Guides
A growing collection of how-to guides and reference notes.
- Fund of Funds: debt
A debt Fund of Funds (FoF) is an Indian mutual fund scheme that invests in units of other debt mutual fund schemes rather than holding bonds directly. Covers the structure, the rationale, the TER structure, the tax treatment post-2023 (debt-fund slab rate), and the role in conservative portfolio construction.
- Fund manager limits in mutual funds
SEBI's fund manager limits framework caps the number of schemes a single fund manager can simultaneously manage, ensuring adequate attention per scheme and reducing concentration risk. Covers the SEBI limits, the typical practice, the exceptions, and the implications for AMC scheme strategy.
- Fund accountant in mutual funds
The fund accountant is the operational role responsible for daily NAV computation, valuation of underlying instruments, and accounting for mutual fund scheme transactions. Covers the framework, the typical service provider model (CAMS, KFin handle most), and the relationship with custodian and auditor.
- Franklin Templeton April 2020 wind-up
In April 2020, Franklin Templeton Asset Management India announced the wind-up of six debt mutual fund schemes citing inability to meet redemption pressure amid COVID-19 stress in corporate-debt markets. The event affected approximately Rs 25,000 crore of investor money and triggered SEBI, regulatory, and Supreme Court action. Covers the background, the schemes affected, the legal proceedings, and the lasting impact on Indian debt mutual fund regulation.
- FPI as mutual fund investor
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) are SEBI-registered foreign institutional investors who participate in Indian capital markets including mutual funds. Covers the SEBI registration framework, the categories (Category I, II), the operational mechanics of FPI mutual fund investing, the tax treatment, and the comparison with FII (the legacy framework).
- Forgotten folios and the MITRA framework
Forgotten folios are dormant mutual fund holdings where investors or legal heirs have lost track. The MITRA framework provides industry-coordinated retrieval. Covers the scale of forgotten folios in India, the MITRA retrieval workflow, and the broader investor-protection role.
- FoF tax harmonisation
FoF tax harmonisation refers to the broader process of aligning mutual fund Fund-of-Funds taxation with the underlying scheme treatment, which evolved through the post-2023 debt-MF taxation reform and the subsequent 2024 FoF tax clarification. Covers the pre-reform asymmetries, the 2023-2024 harmonisation steps, and the current consolidated framework.
- FoF tax (revised 2024)
The 2024 revised Fund-of-Funds tax framework introduced explicit clarity on FoF taxation: schemes investing predominantly in equity-oriented domestic mutual funds qualify as equity-oriented for tax purposes, while international, debt, and commodity FoFs follow the post-2023 slab-rate framework. Covers the 2024 clarification, the cliff-edge tests, the practical impact on FoF investors, and the strategy implications.
- FATCA and CRS in mutual fund onboarding
FATCA (US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) and CRS (Common Reporting Standard) require Indian mutual fund AMCs to identify and report on tax-resident foreign investors. Covers the framework, the onboarding requirements, and the operational impact on US/Canada residents.
- Europe-focused mutual fund (India)
A Europe-focused mutual fund is an Indian international fund category that provides exposure to European equity markets. Covers the structure (Fund-of-Funds investing in MSCI Europe or Stoxx Europe ETFs), the currency exposure (EUR-INR), the tax treatment, and the role in international diversification.
- EUIN: Employee Unique Identification Number
The Employee Unique Identification Number (EUIN) is the AMFI-issued identifier carried by individuals employed by corporate-ARN mutual fund distributors. The EUIN is mandatory on application forms to identify the person who actually facilitated the transaction, separating personal accountability from corporate distribution. Covers the EUIN framework, the application process, and the role in commission attribution and grievance redressal.
- ESG disclosure framework for mutual funds
SEBI's ESG disclosure framework for mutual funds (effective phased from 2022-2024) requires AMCs to disclose Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in their investment processes, ESG scoring methodologies, and ESG impact of their portfolios. Covers the framework, the BRSR Core integration, and the implications for ESG-themed funds.
- ESG and sustainable investing in Indian MFs
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing has emerged as a significant theme in Indian mutual funds, with multiple AMCs offering ESG-themed equity schemes. Covers the framework, the SEBI ESG disclosure mandate, the leading ESG schemes in India, and the broader trends in sustainable investing.
- Escorts Mutual Fund (historical)
Escorts Mutual Fund was the asset management arm of Escorts Limited (the Faridabad-based engineering and agri-machinery conglomerate), one of the earliest private-sector AMCs in India following the 1993 SEBI liberalisation. Covers the AMC's history, its scheme portfolio, the subsequent acquisition trajectory, and the eventual wind-down.
- Escorts Limited
Stub article on Escorts Limited, the Faridabad-based engineering and agri-machinery conglomerate. A full encyclopedic entry is pending.
- Equity-debt rebalancing
Stub article on portfolio rebalancing between equity and debt mutual fund allocations. A full encyclopedic entry is pending.
- Equity MF vs PMS vs AIF: comparative analysis
Equity Mutual Fund, Portfolio Management Services (PMS), and Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) are the three principal tiers of Indian pooled-equity investment vehicles, distinguished by minimum investment, strategy flexibility, regulatory framework, and target investor profile. Covers the structural differences, cost structures, tax treatments, and decision framework.
- Equity culture in India
Equity culture in India refers to the structural shift of household savings from traditional assets (real estate, gold, bank deposits) toward equity-market participation through direct stocks and mutual funds. Covers the evolution, the demographic and regulatory drivers, the role of digital platforms, and the broader implications for capital-market depth.
- eMandate / NACH for SIPs
eMandate and NACH (National Automated Clearing House) mandates are the traditional infrastructure for recurring mutual fund SIP debits in India. Covers the operational framework, the NPCI role, the comparison with UPI Auto-Pay, and the implications for SIP onboarding.
- EM-focused mutual fund (India)
An EM-focused (Emerging Markets) mutual fund is an Indian international fund category that provides exposure to emerging-market equities outside India, typically structured as Fund-of-Funds investing in MSCI Emerging Markets ETFs. Covers the structure, the ex-India focus, the comparison with broader international funds, and the tax treatment.
- ELSS marquee case studies
Indian ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme) marquee case studies include Mirae Asset Tax Saver Fund, Axis ELSS Tax Saver Fund, and Quant Tax Plan. Covers the Section 80C deduction benefit, the 3-year lock-in, the long-term wealth creation track record, and the lessons for tax-saving equity investing.
- eKYC via Aadhaar OTP for mutual funds
eKYC via Aadhaar OTP enables Indian residents to complete mutual fund KYC instantly using their Aadhaar number and a one-time password. Covers the framework, the limits, the comparison with biometric eKYC, and the role in retail onboarding.
- eKYC (mutual fund)
Stub article on Aadhaar-based electronic KYC for mutual fund investors. A full encyclopedic entry is pending.
- Dynamic bond funds
Stub article on dynamic bond mutual fund schemes that actively manage duration based on interest-rate views. A full encyclopedic entry is pending.
- Drawings deleted from TradingView (Kite)
Step-by-step procedure for handling and preventing TradingView drawings being deleted on Zerodha Kite. Covers cache, layout save, server-side persistence, and the recovery options.
- Dividend reinvestment (historical)
Dividend reinvestment was a mutual fund option that allowed dividend distributions to be automatically reinvested in scheme units rather than paid out in cash. The option was phased out as part of the 2020 dividend-taxation reform, with IDCW now the standard distribution option.
- Direct-to-regular plan switch implications
Switching from a direct plan to a regular plan (or vice versa) is a taxable event in Indian mutual funds. Covers the deemed redemption + subscription treatment, the holding-period reset, the capital gains tax computation, and the practical decision framework for investors who want to migrate between plan types.
- Direct vs Regular plan TER
The direct plan vs regular plan TER differential is the structural cost difference between two share classes of every Indian mutual fund scheme. Direct plans charge 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points lower TER than regular plans because they exclude distributor commission. Covers the regulatory framework (SEBI 2013 direct-plan mandate), the typical differential, the long-term compounding impact, and the practical implications for investor choice.
- Direct plan vs regular plan
Stub article on the structural and economic difference between mutual fund direct plans and regular plans, the TER impact, and the long-term wealth implications. A full encyclopedic entry is pending.
- Direct plan portals comparison: Coin vs Groww vs Kuvera vs MFU
The Indian direct-plan portal landscape includes broker-affiliated platforms (Zerodha Coin, Groww), pure-play direct distributors (Kuvera, ET Money), and industry-coordinated MFU. Covers the operational, UX, and feature differentiation between leading platforms, the integration with broking, and the decision framework for choosing a direct-plan portal.