Mutual fund assets reached a record Rs 81 lakh crore by November 2025, driven by a Rs 14 lakh crore increase fueled by strong retail participation and consistent Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows. Despite a slower growth pace compared to previous years, the industry added 3.36 crore investors, with SIPs contributing Rs 3 lakh crore. Equity schemes saw substantial inflows, while debt funds experienced fluctuations. Experts attribute the growth to financialization of savings and investor preference for regulated investment vehicles, though equity market volatility impacted new investor additions in the latter half of the year.