From Gold to Growth: Assessing the Impact of SIPs and ETFs on Household
Investment Behaviour in India

Nikhaar Rastogi

doi:10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.005

Title: From Gold to Growth: Assessing the Impact of SIPs and ETFs on Household Investment Behaviour in India
Authors: Nikhaar Rastogi
Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER) ISSN: 2455-8834 Volume: 11 Issue: 6 Publication Date: June 2026 DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.005
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Nikhaar Rastogi Student at VIPS, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
MLA 8 Rastogi, Nikhaar. "From Gold to Growth: Assessing the Impact of SIPs and ETFs on Household Investment Behaviour in India." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 11, no. 6, June 2026, pp. 2535-2545, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.005. Accessed June 2026. APA 6 Rastogi, N. (2026, June). From Gold to Growth: Assessing the Impact of SIPs and ETFs on Household Investment Behaviour in India. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 11(6), 2535-2545. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.005 Chicago Rastogi, Nikhaar. "From Gold to Growth: Assessing the Impact of SIPs and ETFs on Household Investment Behaviour in India." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 11, no. 6 (June 2026), 2535-2545. Accessed June, 2026. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.005.
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ABSTRACT: India has traditionally favoured tangible assets such as gold, real estate, and fixed deposits for household wealth preservation. However, increasing financial literacy, technological advancement, and greater access to capital markets have contributed to the growing adoption of Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). This paper examines the extent to which these instruments are driving a behavioural shift in household investment choices away from traditional assets. Through an analysis of the characteristics, growth, and accessibility of SIPs and ETFs, the paper argues that these instruments are not replacing traditional investments entirely but are reshaping how households allocate their savings. SIPs promote disciplined and accessible long-term investing, while ETFs provide low-cost diversification and modern alternatives to assets such as gold. The findings suggest that India is experiencing a gradual process of financialisation, in which traditional saving motives remain intact but are increasingly expressed through market-linked investment products. Household portfolios are therefore becoming more diversified, accessible, and growth-oriented.

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