Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 4: In a rare move marking a historic first, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unveiled a glimpse of its closely-guarded gold reserves to the public. This unprecedented reveal comes through a documentary web series titled ‘RBI Unlocked: Beyond the Rupee’, now streaming on an OTT platform.

The documentary, produced by Jio Studios and directed by Zoya Parveen, showcases some of the RBI’s tightly secured 870 tonnes of gold reserves, stored in the form of 12.5 kg bars at a secret location under robust security. While only a small fraction is displayed, it’s the first time in the nation’s history that citizens are witnessing the central bank’s gold holdings with their own eyes.

The four-part series unravels key moments in India’s economic history, the evolution of the RBI, and its critical interventions during financial turbulence.

The documentary revisits India’s 1991 economic crisis, when the nation was on the brink of default. With only three weeks of foreign exchange left, India turned to its gold. Over 100 tonnes of gold were airlifted to London and pledged to avert a looming economic disaster. This bold step, along with liberalisation and globalisation policies, helped India emerge from the crisis and reshape its economic future.

According to the series, since that pivotal year, India has not needed to use its gold reserves again, making them a silent guardian of economic stability. Today, the market value of the RBI’s 870 tonnes of gold is estimated at Rs 6.80 lac crore.

The series not only educates but also inspires awe about the unseen, often unspoken role of India’s apex financial institution in safeguarding national interests—beyond the rupee.