ET Deep Dive: Lock, Stock and Worry

About this episode

This episode explores the complexities and challenges of India's booming locker economy amidst rising gold prices and household wealth.

India's locker economy is booming — and buckling. Bank vaults remain the default choice for storing gold, heirlooms and family documents, but chronic shortages, inheritance disputes and a trust deficit are cracking the system open. Private vault operators are muscling in with biometric access and extended hours. Home-safe manufacturers are selling the idea of keeping wealth closer. And regulators are struggling to keep pace. As gold prices soar and household wealth rises, the question of who safeguards India's physical assets has never been more urgent — or more contested. This is the story of India's locker economy, and the battle to control it. Lijee Philip reports, Anirban Chowdhury narrates. Listen in: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Lijee Philip

Guest: Anirban Chowdhury

Topics covered

• locker economy
• gold storage
• private vaults
• inheritance disputes
• wealth management
• regulation

Keywords

• locker economy
• gold storage
• private vaults
• inheritance disputes
• wealth management
• biometric access

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Economic Times

Places: India

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