SEBI, through Circular No. HO/47/14/13(2)2026-MRD-POD2/I/16590/2026 dated July 17, 2026, has extended the facility of creating standing instructions for Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) and Systematic Transfer Plan (STP) to mutual fund units held in demat form. The framework will be implemented in two phases. Phase I will enable unit-based SWP/STP, allowing standing instructions based on a fixed number of units to be redeemed at specified intervals for withdrawals or transfers to another scheme of the same mutual fund, and is to be implemented by January 31, 2027. Phase II will introduce amount-based SWP/STP for fixed withdrawal or transfer amounts by April 30, 2027. Depositories will act as the nodal facilitators, jointly publish a standard operational framework by October 31, 2026, amend relevant bye-laws, rules and regulations where necessary, carry out required system changes, and publish the circular on their websites. The circular comes into force with immediate effect and has been issued under Section 11(1) of the SEBI Act, 1992, Section 26(3) of the Depositories Act, 1996 and Regulation 97 of the SEBI (Depositories and Participants) Regulations, 2018.
Securities and Exchange Board of India
Circular No. HO/47/14/13(2)2026-MRD-POD2/I/16590/2026 | Dated: July 17, 2026
To,
All Depositories
All Recognized Stock Exchanges (SEs)
All Registrar and Transfer Agents (RTAs)
All Depository Participants (DPs)
All Mutual Funds (MFs) / All Asset Management Companies (AMCs)
Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI)
Sir/Madam,
Subject: Extending facility of creating standing instructions for Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)/ Systematic Transfer Plan (STP) for Mutual Fund units held in demat form
1. Mutual Fund investors can avail the facility of SWP by creating standing instructions with Mutual Fund or its RTA for periodic redemption of specified number of Mutual Fund units or amount. Mutual Fund investors can also avail the facility of STP by creating standing instructions for transferring their investment in one scheme of Mutual Fund to another scheme of the same Mutual Fund, by way of redemption from one scheme and subscription to the other scheme of the same Mutual Fund.
2. Presently, the facility of creating such standing instructions for SWP / STP mandate is not available for the Mutual Fund units held in demat form.
3. In this context, taking into account the representations received from the Depositories, recommendations of a Working Group setup by SEBI and recommendations of Secondary Market Advisory Committee of SEBI, it has been decided to extend the facility of creating standing instruction for SWP/STP mandate for the Mutual Fund units held in demat form, to facilitate ease of doing business.
4. The aforesaid facility shall be implemented in the following two phases-
4.1. In Phase – I, the facility shall be made available for “Unit-based SWP / STP” i.e. standing instructions based on fixed number of units to be redeemed at a specified frequency for withdrawal or for purchasing units of another scheme of the same Mutual Fund.
4.2. In Phase – ll, the facility shall be extended to “Amount-based SWP / STP” i.e. standing instruction for fixed amount which is required as pay-out at a specified frequency or for purchasing units of another scheme of the same Mutual Fund.
5. Depositories shall be the nodal facilitator for implementation of this framework and shall ensure the implementation of Phase – I by January 31, 2027 and implementation of Phase – ll by April 30, 2027.
6. Further, Depositories are directed to :
6.1. Jointly publish a standard framework on their website to operationalize the aforesaid facility by October 31, 2026.
6.2. Make amendments to the relevant bye-laws, rules and regulations for the implementation of the above framework, as may be applicable/necessary;
6.3. Carry out system changes, if any, to implement the above framework;
6.4. Disseminate the provisions of this circular on their website.
7. The provisions of this circular shall come into force with immediate effect.
8. This circular is being issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 read with Section 26(3) of Depositories Act, 1996 and Regulation 97 of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Depositories and Participants) Regulations, 2018 to protect the interest of investors in securities and to promote development of, and to regulate securities market.
9. This circular is available on SEBI website at sebi.gov.in at “Legal Framework – Circulars.”
10. The circular has been issued with the approval of the competent authority.
Yours faithfully,
Sanjay Singh Bhati
General Manager
Tel. No. 022-26449222
Email: ssbhati@sebi.gov.in
