Have Insurers and NPS Set a Record with Rs 1 Lakh Crore Investment in Indian Equities in 2025?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Domestic insurers and NPS invested over Rs 1 lakh crore in Indian equities in 2025.
- Insurance firms contributed Rs 56,821 crore YTD.
- NPS investments reached Rs 51,308 crore.
- Regulatory changes are driving increased equity exposure.
- Domestic institutional investors are key players in market stability.
Mumbai, Nov 11 (NationPress) Despite subdued returns last year, domestic insurance firms and the National Pension System (NPS) have collectively invested over Rs 1 lakh crore in Indian equities in 2025 so far, marking the highest annual inflow from these sectors, according to data released on Tuesday.
Insurance companies contributed Rs 56,821 crore to the equity market year to date (YTD), while NPS investments totaled Rs 51,308 crore, a significant increase from Rs 23,062 crore and Rs 13,328 crore in 2024.
Analysts attribute this remarkable growth to increased regulatory flexibility, a boost in assets under management, and the quest for better returns in a landscape of moderate debt yields.
In recent years, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has revised regulations to allow up to 75 percent equity exposure for Tier-I NPS accounts and 100 percent for Tier-II accounts.
Simultaneously, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has relaxed rules, enabling insurers to keep equity allocations within prudent exposure limits while retaining a substantial share in government and approved securities.
Other domestic institutional investors, such as mutual funds, have also invested Rs 4.44 lakh crore in equities during 2025, an increase from Rs 4.15 lakh crore the previous year. In contrast, banks and some domestic financial institutions divested Rs 16,941 crore and Rs 158 crore, respectively.
Net purchases by domestic institutional investors (DII) have provided crucial support to the Indian markets this year, even amidst significant short-selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs). The trend of sustained selling by FIIs in India and reallocating funds to more affordable markets is likely to persist in the near future.
India Inc's earnings for the second quarter of FY26 have demonstrated a stronger-than-expected performance, with a 14 percent year-on-year earnings increase reported by companies in key sectors, particularly mid-caps.
The Nifty index is currently trading at over 20 times FY27 estimated earnings, slightly above the average PE ratio of the last decade.
IANS
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