ₹2,34,900 to ₹2,39,700 per kg. According to market analysts, the main reason for the fall in silver prices is slowing global industrial demand and profit-booking by speculators at higher levels. More than 50 percent of silver is used in solar panels, electronics, semiconductor and automobile sectors. Weakness in global manufacturing data has slightly impacted industrial consumption of silver. However, from a long-term perspective, experts believe that silver's indispensability in the green energy and technology sectors will provide it with strong support in the long run. Latest rate card of major cities including Mumbai, Lucknow, Jaipur and Patna There is a slight variation in the retail prices of gold in different states and cities of the country due to local transport cost, octroi duty and different standards of Jewelers Association. Today's estimated 24 carat and 22 carat rate card of major business cities of the country is as follows: Delhi and NCR (Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram): 24 carat gold at ₹1,56,820 per 10 grams and 22 carat gold at ₹1,43,760 per 10 grams. Mumbai: 24 carat gold at ₹156,770 per 10 grams and 22 carat gold at ₹143,700 per 10 grams. Lucknow and Kanpur: 24 carat gold at ₹1,56,920 per 10 grams and 22 carat gold at ₹1,43,850 per 10 grams. Jaipur: 24 carat gold at ₹1,56,920 per 10 grams and 22 carat gold at ₹1,43,850 per 10 grams. Patna: 24 carat gold at ₹1,56,820 per 10 grams and 22 carat gold at ₹1,43,750 per 10 grams. Kolkata: 24 carat gold at ₹1,56,770 per 10 grams and 22 carat gold at ₹1,43,700 per 10 grams. Ahmedabad: 24 carat gold at ₹1,56,820 per 10 grams and 22 carat gold at ₹1,43,750 per 10 grams. International markets, dollar index and interest rates: Why are gold prices increasing? Many global factors are directly behind this huge surge in gold prices in the domestic market. Spot gold is trading with a strong trend in the international market (Comex). Bond yields have softened due to the prospects of interest rate cuts by the world's major central banks, especially the US Federal Reserve. When US Treasury yields and interest rates fall, the attractiveness of investing in non-interest bearing assets such as gold increases. Along with this, the pressure on the US dollar index and the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Europe have also strengthened gold. In times of crisis, institutional investors and central banks are purchasing gold on a large scale to safeguard their foreign exchange reserves. Central banks of China and many emerging countries, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), have continued aggressive gold purchases, leading to demand outweighing supply globally. Keep these things in mind before purchasing: Hallmarking (HUID) and Billing Mathematics If you are planning to buy gold jewelery or coins at the current price, it is extremely important for your financial interests to follow some important precautions: BIS Hallmark: Never buy unhallmarked gold. As per the rules of Bureau of Indian Standards, it is now mandatory for every gold jewelery to have a 6 digit unique alphanumeric 'HUID' (Hallmark Unique Identification) code. Customers can self-verify the purity of the jewellery, date of manufacture and certified testing center information by visiting the 'BIS CARE' mobile app and entering this code. Purity scale: 24 carat is marked 999, 22 carat is marked 916 and 18 carat is marked 750. While making the bill, ensure that there is no difference between the number written on your jewelery and the purity mentioned on the bill. Making Charges and GST: The final price of jewelery is not decided only on the weight of gold. Always clearly ask the jeweler how much making charge he is charging per gram. Making charges can range from 6% to 20% depending on different designs and brands. Apart from this, 3 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) is added on the final bill amount. Clear Bill Mandatory: Always take an authorized GST bill which clearly mentions the total weight of gold, purity (carat), making charge and hallmark number. A promissory note is the biggest legal proof of your investment in case you exchange or sell your jewelery in the future. Experts estimate that unless the global geopolitical situation calms down completely and there is solid stability on the inflation front, the scope for decline in gold prices will be very limited. Buying in a phased manner (SIP mode) on dips can prove to be a safe strategy for investors.