‘One of my fondest dreams’: SEBI chief hails ₹250 micro SIPs under JanNivesh scheme

SBI Mutual Fund, in collaboration with State Bank of India (SBI) and Paytm, has introduced the JanNivesh SIP scheme, allowing micro systematic investment plans (SIPs) starting from ₹250.

Speaking at the launch, SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch called it “one of my fondest dreams,” emphasising its potential to foster wealth creation across Indian households, particularly for young girls.

Buch noted that such small-ticket investments remain an anomaly on global platforms, as foreign investors struggle to grasp how a ₹250 ($3) monthly SIP can be viable. However, she highlighted that India’s financial ecosystem has worked collectively to make this model sustainable.

“One of the key challenges was ensuring economic viability. To make it work, we had to ensure that the break-even period was within two to three years. If it exceeded that, we knew that no CEO would push it,” she explained.

She credited the collaboration of the entire mutual fund ecosystem — including RTAs (registrar and transfer agents), KRAs (KYC registration agencies), and depositories — for making this feasible.

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SBI has stepped in to remove transaction charges for transfers related to these micro-SIPs, ensuring that every rupee invested goes toward wealth creation. “The transaction charges, when compared to the small SIP amount, were significant. By removing these charges, we are ensuring that every rupee invested goes toward wealth creation,” Buch added, calling the bank’s move “the icing on the cake.”

She also underscored the role of technology in making small-ticket investments profitable. “The scale that we are able to achieve in our country, and the fact that it is profitable, is because of the deployment of technology. This is the biggest and best manifestation of how financial inclusion can be made sustainable.”

Buch stressed that JanNivesh is more than just a scheme — it is a step towards bridging the gap between India and Bharat. “This is really what we are talking about — an India where wealth is created and distributed among all, no matter how small the amount. JanNivesh is a vision of an inclusive Bharat,” she stated.

Currently, the scheme is being launched exclusively for the SBI Balanced Advantage Fund.