Mutual funds will stop accepting fresh investments in over 100 schemes with SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) option, as the market regulator SEBI has asked fund houses to move to the ‘one plan, one scheme’ structure.

According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s guidelines, the single plan structure would apply to all new schemes with effect from today, while existing schemes with multiple plans (based on investment amount) can accept fresh subscriptions only under one plan.

Other plans will continue till the existing investors remain invested in the plan.

SIPs provide mutual fund investors the option to put in as little as Rs 100 per month and have become quite popular in recent years.

While the fund houses would continue to offer SIP options in their schemes, they cannot launch multiple investment plans for one single scheme. The move is part of reform measures taken by SEBI, that come into effect today, to simplify mutual fund investments and re-energise the sector.

As a result, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) said in a circular 126 schemes would be discontinued for subscription/SIP registration (fresh as well as existing SIP) based on the intimation received from AMCs (Asset Management Companies), with regard to SEBI guidelines on the single plan structure for mutual fund schemes.

Separately, BSE listed 84 mutual fund schemes where subscription/SIP registration (for existing SIP) is being discontinued from today.

These schemes are available for trading on the mutual fund platform of the two bourses.

The BSE also listed the schemes where the minimum purchase amount and additional purchase amount have been lowered.

The decision was taken by SEBI to do away with the present practice of cluttering one scheme with numerous plans.

Among other reform measures coming into effect today, the fund houses will have to make more disclosures in the interest of investors.

At the same time, fund houses will be able to charge their investors a little bit more as incentive for expanding to small cities, but would also have to set aside a small portion of their assets for investor education and awareness.

In another benefit for small investors, cash investments of up to Rs 20,000 per investor, per mutual fund would be allowed every financial year without PAN, but repayment in the form of redemptions, dividend or any other form would be paid only through a banking channel.

The debt funds would also have to ensure that they are not over-exposed to a particular sector.

These changes in mutual fund regulations were approved by SEBI’s board in its last meeting on August 16 and were notified last month.

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