New Delhi, March 17 -- Indian equity markets have been unsettled since early 2025 by a mix of global shocks-geopolitical flare-ups, US tariff threats and rising crude prices. Conditions have worsened in 2026, with the Nifty 50 correcting more than 7% since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on 27 February.

That volatility is now feeding into investor behaviour. Systematic investment plan (SIP) inflows into mutual funds slipped to Rs.29,845 crore in February, down 4% from Rs.31,002 crore in January, according to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).

As markets fall, many investors are seeing negative returns and wondering whether to stop SIPs. The math suggests they shouldn't.

The core mechanism behind SIPs is r...