In a recently released circular, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has extended the timeline for the implementation of an additional incentives structure for mutual fund distributors for onboarding new individual investors from B-30 cities and new women investors from any city.

Earlier, the new incentive structure, aimed at promoting wider outreach and awareness, was scheduled to be effective from 01 February 2026. The market regulator SEBI has now extended this deadline to 01 March 2026.

According to the classification used in the mutual fund industry, B-30 refers to places beyond the top 30 cities.

Based on the feedback received from the industry, citing operational difficulties in putting in place the requisite systems and processes for smooth implementation of the additional incentive structure, SEBI has decided to extend the implementation timeline.

Accordingly, the new provisions will now come into effect from 01 March 2026, SEBI stated in its circular.

Under the new framework, asset management companies (AMCs) will pay these distributors 1% of the first lump-sum investment or the first-year SIP amount, up to Rs 2,000, provided the investor stays invested for at least a year.

This commission will come from the 2 basis points AMCs already set aside for investor education and will be paid over and above existing trail commissions.

However, no dual incentives would be allowed for the same woman investor from B-30 cities. The additional commission would not apply to ETFs, certain Fund of Funds, and very short-duration schemes like overnight, liquid, ultra-short, and low-duration funds.

The mutual fund distributors shall be eligible for additional commission for bringing new individual investors from B-30 cities, at the mutual fund industry level, and new women individual investors from both top 30 and B-30 cities.