Women account for Rs 11.3 lakh crore in mutual fund assets under management (AUM) and contributed Rs 3 lakh crore in gross inflows during FY26, according to a report, “Going Beyond the Box - Report on Women Investors 2026 by Computer Age Management Services (CAMS). This underlines their growing role in shaping India's investment landscape.
The AUM went up from Rs 1 crore in FY25 which represents a 13% increase, compared with 11% growth among men, underscoring the scale of their expanding financial participation.
The report presents a comprehensive, data-led view of the evolving participation of women in India’s mutual fund ecosystem, highlighting a decisive shift towards more purposeful, disciplined and growth-oriented investing.
The report points to a clear evolution from participation to purposeful investing, with women increasingly adopting diversified products and long-term wealth creation strategies. The number of women investors has reached 1.32 crore, with 0.22 crore new investors added in FY26, indicating sustained onboarding momentum.
According to the report, equity remains dominant, while hybrid and solution-oriented funds are seeing faster growth, indicating rising diversification and goal-based investing. Women account for 29% of live SIPs, with increasing preference for systematic, long-term investing.
Nearly 75% of women investors are below 50, with sharp growth in the under-35 segment. Older age groups continue to contribute meaningfully, with women in the 51-60 segment accounting for 13.1% and those above 60 representing 12.5% of the base.
Beyond the Top 30 (B30) cities now contribute 45% of women investors, signalling deeper penetration. Maharashtra leads with a 21% share, followed by Gujarat, UP, West Bengal and Karnataka. Southern and central states show mid-range representation, while many smaller states contribute 1% or less.
The report also highlights behavioural shifts, with women investors displaying increasing comfort with digital and assisted channels, alongside a growing inclination towards multi-asset portfolios that are aligned with long-term financial goals.
The average SIP ticket size increased by 9% from FY’25 to FY’26, reaching about Rs 5,000 in FY’26. In contrast, the average lump sum investment amount declined by 12.5% because more retail investors started investing. This change reflects broader participation by investors rather than a decline in overall investment activity.
Women investors registered 1.05 crore new SIPs in FY’26. This represents 24% of the 4.3 crore new SIPs registered by CAMS serviced funds in FY’26. 0.42 crore women investors initiated new SIP registrations in FY’25, representing nearly one third of the 1.32 crore women investor base
The report further said that the growing preference for mutual fund investments among women reflects increasing trust in professionally managed financial solutions.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
