About Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
ETFs are baskets of securities (Indices) that are traded, like individual stocks, on an exchange. Unlike regular open-end mutual funds, ETFs can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like any stock. ETFs have lower cost of transactions and annual changes compared to index funds. ETFs are considered a safer product for risk averse and first-time investors who want market linked returns.
The Exchange traded funds (ETFs) began their journey in India way back in 2002, when the first ETF by Nippon India Mutual fund (erstwhile Benchmark Asset Management Company Ltd) was launched in India on the Nifty 50 Index. The ETF was listed on NSE on January 8, 2002, and day one witnessed trading of Rs. 1.30 crores on NSE. The trading has increased to an ADV of Rs. 2733 crores on December 31,2025.
The journey to listing of the 100th ETF on NSE took more than 19 years. Last one-year period has seen a lot of activity in the ETF space, with 21 ETFs getting listed on NSE. The assets under management of ETFs in India is now at Rs. 10.94 lakh crores (end of December 2025), witnessing more than 48 times increase in ten years*, as compared to Rs. 23,000 crores (end of April 2016).
*Data as on December 2025
Indexing, Index Funds and ETF's – Dump the confusion
This video explains the concept of Index Funds and ETFs which are passive forms of investing and how the Instruments are closely related to each other, but yet different.
ETFs – All-weather product
This video explains why ETFs are an excellent investment product for all types of Investors. Whether you are a small investor or HNI, a novice or well-informed investor, everyone is a winner.
ETFs – Product for the savvy millennials
With millennials emerging as an important investment class, their needs and expectations from Investment products have to be catered to. ETFs, a new age product exactly meets these expectations.
ETFs – Smart solutions for the long-term investor
Investors seeking long term financial solutions greatly benefit from investment in ETFs. Greater consistency in performance and lower Fund Expense Ratios of ETFs make it the preferred investment vehicle.
Updated on: 21/01/2026
