India’s passive investing landscape is gearing up for a new disruptor. Jio BlackRock Mutual Fund, the ambitious joint venture between Reliance Industries and global asset management giant BlackRock, has received the green light from SEBI to launch four passive investment schemes. This marks a key milestone in the firm’s roadmap to democratize access to low-cost investment solutions in India.
The Fund Lineup
The newly approved schemes are:
Jio BlackRock Nifty 50 ETF
Jio BlackRock Nifty Next 50 ETF
Jio BlackRock Nifty 100 ETF
Jio BlackRock Nifty Bank ETF
All four products are Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)—a format that offers retail investors low-cost, diversified exposure to major Indian equity indices.
“India is witnessing a growing appetite for passive investment. With this approval, we are a step closer to offering best-in-class global practices tailored for Indian investors,” said a senior executive from the joint venture.
Strategic Context
The Jio-BlackRock partnership, announced in 2023, is built on a shared vision to tap into India’s booming retail investment ecosystem. BlackRock brings its global expertise in ETFs and index strategies, while Jio offers deep digital reach, brand trust, and a tech-forward distribution engine.
Together, they aim to bring affordable, transparent, and scalable investment options to India’s burgeoning middle class, particularly first-time mutual fund investors.
Why It Matters
India’s passive fund space has seen explosive growth:
The ETF and index fund AUM crossed ₹7.5 lakh crore in 2024, more than 5x the 2018 levels
SEBI’s push for cost transparency and long-term wealth creation is driving investor preference
Younger investors prefer index-based investing for simplicity, performance, and low fees
Jio BlackRock’s entry with ETFs tied to India’s most tracked benchmarks (like Nifty 50 and Nifty Bank) is likely to challenge incumbents like SBI, Nippon India, and HDFC Mutual Fund in the passive arena.
Expert View
“This is not just a product launch—it’s an industry signal. With Jio’s distribution muscle and BlackRock’s fund design capabilities, the passive space will become more accessible than ever before,” said CA Manoj Kumar Singh, a capital markets strategist.
Market Implications
May spark a price war in ETF expense ratios, benefiting investors
Could lead to deeper ETF liquidity and retail adoption
Other fund houses may accelerate digital-first passive launches to stay competitive
What’s Next?
Jio BlackRock is expected to launch the funds in the coming weeks, followed by a broader product pipeline including target maturity funds and thematic ETFs. A full-scale digital platform is also in the works to support easy onboarding and portfolio tracking.
Conclusion
With regulatory nods in place and market timing on its side, Jio BlackRock is positioned to reshape India’s passive investment narrative. As index investing matures in India, investors—especially the digital-first ones—will now have a new powerful option in their mutual fund menu.
