How Did SIP Investments Surge Nearly 8x in Nine Years to Touch Rs 28,265 Crore in August?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- SIPs have surged nearly 8x in 9 years.
- Total SIP inflow reached Rs 28,265 crore in August 2025.
- Average SIP returns are 14-16% over the investment horizon.
- Longer SIP durations increase positive return chances.
- Mid-cap SIPs outperform other categories in average returns.
New Delhi, Sep 12 (NationPress) Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) have become one of the most favored methods for Indians to invest in mutual funds, experiencing an astonishing nearly eightfold increase in monthly contributions over the past nine years, according to a fresh report released on Friday. In August 2016, total SIP inflows were recorded at Rs 3,497 crore, which has dramatically escalated to Rs 28,265 crore by August 2025, as detailed in a report by WhiteOak Capital Mutual Fund.
This ongoing growth signifies a rising confidence among investors in SIPs as a reliable wealth-accumulating strategy.
From August 1996 to August 2025, the research indicated a maximum return of 55.6 percent from SIPs, with a minimum return dipping to -24.6 percent.
Despite these fluctuations, the average returns typically range from 14 to 16 percent, contingent on the investment period.
The findings also illustrate that the likelihood of positive returns increases with a longer SIP duration. For instance, a SIP lasting three years yielded positive returns 88 percent of the time, while 10-year and 15-year SIPs nearly achieved 100 percent positive returns.
The report emphasizes that timing the market is less crucial than maintaining investment.
Even those SIPs initiated at the peak of market cycles have proven to create substantial wealth over time. For example, an investor who began a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP in January 2008, just before the global financial crisis, would have seen their Rs 21.2 lakh investment grow to Rs 75.23 lakh by August 2025, achieving an XIRR of nearly 13 percent.
Another significant insight is that the returns are unaffected by when or how frequently contributions are made. Whether an investor contributes at the start, middle, or end of the month, the long-term results generally remain consistent.
Moreover, daily, weekly, or monthly SIPs yield similar outcomes in the long run.
Interestingly, the study indicated that mid-cap SIPs have outperformed both large-cap and small-cap categories over the long term, delivering average returns of 17.4 percent compared to 13 percent for large caps and 14.7 percent for small caps, as reported.