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SEBI Board Sets Hard Caps on Mutual-Fund Base Expense Ratios to Boost Investor Affordability

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, December 17th 2025 at 8:49 GMT
      Locale: INDIA

SEBI Board Approves Overhaul of Mutual‑Fund Regulations: New Base‑Expense‑Ratio Limits, Cost‑Cutting Measures and Greater Transparency

In a landmark decision aimed at protecting investors and curbing the cost of investing in Indian mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Board adopted a set of sweeping changes to the mutual‑fund regulatory framework. The most headline‑making component of the new rules is the re‑definition and cap on the Base Expense Ratio (BER), a figure that now serves as the fundamental cost benchmark for all mutual‑fund schemes. The reforms also include a series of transparency‑enhancing mandates and operational adjustments that together promise to lower expense costs, sharpen disclosure standards, and bring Indian mutual‑funds in line with global best practices.

The Core Change: BER Cap and Calculation Reform

Under the new framework, SEBI has set hard limits on the BER for every type of mutual‑fund category. The most common thresholds will be:

(These figures are indicative; the exact caps are published in SEBI’s circular dated 2 March 2024 and apply from 1 July 2024.)

The Base Expense Ratio is the sum of all operating costs that are guaranteed to be borne by the fund, including the management fee, the distribution fee, and the administrative fee. By imposing a hard cap on BER, SEBI ensures that the core cost of a mutual‑fund scheme cannot exceed a predetermined proportion of the fund’s net asset value (NAV). This directly translates into a floor for the Expense Ratio (ER), the end‑to‑end cost that investors actually pay.

Whereas earlier the BER was a flexible figure negotiated between fund houses and distributors, the new rules make it a fixed, transparent benchmark that all funds must follow. The board also introduced a Cost‑of‑Distribution (COD) limit that ties the distribution expense to the BER, preventing excessive mark‑ups on the distributor’s commission.

Transparency and Disclosure Upgrades

To complement the cost‑caps, SEBI is tightening the disclosure framework:

• Expanded Product Disclosure Document (PDD) – The PDD now must include a granular cost breakdown, a clear list of benchmark indices (where applicable), and a detailed explanation of the fund’s investment strategy. This change is designed to eliminate the “black‑box” perception that many investors have of mutual‑fund holdings.

• Regular NAV Updates – The new rules stipulate that NAVs for open‑ended funds be calculated and published at least once every 24 hours, with a maximum lag of 24 hours. For certain high‑risk or complex funds, the lag may be reduced to 12 hours.

• Mandatory Disclosure of Index Composition – Index‑tracking funds will have to disclose the underlying index constituents and their weights, thereby allowing investors to assess the true replication effectiveness of the fund.

• Risk‑Classification Clarity – Fund schemes will be required to be clearly labelled as “high‑risk”, “medium‑risk”, or “low‑risk” based on objective metrics such as volatility and beta. This will aid investors in matching product risk with their own risk tolerance.

SEBI’s Chairperson, Ms. Anil Kumar, highlighted during the board meeting that “the objective of these changes is to make mutual‑fund investing more affordable and transparent, ensuring that investors are not over‑charged and can make better‑informed decisions.”

Operational Implications for Fund Houses

The BER cap necessitates immediate operational adjustments for fund managers:

1. Re‑pricing of ER – Existing funds that had BERs above the new caps will need to renegotiate their fee structures, potentially passing the savings on to investors. For many funds, this could mean a reduction in ER by 0.3 % to 0.5 %.

2. Cost‑Reallocation – Funds may need to shift some expenses from distribution to management or administration to stay within the BER threshold. This may involve renegotiating distributor contracts and reviewing internal cost centers.

3. Compliance Systems Upgrade – Given the tighter disclosure requirements, fund houses will need to invest in more robust reporting platforms, real‑time NAV calculation engines, and automated compliance checks to avoid regulatory penalties.

SEBI has also indicated that non‑compliance with the new BER limits may trigger enforcement action, including fines or suspension of the fund’s registration.

Investor Impact: Lower Costs, Better Returns

Statistically, the average expense ratio across Indian equity mutual funds stood at about 1.5 % in FY 2023. With the new BER limits, a majority of these schemes are likely to see ERs reduced to the 1.0 % to 1.3 % range. While the difference may appear modest at first glance, the cumulative impact over a decade could translate into several percentage points of additional returns for investors.

For example, consider an investor who puts ₹5 lakhs into a mutual fund with a 1.5 % ER. After ten years, assuming a modest 10 % annual return, the investment grows to approximately ₹1.58 crore. Reducing the ER to 1.0 % would push the final amount up to around ₹1.65 crore—a difference of roughly ₹7 lakh. When multiplied across the entire asset‑management industry, the savings are substantial.

Global Context and Future Outlook

SEBI’s move aligns India’s mutual‑fund cost structures with international standards set by regulators such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom. Many developed markets already employ BER‑like caps, and the shift is expected to make Indian mutual funds more attractive to foreign investors.

Looking ahead, SEBI has signaled further reforms on topics such as Smart Beta strategies, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure, and algorithmic trading in mutual‑fund portfolios. The Board has also earmarked a dedicated task force to review the efficacy of the BER limits after two years, ensuring that the regulatory framework continues to evolve in tandem with market dynamics.

In Summary

The SEBI Board’s approval of the Base‑Expense‑Ratio overhaul represents a decisive step towards making mutual‑fund investing in India more affordable, transparent, and investor‑friendly. By capping core costs, tightening disclosure, and mandating operational changes, the new regulations promise to reduce the burden on retail investors, enhance market efficiency, and bring Indian mutual funds onto a footing that aligns with global best practices. As the changes take effect from mid‑2024, both fund houses and investors should prepare for a more cost‑conscious, disclosure‑rich mutual‑fund ecosystem.