How to invest in PPFAS schemes via MF Central

From WebNotes, a public knowledge base. Last updated 17 May 2026. Reading time ~7 min. Level: Beginner.

Key facts

Portal URL	mfcentral.com (and MF Central mobile apps for Android and iOS)
Operator	Joint CAMS-KFin Technologies portal under AMFI auspices
Direct plan support	Yes, direct plan is the default for new investments through MF Central
When to choose this over SelfInvest	Investor with multi-AMC holdings wanting a single portal across PPFAS and other AMCs

This guide covers investing in PPFAS Mutual Fund schemes through MF Central, the joint CAMS-KFin investor portal at mfcentral.com. MF Central is the cross-AMC alternative to AMC-direct portals like SelfInvest. For investors who hold mutual fund folios across multiple AMCs, MF Central provides a single authenticated interface for portfolio view, service requests, and transactions across the full industry, since CAMS and KFin Technologies together service every Indian AMC. PPFAS is a CAMS-serviced AMC, so all PPFAS schemes are accessible through MF Central.

Step-by-step procedure

Step 1: Register on mfcentral.com with PAN and OTP

Open mfcentral.com in a browser or install the MF Central mobile app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Tap Sign Up or Register. Enter:

PAN.
Mobile number.
Email address.

MF Central sends an OTP to both the mobile and email. Enter both OTPs. The portal then queries the CAMS and KFin RTA backbones for any folios already linked to the PAN. A summary of all such folios appears (across AMCs), which typically includes any existing PPFAS holdings.

Step 2: Authenticate folio access

Folio-level access is gated by additional authentication. MF Central supports two routes:

Aadhaar OTP: Enter the Aadhaar number. MF Central queries UIDAI; an OTP is sent to the Aadhaar-registered mobile. Enter the OTP. This is the typical resident-Indian flow.
Mandate-verified bank account: Enter the bank account details (the one already registered against any folio under the PAN). MF Central performs a penny-drop or mandate verification.

Once authenticated, the portfolio dashboard displays all PPFAS folios (and any other AMC folios under the PAN). Each folio shows the current NAV, units held, and value.

Step 3: Navigate to Invest then Select Scheme

From the dashboard, tap Invest or New Transaction. The scheme search bar accepts free-text input. Type Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund or PPFCF to find the flagship scheme; the seven PPFAS schemes appear in the dropdown:

Select the chosen scheme. On the scheme-detail screen, choose:

Plan: Direct is the default and only available plan through MF Central. Regular plans are restricted to distributor-routed channels.
Option: Growth (default) or IDCW.

Step 4: Choose lump-sum or SIP

The transaction type selector offers:

Lump-sum: One-time purchase. Enter the amount (minimum Rs 1,000 for PPFCF; refer to PPFAS minimum investments per scheme for scheme-specific minimums).
SIP: Recurring subscription. Enter the per-installment amount, frequency (monthly or quarterly), SIP date, and tenure.

The MF Central interface for both modes parallels the PPFAS SelfInvest portal layout, although the visual design differs.

Step 5: Use existing or new folio

If the investor already holds a PPFAS folio under the same PAN, MF Central offers two folio options:

Add to existing folio: Units are allotted in the existing folio. This is the operationally cleaner choice because it consolidates the investor’s holdings and simplifies CAS reconciliation.
Create new folio: A separate folio is created at CAMS for this transaction. Avoid this unless intentional (e.g., separating tax-purpose ELSS subscriptions from regular investment holdings).

If no existing PPFAS folio is held, a new folio is automatically created.

Step 6: Select the payment method

MF Central supports the standard payment channels:

UPI (preferred for amounts under Rs 1 to 5 lakh, depending on bank cap).
Net banking (real-time clearing).
IMPS (real-time, no batch).
RTGS (preferred for large amounts above Rs 5 lakh).
NEFT (not recommended due to batch settlement delaying NAV applicability).

The NAV-applicability rules under SEBI’s 2021 funds-realisation regime apply identically on MF Central and SelfInvest: same-day NAV if funds are realised before the scheme’s cut-off (3 p.m. for equity, 1:30 p.m. for liquid).

Step 7: Authorise the payment and the SIP mandate if applicable

Authorise the payment on the chosen channel. For lump-sum orders, this completes the financial leg.

For SIPs, MF Central additionally requires NACH e-mandate or UPI Autopay registration:

NACH e-mandate via Aadhaar OTP: Real-time authorisation through UIDAI. Activation typically 24 to 48 hours.
NACH e-mandate via net banking: Real-time authorisation through the bank portal. Activation typically 24 to 48 hours.
UPI Autopay: Real-time authorisation through a UPI Autopay-supporting app.

Set the mandate ceiling 2x to 3x the starting SIP amount for headroom (see how to set up SIP top-up on a PPFAS scheme for the rationale).

Step 8: Receive allotment confirmation

On T+1 (or T+0 for funds realised before the cut-off in some cases), units are allotted. MF Central:

Updates the portfolio dashboard to show the new units in the PPFAS folio.
Sends a transaction confirmation email.
Issues an allotment-statement download from the dashboard.

The same units are simultaneously visible on the PPFAS SelfInvest portal (since both portals read from the same CAMS folio data) and on any other PPFAS-compatible cross-AMC platform.

What can go wrong

KYC Not Registered status blocks new investments: MF Central does not perform fresh KYC. If the PAN’s KYC status is Not Registered or On-Hold, the investor must complete KYC first through the PPFAS SelfInvest portal, the PPFAS video-KYC flow, or another SEBI-registered intermediary before transacting on MF Central.
Bank account name mismatch: MF Central uses the bank account already registered against any folio under the PAN. If the new transaction is from a different bank account, the AMC’s anti-money-laundering checks may flag the transaction. Update the registered bank account through MF Central’s Service Request flow before the transaction.
PAN-Aadhaar not linked: As with all SEBI-regulated transactions post-Finance-Act-2023, an unlinked PAN is treated as inoperative. Link the PAN at the Income Tax e-filing portal and wait 24 hours.
Folio fragmentation across MF Central and SelfInvest sessions: Each transaction creates a folio-level allotment. Choosing Create new folio in MF Central when an existing PPFCF folio is held through SelfInvest results in two separate folios for the same scheme under the same PAN. Always opt for Add to existing folio unless intentional.
Nominee or opt-out not on record: MF Central blocks transactions on folios without nominee or opt-out compliance. Use the MF Central nominee-management flow (cross-AMC) to register before transacting.
PPFAS SelfInvest features not available through MF Central: MF Central is a cross-AMC portal and does not implement every PPFAS-specific feature. For example, the PPFAS CashFlex Liquid Fund instant-access workflow is SelfInvest-only. Use SelfInvest for PPFAS-specific functionality.
Inability to redeem with T+0 Instant Access Facility: The Liquid Fund’s Instant Access Facility is implemented at the AMC portal level; MF Central’s redemption follows standard T+1 settlement. For T+0 access, use SelfInvest or CashFlex.
SIP mandate ceiling under-sized: If the investor sets the mandate ceiling exactly equal to the SIP amount and later wants to top up, a fresh mandate is required. Set the ceiling at 2x to 3x the SIP amount from the start.

When to choose MF Central over SelfInvest

The choice between MF Central and SelfInvest for a PPFAS transaction depends on the investor’s broader portfolio:

Investor profile	Recommended channel
PPFAS-only holdings, retail-investor focus	SelfInvest (PPFAS-specific features, CashFlex integration)
Multi-AMC holdings spread across CAMS and KFin AMCs	MF Central (single consolidated view)
Investor managing family folios (self + spouse + parents)	MF Central (one login per PAN, easier cross-PAN management for family)
Investor primarily focused on cash management (Liquid + Arbitrage)	SelfInvest or CashFlex (T+0 IAF)
Investor cross-using SIP and bond-direct platforms	MF Central (consolidated portfolio includes broader cross-asset view potential)
Investor wanting PPFAS-specific features (factsheet alerts, founder-content)	SelfInvest

The two channels are not exclusive; many investors use SelfInvest for PPFAS-specific actions and MF Central for cross-AMC portfolio management.

How to open a PPFAS SelfInvest direct-plan account is the PPFAS-direct alternative
How to invest in PPFCF lump sum via SelfInvest portal covers the AMC-direct lump-sum flow
How to start a PPFCF SIP via SelfInvest portal covers the AMC-direct SIP flow
How to invest in PPFAS schemes via MF Utility covers the alternative AMFI-promoted cross-AMC platform
How to invest in PPFAS schemes on Zerodha Coin covers the Zerodha-discount-broker-via-Coin channel
The reference article on MF Central covers the platform’s full architecture
The reference article on the PPFAS SelfInvest portal covers the AMC-direct portal

External references

References

MF Central, joint CAMS-KFin investor portal at mfcentral.com (accessed May 2026).
PPFAS Mutual Fund, SelfInvest portal at selfinvest.ppfas.com.
SEBI Circular on uniform applicability of NAV, SEBI/HO/IMD/DF2/CIR/P/2020/175, dated 17 September 2020 (effective 1 February 2021).
SEBI Master Circular for Mutual Funds, 22 May 2024.
SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
AMFI Industry Best Practices reference for MF Central and cross-RTA infrastructure.
CAMS Investor Services documentation, MF Central integration.
KFin Technologies investor services documentation.
Finance Act 2023 (PAN-Aadhaar linkage mandate).
PPFAS investor desk FAQ at amc.ppfas.com/faqs/.

Reviewed and published by

WebNotes Editorial Team

The WebNotes Editorial Team covers Indian capital markets, payments infrastructure and retail investor procedures. Every article is fact-checked against primary sources, principally SEBI circulars and master directions, NPCI specifications and the official support documentation published by the intermediary in question. Drafts go through a second-pair-of-eyes review and a separate compliance read before publication, and revisions are tracked against the SEBI and NPCI rule changes referenced in the methodology section.

Last reviewed: 17 May 2026
Conflicts of interest: WebNotes is independent. No relationship with any broker, registrar or bank named in this article.