Nifty BeES (2001): India's first ETF

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Nifty Benchmark Exchange Traded Scheme (Nifty BeES), launched by Benchmark Asset Management in December 2001, was India’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF). The scheme tracked the NIFTY 50 index and laid the foundation for the Indian ETF segment, which has since grown from a single scheme in 2001 to over Rs 5 lakh crore in AUM by the mid-2020s, representing a major segment of the Indian mutual fund industry.

For the Indian mutual fund industry, Nifty BeES marked the introduction of a passive, exchange-listed investment vehicle that combined the diversification of mutual funds with the trading flexibility of stocks. The scheme established the operational and regulatory framework that subsequent Indian ETFs would follow.

First ETF on WebNotes

Nifty BeES (2001): India's first ETF