Sebi’s New Initiatives, Revitalised MF Lite Framework And ‘Specified Investment Funds’ Set To Propel Mutual Fund Penetration In India

Liquid, ultra-short, and low-duration funds saw robust inflows. Retail investors showed renewed interest in gilt and dynamic duration funds, anticipating potential rate cuts in early 2025. Gold investments gained traction, with inflows of Rs. 9,500 crore

After a stellar 2023, the mutual fund industry sustained its growth momentum in 2024 with an impressive Rs. 17 lakh crore surge in assets, driven by buoyant equity markets, robust economic growth, and increasing investor participation. Experts are predicting that this robust trend will extend into 2025.

Kaustubh Belapurkar, Director-Manager (Research) at Morningstar Investment Research India, opined, "The mutual fund industry's assets are expected to continue growing at a healthy pace. With rising penetration among retail investors, flows into equity funds, particularly through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), are likely to remain robust."

The year 2024 saw a substantial net inflow of Rs. 9.14 lakh crore; a healthy 5.6 crore rise in investor count, and the growing popularity of SIPs that alone contributed Rs. 2.4 lakh crore, according to data from the Association of Mutual Fund Industry (AMFI).

The inflows lifted the industry's assets under management (AUM), reaching an all-time high of Rs. 68 lakh crore by November-end, marking a 33 per cent growth over the Rs. 50.78 lakh crore registered at the end of 2023. This growth was way higher than 27 per cent rise and Rs. 11 lakh crore addition in AUM in 2023, as well as the more modest growth in previous years. The industry saw a 7 per cent growth and Rs 2.65 lakh crore increase in AUM in 2022, as well as nearly 22 per cent growth and close to Rs 7 lakh crore addition to the asset base in 2021. Over the last four years, the industry has collectively added an impressive Rs 30 lakh crore to its AUM.

As per the data, the AUM of the mutual fund industry rose to an all-time high of Rs 68 lakh crore in 2024 (till November-end) from Rs 50.78 lakh crore at the end of December 2023. This year's tally does not include December number which will come out in the first week of 2025. The asset base stood at around Rs 40 lakh crore at the end of December 2022, Rs 37.72 lakh crore at the end of December 2021 and Rs 31 lakh crore in December 2020. The 2024 also marked the 12th consecutive yearly rise in the industry AUM after a drop in two preceding years. This year growth in the industry was supported by inflows in equity schemes, especially Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs).

Over the last four years, the mutual fund industry has collectively added an impressive Rs 30. lakh crore to its AUM, showing the sector's consistent upward trajectory.

"The growing trend of financialisation has led to a significant growth in participation in equity markets and mutual funds, as reflected in the significant growth of AUM in the mutual fund industry," said Ganesh Mohan, CEO of Bajaj Finserv AMC.

"This shift is supported by the Indian economy's expansion and increasing financial awareness among retail investors, who are seeking higher returns at lower costs and with greater convenience," he added. The 45-player industry saw a total inflow of Rs. 9.14 lakh crore in 2024 (till November) as compared to an inflow of over Rs. 2.74 lakh crore last year. The huge inflow could be on the back of sustained investor interest in equity funds, arbitrage funds, and index funds and ETFs.

This year's flows included an investment of Rs. 3.53 lakh crore in equity-oriented schemes, Rs. 1.44 lakh crore in hybrid schemes, and around Rs. 2.88 lakh crore in debt schemes. Equity schemes, which were the most attractive factor for investors in the mutual fund space in 2024, schemes, have been witnessing incessant net inflow on a monthly basis since March 2021.

The contribution of equity markets has also a key factor, with the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex indices rising 8.5 per cent and eight per cent, respectively, in 2024. The net inflows into equity-oriented schemes stood at Rs. 3.53 lakh crore, driven by sustained investor confidence and the structural shift toward long-term, disciplined investing through SIPs.

Monthly SIP contributions consistently surpassed the Rs. 25,000-crore mark in October and November, signalling their growing appeal. "Investment through SIP into equity funds has become the default nature of investing for predominant Indian investors on back of structural shift in savings pattern, and equity markets continuing on the decadal growth trajectory is an established trend in India," Akhil Chaturvedi, ED and CBO, Motilal Oswal AMC, said.

Notably, sectoral and thematic funds emerged as major attractions, with their AUM growing 79 per cent to Rs. 4.61 lakh crore in 2024 from Rs. 2.58 lakh crore in December 2023. These funds benefited from heightened retail interest, supported by Rs. 1.4 lakh crore in inflows, including Rs. 67,000 crore raised through 40 new fund offerings (NFOs), Morningstar's Belapurkar said.

On the debt side, categories like liquid, ultra-short, and low-duration funds saw robust inflows, driven primarily by institutional investors seeking short-term liquidity. Meanwhile, retail investors showed renewed interest in gilt and dynamic duration funds, anticipating potential rate cuts in early 2025. Gold investments also gained traction, with inflows of Rs. 9,500 crore as investors sought safety amid economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and changes in taxation norms.

Aashish Somaiyaa, CEO of WhiteOak Capital AMC, noted that gold's appeal as a portfolio hedge has been further boosted by its integration into multi-asset allocation funds.

"At the same time given there has been uncertainty of US monetary policy, time to time dollar weakness and geopolitical fault lines being exposed, gold is always a safe haven to have in client portfolios," he added.

Starting April 2025, Gold ETFs will be taxed as per investor's tax slab for a holding period of less than one year and at 12.5 per cent for a holding period of more than one year, bringing them on par with taxation for equity, Vishal Jain, CEO, Zerodha Fund House, said. Adding to the industry's vibrancy, the regulatory environment played a key role. Sebi has introduced measures to boost mutual fund penetration and oversight.

The MF Lite framework simplifies setting up asset management companies, encouraging new players in passive funds. The new 'Specified Investment Funds' asset class enables boutique products to reach more investors with a reduced minimum ticket size of Rs. 10 lakh, compared to Rs. 50 lakh for PMS and Rs. one crore for AIFs.