Women Drive Equity Boom, Hold Rs 6.5 Lakh Crore In Mutual Funds In FY26, Says Report

India’s investing landscape has undergone a major shift in the past fiscal, with a significant number of women shifting from conservative saving avenues to the securities market.

Women investors now account for a staggering Rs 6.5 lakh crore (Rs 6.5 trillion) in growth and equity-oriented mutual fund schemes in FY26, according to the Going Beyond the Box report by Computer Age Management Services (CAMS).

Rising Preference For Equity

CAMS mentioned in the report that out of the total Rs 3 trillion in gross inflows generated by women investors in FY26, 64 per cent was invested into equity segments. Further, this allocation pace has allowed women’s overall asset base to scale new heights, the report said. 

The massive equity base also indicates a shift in investor sentiment as women move towards wealth creation from wealth preservation. Data from the report showed that in absolute terms, women now hold Rs 11.30 trillion in mutual fund assets under management (AUM) as of FY26, up by 13 per cent from Rs 10 trillion in FY25. On the other hand, the mutual fund AUM for men grew by 11 per cent in the same period.

SIPs Drive Equity Investment

Data from the report also showed that while lump sum investments remain the most common method for investing in mutual funds for women, investing through the systematic investment plan (SIP) route is increasingly becoming the preferred mode. In FY26, 72 per cent of the gross inflows made by women came through the lump sum route while 28 per cent of the inflows were made by way of SIPs. Inflows from SIPs rose to 28 per cent from 25 per cent in FY25, while inflows through lump sum saw a decrease.

The report said that out of the 13.20 million strong female investor base, as many as 7.60 million are actively investing through SIPs, indicating a SIP adoption rate of 58 per cent. The shift towards disciplined investing is also evidenced by the surge in new registrations, with women setting up 10.50 million new SIPs during the fiscal. Additionally, the average monthly SIP contribution for women also rose by 9 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to hit the Rs 5,000 milestone, indicating that retail investors are increasing the amount they wish to invest into equity-linked products.

India’s Investing Story Goes Beyond T30

The CAMS’ report also showed that the current equity expansion is being powered by a distinctly youthful base. The share of women investors aged below 35 has increased from 30 per cent to 38.60 per cent, indicating that early-career professionals and Gen Z earners are starting their investment journey early. Nearly three-fourths of all women mutual fund investors are now under the age of 50.

Geographically, the top 30 urban metropolises still hold the majority share at 55 per cent. However, smaller towns and regional clusters classified as "Beyond Top 30" (B30) markets have caught up to command 45 per cent of the investor base.

The report further said that digital onboarding and financial literacy have successfully penetrated deep into India's Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations.