India's Mutual Fund Industry Records ₹1.74 Lakh Crore Inflows in October 2026

India's mutual fund industry witnessed a recovery in October 2026, with net inflows reaching ₹1,73,839.91 crore, compared with net outflows of ₹1,33,375.57 crore in September, according to monthly data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).

The turnaround was primarily supported by renewed investments in debt-oriented schemes, while equity mutual funds continued to attract money despite a moderation in monthly inflows.

Total assets under management (AUM) increased 0.90% to ₹83.39 lakh crore as of October 31, 2026, compared with ₹82.64 lakh crore at September-end. The industry also recorded growth in mutual fund folios, reflecting continued expansion in investor accounts.

Equity Mutual Fund Inflows Decline 13.87% in October

Net inflows into equity-oriented mutual fund schemes declined 13.87% month-on-month (MoM) to ₹32,993.64 crore in October from ₹38,306.55 crore in September.

Despite the decline, all major equity fund categories except dividend yield funds and Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) recorded positive net inflows.

Large and mid-cap funds emerged as the leading category, attracting ₹8,484.23 crore, an increase of 98.64% from ₹4,271.22 crore in September. Small-cap funds slipped to second place, with inflows declining 29.11% to ₹6,407.50 crore from ₹9,038.57 crore.

Mid-cap fund inflows declined 37.55% to ₹4,892.62 crore from ₹7,834.84 crore, while flexi-cap funds recorded a 25.69% decline to ₹4,979.95 crore from ₹6,701.80 crore.

Meanwhile, large-cap fund inflows increased 20.12% to ₹1,032.39 crore from ₹859.47 crore in September.

The figures indicate that investors continued allocating money to equities, although the distribution of inflows shifted across market-capitalisation categories.

Debt Mutual Funds Record Strong Recovery

Debt-oriented mutual funds witnessed a sharp reversal in October, recording net inflows of ₹1,13,437.89 crore against withdrawals of ₹1,83,155.76 crore in September, representing a positive swing of ₹2,96,593.65 crore.

Liquid funds attracted the highest inflows at ₹70,533.75 crore, reversing September's outflows of ₹95,743.20 crore. Overnight funds received ₹54,893.05 crore compared with withdrawals of ₹7,281.20 crore in the preceding month.

However, several debt categories continued to witness redemptions. Ultra-short-term funds recorded outflows of ₹1,879 crore, while corporate bond funds saw withdrawals of ₹3,142.93 crore.

The improvement in liquid and overnight fund flows suggests a return of short-term money following September's quarter-end withdrawals, potentially reflecting institutional cash management requirements.

Gold ETF Inflows Fall 21.94%, Silver ETFs Jump 56.62%

Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) registered net inflows of ₹3,474.03 crore in October, declining 21.94% from ₹4,450.61 crore in September.

Silver ETFs, however, attracted ₹3,092.22 crore, compared with ₹1,974.32 crore in September, marking an increase of 56.62%.

Equity ETFs also witnessed stronger investments, with net inflows rising 30.26% to ₹12,973.78 crore from ₹9,959.96 crore in the previous month.

Overall ETF inflows increased 30.98% to ₹20,303.98 crore against ₹15,501.40 crore in September, indicating increased investments through passive products.

Hybrid Funds Return to Positive Inflows

Hybrid mutual fund schemes recorded net inflows of ₹3,514.06 crore in October, reversing the ₹456.68 crore outflow reported in September, a positive swing of ₹3,970.74 crore.

Arbitrage funds accounted for the largest contribution, attracting ₹3,928.89 crore compared with withdrawals of ₹3,956.38 crore in September.

Multi-asset allocation funds received ₹1,514.66 crore, although inflows declined 58.69% from ₹3,666.98 crore in the previous month.

Meanwhile, balanced advantage funds continued to witness withdrawals of ₹852.70 crore, compared with ₹912.43 crore in September.

Mutual Fund Folios Rise 0.55% to 28.78 Crore

The industry's total number of folios increased 0.55% to 28.78 crore as of October 31, 2026, compared with 28.62 crore at September-end, an addition of approximately 15.80 lakh folios.

The number of mutual fund schemes also increased 1% from 1,995 to 2,015 during the period.

According to the October report, 28 new schemes, including domestic fund of funds, mobilised ₹3,829 crore, an increase of 41.40% from ₹2,708 crore raised by 28 schemes in September.

The October data points to a recovery in overall industry inflows, supported mainly by debt funds, alongside continued equity participation. However, the moderation in small-cap and mid-cap inflows, together with stronger large and mid-cap allocations, indicates a change in investor preferences during the month.