Not satisfied with raising import tariffs on gold and putting in place jarring new FX flow capital controls, it seems the war on a weakening Rupee continues. We previously discussed the unintended consequence of such actions - including the rise of the gold smuggler - but the latest total ban on the importation of gold coins and medallions is edging India closer and closer to the Argentinian edge of Cristina Fernandez totalitarianism (after the initial ban on sales in June). In an effort to "moderate outflows" of Rupee, the Indian central bank slashed the amount of money families can send out of the country per year to $75k (from $200k) and limited overseas investment to 100% of net worth (from 400%). "We will leave no stone unturned" to control the current account deficit and stabilize the rupee, the finance minister warned; which of course removes any hope that monetary easing to revive growth will occur anytime soon.

Since the Fed began discussing Taper - the Rupee has weakened almost 15% (3 months)...

On Gold's import ban (via RBI),

Import of Gold by Nominated Banks /Agencies/Entities 1. Attention of Authorised Persons is drawn to the Reserve Bank’s A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 15 dated July 22, 2013 on the captioned subject. As per these instructions, certain restrictions were imposed on the import of various forms of gold by nominated banks/nominated agencies/ premier or star trading houses/SEZ units/EoUs which have been permitted to import gold for use in the domestic sector. 2. Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India have been receiving several requests for clarifications on the operational aspects of the scheme of imports put in place in terms of the above circular. There have also been representations to change certain aspects of the scheme. Taking into account all these representations and in consultation with the Government of India, it has been decided to issue the following clarifications/modifications in supersession of all the earlier instructions: a) Import of gold in the form of coins and medallions is now prohibited.

On Capital Controls (Via France24),