Millions of people in India, who have been traditionally buying gold, will have more than one option to invest in the precious yellow metal this Diwali. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched three gold schemes — gold monetisation scheme (GMS), sovereign gold bonds and the gold coin bearing the national emblem Ashoka Chakra on one side and Mahatma Gandhi’s image on the other — to channelise the country’s idle gold into productive use by bringing it into the formal banking system. Describing the schemes as “sone pe suhaga” (icing on the cake), Modi said gold has often been a source of women’s empowerment in the Indian society, and these schemes will underscore that sense of empowerment. “Women usually don’t own anything. House, car is usually named after their husband or son, but gold is their strength.” He added that gold coins would be a “matter of pride for the nation,” and people would no longer have to depend on foreign-minted gold bullion or coins. Underlining...