Investors holding Sovereign Gold Bonds now have clarity on when they can exit early.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the schedule for premature redemption of Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) tranches between April 2026 and September 2026.
If you invested in SGBs between 2018 and 2021, this update is important.
What Is Premature Redemption?
Sovereign Gold Bonds come with an 8-year maturity period.
However, investors are allowed to exit early after the fifth year on specific interest payment dates.
The RBI has now published the exact redemption dates for eligible tranches falling between April 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026.
But there is one key detail.
You cannot redeem anytime. You must submit your request within a specific window before the redemption date.
Key Redemption Timeline
Several tranches issued between 2018-19 and 2021-22 are eligible for early redemption during this period.
For example:
2018-19 Series II (issued October 23, 2018) can be redeemed on April 23, 2026.
The request window is March 23 to April 13, 2026.
2019-20 Series I (issued June 11, 2019) can be redeemed on June 11, 2026.
The request window is May 11 to June 1, 2026.
2020-21 Series I (issued April 28, 2020) can be redeemed on April 28, 2026.
The request window is March 28 to April 18, 2026.
2021-22 Series I (issued May 25, 2021) can be redeemed on May 25, 2026.
The request window is April 24 to May 15, 2026.
In total, 33 different tranches are eligible for premature redemption during this six-month period.
Investors must submit their requests through their receiving office, NSDL, CDSL, or RBI Retail Direct within the specified dates.
Important Things To Remember
The RBI has clarified that the dates may change if there is an unscheduled holiday.
If you are planning to redeem before maturity, mark your calendar carefully.
Missing the request window means you will have to wait until the next eligible date.
SGBs are popular because they offer interest income along with gold price returns.
But timing your exit properly is crucial to maximize benefits.
If you hold any of the eligible series, now is the time to check your issue date and plan ahead.
