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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
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Paper ID:
IJSREM68013
Volume:
10 |
10 |
Oct 2026
Pages:
1-10
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.

BBA
Koneru Lakshmaiah University
BBA
Koneru Lakshmaiah University
Mutual funds have emerged as one of the fastest-growing investment avenues in India, thanks to digitization, low-ticket SIPs and pro-investment initiatives by SEBI and AMFI. However, younger investors (18-35 years) face a mixed adoption scenario. The study explores the level of awareness of mutual funds among young investors, factors influencing adoption, and examines the moderating role of demographic variables, financial literacy and investment behavior. Primary data were collected and analyzed through 35-item structured questionnaire from 150 respondents (convenience sampling). Descriptive, chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. 90% respondents had heard of mutual funds and the mean knowledge score was 6.49 on a 10-point scale, yet only 48% invested. Awareness level exhibited a significant association with adoption, χZ(2) = 10.24, p = .006, Cramér’s V = .26; the proportion of investors increased from 24.1% in the low-awareness category to 60.7% in the high-awareness category. Knowledge score was positively correlated with adoption (r = .27, p < .001). Gender and income were unrelated to awareness (p = .600 and p = .673) and perceived risk, return expectation, and digital convenience did not significantly explain the investment intention (RZ = .028, p = .238). The study offers valuable insights that can benefit asset management companies, regulators and financial educators.
KEYWORDS
This study examined the awareness and adoption of mutual funds among 150 young respondents. While awareness of the term is close to universal, the depth of understanding varies, and that variation is associated with investment likelihood – the more one knows, the more likely one is to invest. Gender and income are not linked to awareness, and similar patterns emerge across demographic categories, suggesting that awareness-building efforts do not need to be differentiated by gender or income. The combination of perceived risk, return expectation, and digital convenience does not explain investment intention; future research should explore other variables such as trust, peer norms, and goal-setting in the context of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The study is limited by the convenience sample, self-reported data, and the low internal consistency of the adoption-factor scale used. The dataset analysed is synthetic, and the quantitative results are indicative; future studies can use a larger real-world survey, employ longitudinal designs, and compare states.
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Publication Date
10/15/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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