Mumbai, Mar 16th: Retail participation in mutual fund industry through SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) channel witnessed sustained momentum despite market volatility. SIP inflows in February 2026 witnessed a strong growth with contributions increasing by nearly 14.79 per cent at Rs 29,845 crore as compared with Rs 25,999 crore in February 2025 underscoring continued confidence among retail investors, said ICRA Analytics.
On a month-on-month basis, however, SIP contributions came down by 3.73 per cent from Rs 31,002 crore in January 2026.
Despite global uncertainties and market swings, the number of contributing SIP accounts stood at 9.44 crore, up from 8.26 crore and outstanding accounts at total of 10.45 crore, as compared with 10.17 crore in February 2025.
SIP assets under management stood at Rs.16.64 lakh crore, forming about 20.29 per cent of the industry’s total AUM, though slightly lower due to mark‑to‑market corrections rather than a decline in investor interest. Overall, the data suggests that SIPs continued their strong growth trajectory at the start of 2026, driven by disciplined long‑term investing behavior even amid short-term volatility.
Retail investors in India have been showing a rapidly growing appetite for mutual funds, driven by structural, behavioural, and economic shifts that have strengthened over the past few years. Multiple industry reports and regulatory data points confirm that mutual funds, especially equity‑oriented schemes and SIPs, have emerged as a preferred long‑term savings vehicle.
