Bengaluru, January 27, 2026:
Franklin Templeton India’s nationwide investor education initiative, “Change the Soch – Kanyakumari to Kashmir Drive,” reached Bengaluru as part of its landmark journey aimed at spreading financial literacy and mutual fund awareness across the country.
The first-of-its-kind campaign marks 30 years of Franklin Templeton’s presence in India. The 30-day, over 4,000-kilometre drive, which began at the southern tip of India in Kanyakumari, is covering 21 cities and towns before concluding in Jammu & Kashmir. The initiative focuses on encouraging Indians—particularly women—to move beyond traditional savings and embrace informed investing.
Led by Avinash Satwalekar, President – Franklin Templeton India, the campaign involves direct engagement with communities across urban, semi-urban and rural regions. Through interactive workshops, financial education sessions and community interactions, the drive aims to demystify mutual fund investing and empower individuals to take control of their financial futures.
A key emphasis of the initiative is women’s financial empowerment, recognising their critical role in household and national economic progress. The campaign engages women from diverse backgrounds, including farmers and fishing communities, women involved in agriculture and handloom sectors, entrepreneurs, students, educators, private and government employees, and other working professionals.
Speaking at the Bengaluru leg of the campaign, Avinash Satwalekar said financial literacy among women is fundamental to building resilient households and thriving communities.
“While urban centres have made meaningful progress, lakhs of women across India—especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions—remain underserved when it comes to access to financial knowledge and tools. Through this initiative, we aim to equip women with the confidence and understanding needed to save, invest and adopt digital financial solutions,” he said.
He added that empowering women to make informed financial decisions goes beyond education and is essential for achieving India’s long-term growth ambitions. “This is a vital step towards India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and building a more inclusive and sustainable financial ecosystem,” he noted.
The campaign highlights mutual funds as an effective investment avenue for achieving long-term financial goals, combating inflation, and building wealth. Mutual funds offer diversification, professional fund management, economies of scale and accessibility through low investment amounts, making them suitable for a wide range of investors.
Karnataka continues to show strong growth potential for mutual fund investments. The mutual fund industry’s assets under management (AUM) in the state stand at over ₹5.64 lakh crore, recording a growth of more than 17 percent year-on-year, with key centres including Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Mysuru and Raichur. Franklin Templeton India plans to further expand its distribution network in the state to reach more investors and deepen financial awareness.
Nationally, the Indian mutual fund industry has witnessed significant expansion over the past decade, with AUM growing from ₹12.75 lakh crore in 2015 to ₹80.23 lakh crore as of December 31, 2025, reflecting an annualised growth rate of around 20 percent.
With over 77 years of global investment expertise, Franklin Templeton manages assets worth approximately US$1.68 trillion worldwide and offers a broad range of investment solutions in India. The fund house manages average assets of over ₹1.27 lakh crore across 37 mutual fund schemes. Three of its flagship funds—Franklin India Large Cap Fund, Franklin India Mid Cap Fund and Franklin India Flexi Cap Fund—have completed more than 30 years, while 18 schemes have crossed the 20-year milestone.
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