New Delhi’s financial markets may have been a rollercoaster in February 2026, but retail investors showed unwavering commitment to mutual funds through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). A latest report reveals that SIP inflows jumped nearly 15% year-on-year, reaching Rs 29,845 crore compared to Rs 25,999 crore in February 2025.
Despite a slight month-on-month dip of 3.73% from January’s Rs 31,002 crore, the momentum in retail participation remains robust. ICRA Analytics highlights that the number of unique SIP accounts climbed to 9.44 crore from 8.26 crore a year ago, while total active SIP accounts hit 10.45 crore, up from 10.17 crore.
Assets under management (AUM) for SIP schemes stood at Rs 16.64 lakh crore, accounting for 20.29% of the overall mutual fund industry AUM. Any marginal decline here stems from market-to-market corrections amid volatility, not waning investor interest.
This surge underscores a transformative shift in India’s investment landscape. Retail investors are increasingly embracing mutual funds, particularly equity-oriented schemes and SIPs, as reliable long-term wealth builders. Economic growth, rising financial literacy, and behavioral changes have fueled this trend over recent years.
The broader mutual fund industry saw net inflows of Rs 94,530 crore in February, with equity funds attracting Rs 25,978 crore. Flexi-cap funds led with Rs 6,925 crore, followed by mid-cap (Rs 4,003 crore) and small-cap (Rs 3,881 crore) schemes. Total industry AUM ended the month at Rs 82.03 lakh crore, with an average of Rs 83.43 lakh crore.
As market uncertainties persist, the resilience of SIP investments signals strong confidence in India’s growth story. Investors continue to ‘rupee-cost average’ their way through volatility, betting on equities for the long haul. This disciplined approach is reshaping personal finance in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.