How much is 1 tola of gold? Hint: It's not 10 gram

Gold is a precious metal that holds significant value in India and abroad. While gold is a crucial commodity and a safe-haven asset in the global economy, it has unique importance in South Asian countries as it symbolises wealth, cultural heritage, and prosperity.

In India, gold is more than a metal—it is an important part of many religious and cultural ceremonies, including weddings.

Traditionally, 1 tola is a measurement unit used in India and South Asia. When converted, 1 tola of gold is equivalent to 11.6638 gram (11.7 gram). The price of 1 tola of gold is determined by the current market rate, which fluctuates as per market conditions.

History of tola

Tola is an ancient unit of weight traditionally used for measuring precious metals, grains, and other valuable commodities. It is believed to have originated from the term "Tula," which means balance or scale, used in weighing goods in ancient Indian marketplaces. While tola’s exact weight has varied throughout history, it was often determined by the weight of 100 Ratti (rosary pea) seeds. Today, it is standardised as 11.7 gram.

Gold prices

Gold jewllery rates in Delhi jumped ₹950 on Tuesday to ₹97,500 per 10 gram (99.9% purity, 24K) on the back of firm trends in the overseas market, according to the All India Sarafa Association. In the international market, spot gold is at $3,253.38 per ounce, a PTI report noted.

Gold rates rise due to market volatility and geopolitical tensions, as gold is a safe-haven asset—investors seek refuge in the metal when other investments turn risky. The current surge in gold demand and prices is due to the reports of Israeli airstrikes on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen, the PTI report quoted Kaynat Chainwala, AVP of Commodity Research at Kotak Securities, as saying.

"Gold fell over 3% on Monday, the lowest closing in nearly two weeks. However, the metal rebounded slightly on Tuesday, edging above $3,240 per ounce," Chainwala said.