Mutual fund investment through systematic investment plans (SIPs) has surged to an all-time high of Rs 3.34 lakh crore in 2025, driven by growing investor appetite for disciplined, long-term wealth creation.
Earlier, most investors counted on traditional options like fixed deposits, gold, or property. But in 2026, you will have access to a much wider range of opportunities across different markets and sectors.
You should look beyond a flat SIP, ensuring that your investments grow along with your income, expenses, and financial aspirations.
Equity mutual funds attracted Rs 29,911 crore in November, marking a 21 per cent increase from the preceding month, according to data released by industry body Amfi on Thursday. This rise in inflows comes after three consecutive months of decline, signalling an improvement in investor sentiment.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is set to launch India's largest initial public offering (IPO), estimated at Rs 30,000 crore. This mega public issue will surpass previous records held by Hyundai Motor India and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), marking a significant event in the Indian stock market. The move comes as India's primary market shows signs of recovery after a period of slowdown.
'The day is not too far when the share of MFs alone will be greater than that of foreign institutional investors.'
Investors now have 27 passive smallcap funds to choose from 17 index funds and 10 ETFs.
India's securitisation market achieved its highest-ever first-quarter performance, reaching approximately 60,000 crore, a 22 per cent year-on-year increase, primarily driven by Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and a significant surge in gold loan securitisation.
Investments under the framework would remain voluntary for employees.
'Sebi's move to cap brokerage charges will help investors by lowering the overall cost of investments.'
Loan against fixed deposit is cheaper and comes with fewer charges.
In November, six primary market issuances accounted for more than 13,000 crore of net equity investments by MFs.
Mutual fund industry extended its bull run in 2025, adding a staggering Rs 14 lakh crore to its asset base and pushing total AUM to a record Rs 81 lakh crore by November, powered by surge in retail participation and record SIP inflows. Venkat Chalasani, chief executive officer of AMFI, told PTI that the industry's outlook remains positive, with steady SIP inflows continuing to offset foreign portfolio investor outflows and strengthening market resilience.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Jai Prakash Gandhi in connection with an alleged land acquisition compensation fraud amounting to Rs 9.27 crore related to the Bharatmala highway project in Chhattisgarh. Gandhi is accused of illegally acquiring land and fragmenting it to claim inflated compensation from NHAI.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Jai Prakash Gandhi in connection with an alleged land acquisition compensation fraud amounting to Rs 9.27 crore related to the Bharatmala highway project in Chhattisgarh. Gandhi is accused of illegally acquiring land and fragmenting it to claim inflated compensation from NHAI.
The case for long-term investment in gold, however, remains intact.
Behind the aesthetics of an entrepreneurial lifestyle lies a silent financial crisis that nobody is talking about: Freelancers are sprinting toward a retirement brick wall.
Shareholder payouts by India Inc, including dividends and buybacks, increased by 2.2 per cent year-on-year in FY26 to $5.06 trillion, but this growth lagged the 18.8 per cent rise in reported net profit for the third consecutive year, leading to the lowest dividend payout ratio in 12 years.
With more granular reporting and enhanced data matching, mismatches are likely to be identified more quickly.
IT stocks had their worst first half fall in decades, with the Nifty IT index declining 31% in the January-June 2026 period, its biggest decline in the first six months of a calendar year since 2003.
Net investments into equity mutual fund schemes in India remained elevated at approximately 38,440 crore in April, despite a slight dip from March's high and a 3% month-on-month decline in Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows.
In reality, no single philosophy can dominate every market cycle. That's why we've explained how these approaches work to help investors make informed and realistic decisions.
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Investors can begin investing in mutual funds with as little as Rs 100.
India's gross savings rate is projected to be nearly 47 basis points higher in FY25 than previously estimated, following the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi) revision of the methodology for calculating household savings routed through the securities market.
"With the leverage available, I believe the scheme remains reasonably attractive," said P D Singh, India and South Asia Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, regarding the Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) or FCNR (B) deposits.
The continued MF buying has pushed the equity holding of MFs to over Rs 50 trillion for the first time.
Life cycle funds may suit people who are starting their investing journey. They may suit those who do not want to monitor their investments frequently. Busy professionals, beginners and delegators, who lack the time, information or interest to manage asset allocation actively, may find these funds useful.
The Congress party has accused Home Minister Amit Shah of launching an "onslaught" on the Opposition and "wrecking" Indian democracy. The party alleges that Shah is enticing elected representatives to join the BJP with significant incentives, a claim echoed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut regarding Maharashtra MPs. This comes amidst reports of defections from other parties like the TMC.
Rising income feels like success but unchecked lifestyle inflation traps urban professionals into financing a more expensive version of living paycheck-to-paycheck -- buying material upgrades instead of true future financial freedom.
Despite the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) and the government's recent initiatives to attract foreign capital, which are expected to alleviate pressure on long-duration bonds, most debt fund managers are maintaining a cautious stance, favouring shorter-duration papers due to global uncertainties and potential future rate hikes.
Global financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, have invested Rs 963 crore in One 97 Communications (Paytm's parent company) through open market transactions, acquiring a 1.34 per cent stake from SAIF Partners and Elevation Capital.
Of course, NOT! Here's why. And here's how you can increase your Rs 1 crore retirement corpus.
Investors should do thorough due diligence when selecting a platform.
Gen Z is a generation that has been raised in a digital-first era, where shopping, payment, and monetary transactions are done within seconds via smartphones. Moreover, the new flexibility offered by investing platforms is encouraging young investors to opt for investment frequencies that align with their spending patterns and lifestyle. This change has brought up an interesting debate on whether daily and weekly SIPs are better than monthly investments.
Ask rediffGURU and PF, MF and insurance expert Purshotam Lal your mutual fund, insurance and personal finance-related questions.
Your AMC shuts shop. Panic? Wait. What happens next isn't what most fear.
"Taxpayers with income from shares, mutual funds, crypto, ESOPs, or derivatives often incorrectly use ITR-1 instead of ITR-2 or ITR-3."
A simple SIP-first approach can help reduce debt, avoid EMIs and build lasting financial freedom through disciplined spending, advises Ramalingam Kalirajan
