Investors holding older Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) have a chance to exit their investments before the bonds reach their scheduled maturity. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the premature redemption calendar for SGB tranches that will become eligible for early redemption between October 2026 and March 2027.
The RBI released the schedule on 21 August 2026, covering 32 SGB tranches issued between June 2019 and March 2022. Under the rules governing the SGB scheme, investors can opt for premature redemption only after five years from the date of issue of the bond.
For investors, there are two dates to keep track of. The first is the premature redemption date, when the bond becomes eligible for early exit. The second is the request window, during which the investor has to submit the redemption request. Missing the request window can mean waiting for the next available opportunity.
Why the five-year period matters for SGB investors
SGBs have a tenure of eight years, but the scheme allows investors to seek premature redemption after five years from the date of issue. This means investors do not necessarily have to remain invested until the end of the eight-year tenure if they want to exit earlier.
The 32 eligible tranches are spread across three financial-year series: 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. The schedule starts with the 2019-20 Series V on 15 October 2026 and extends to the 2019-20 Series IV on 17 March 2027.
SGBs issued in 2019-20
Ten tranches from the 2019-20 series feature in the latest calendar. Their premature redemption dates fall between October 2026 and March 2027.
SGBs issued in 2020-21
The RBI has included 12 tranches from the 2020-21 series. The first of these, Series VII, becomes eligible on 19 October 2026, while Series XII is scheduled for premature redemption on 9 March 2027.
SGBs issued in 2021-22
The third group consists of 10 tranches issued during 2021-22. These include Series VII, which becomes eligible for premature redemption on 2 November 2026, and Series X, whose redemption date is 8 March 2027.
How to apply for premature SGB redemption
Investors who decide to exit before maturity need to submit their requests through the channels specified by the RBI. The latest calendar identifies receiving offices, NSDL, CDSL and RBI Retail Direct as the channels for submitting premature redemption requests.
The exact process can depend on where the SGB is held. Investors should therefore check their demat account, bank or other authorised channel and follow the applicable procedure.
What happens if the redemption date falls on a holiday?
The RBI has specifically warned that the dates in the calendar may change in the event of unscheduled holidays. Investors should therefore check for any subsequent notification or change before submitting their redemption requests.
The central bank has advised investors to take note of the prescribed period for submitting redemption requests if they choose to redeem their SGB holdings before maturity.
