Young professionals, women, entrepreneurs and digitally active consumers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are expanding participation in India’s investment ecosystem, according to an EY India report. Pasted text
A new generation of investors is changing India’s wealth ecosystem, with participation expanding beyond traditional metropolitan and affluent investor groups, according to EY India’s report, Wealth Inclusion in India: Expanding Investor Participation Beyond Metro India.
The share of NSE-registered investors below 30 years of age increased to 38% in June 2026 from 23% in FY19, highlighting the growing participation of younger investors.
Women are also accounting for a larger share of investors outside major cities. In B30 cities, women represented 25% of investors in FY24, compared with 20% in FY19.
According to the report, these newer investors tend to be more digitally native, self-directed and comfortable using technology, while continuing to seek trust, validation and guidance for significant financial decisions.
Systematic investing has also expanded. SIPs now account for 35% of total individual mutual fund assets under management, up from 19% in FY19.
Lower entry barriers are helping broaden participation further, with micro-SIPs of approximately $2.613 bringing first-time, underserved and rural investors into the investment ecosystem.
Distribution networks are also expanding, with partnerships across more than 2.5 lakh rural touchpoints alongside increasing adoption of digital platforms.
EY said India’s digital public infrastructure has played a role in improving financial access, citing Aadhaar for identity verification, UPI for payments and Account Aggregator infrastructure for consent-based data sharing.
Pratik Shah, National Financial Services Leader at EY India, said the next phase of growth is expected to involve smaller cities, women investors, young professionals and emerging affluent households.
The report estimates that more than 100 million Indians could enter long-term investing by 2035, driven by increasing participation from smaller cities, younger investors, women and digitally connected households. This figure is a projection from the report rather than an existing investor count. Pasted text
