ABOUT THE BOOK

Mutual Fund is one of the most popular investment avenues today. The Mutual Fund Industry has grown astronomically over the last 2 decades. This is especially due to growing investor awareness. The young salaried Indian has started investing early and smartly, thereby choosing Mutual Funds as a safe investment opportunity which provides diversification of risk. This book primarily deals with the overall concept of Mutual Funds in India. It focuses on basic investment avenues and thereby the benefits of investing in Mutual Funds. An in depth analysis of Systematic Investment, Withdrawal and Transfer Plans as modes of investing in Mutual Funds has been covered in this book. The latest trends in global mutual funds industry has also been discussed in the book. Finally the symbiotic relation between mutual fund investments and financial inclusion has also been covered in this book. Thus the reader would be able to get an exhaustive understanding of various strategies and methods of investing in Mutual Funds. This book addresses all these upcoming issues in Mutual Funds in a concise and precise manner so that the readers can find all the relevant information in one place. Research scholars in Mutual Funds will find this book as a valuable reference as many recent issues relating to Mutual Funds and ways of investing in them have been covered here. Ultimately this book would help in understanding the functioning and benefits of mutual funds to investors. It will help all the stakeholders of the mutual fund industry in India to make better informed decisions especially relating to strategies of investing in mutual funds.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Soheli Ghosh is an Assistant Professor in the Morning Section of the Department of Commerce in St. Xavier's College (Autonomous) Kolkata. She is also a Guest Lecturer in the University of Calcutta and many other noted post graduate disciplines in various other colleges. She has been awarded Ph.D in Commerce (Finance) by the University of Calcutta. She also has an M.Phil, M.Com and B.Ed degree along with NET Qualification (with JRF). Her primary area of interest is in Indian Financial Markets and Financial Instruments, Mutual Funds, Microfinance and Financial Inclusion, Financial Reporting and CSR amongst others. She has over a decade and a half of experience in teaching undergraduate and post graduate students in the Accounting and Finance discipline. She has published over 35 scholarly research papers in numerous peer reviewed and refereed international and national journals. She has also presented over 20 papers in international and national conferences. She has many a contribution in the form of chapters in book compilations. She has been awarded certificates of Honour and Merit by Rotary International for her exemplary contribution towards all round development of her students. A goal oriented academician, she emphasizes on impeccable quality, exhaustive coverage and a unique approach in academic and literary endeavours.

CONTENTS

Preface 7 Acknowledgement 9 1. Mutual Funds and Their Growth in India: 11 Meaning and Concept of Mutual Funds 2. Structure and Types of Mutual Funds in India: 23 Structure of Mutual Fund Industry in India 3. How are Mutual Funds Regulated in India 41 4. How to Invest in Mutual Funds 49 5. The Challenges and Opportunities of Mutual 71 Funds in India 6. Future of Mutual Funds in India 85 7. A Brief History of Global Mutual Funds 95 8. Can Mutual Funds be Considered as a Tool 219 for Financial Inclusion? 9. Comparative Analysis of Systematic 239 Investment, Withdrawal and Transfer Plans Bibliography and References 255 Index 271