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Mutual funds have been saddling up to the tech sector lately, and retail investors are wondering if the craze for IT stocks India is for real or just hype. In early 2025, chatter in the Indian stock market buzzed about fund houses plowing money into software and services stocks – thanks to lofty hopes around AI, reasonable valuations, and booming export orders. Indeed, tech-sector enthusiasts point out that digital transformation and AI adoption are turbocharging the industry’s potential (EY India predicts generative AI could boost software productivity by 43–45% over five years). Major IT bellwethers like TCS and Infosys themselves are talking up AI projects with clients, hinting at a fresh wave of projects in the pipeline. Add to that optimism a record pace of export orders in India’s services sector, and the tailwind for IT stocks seems gusty.

What’s Driving Mutual Funds Toward Tech?

Mutual funds are in a unique position. After a steady market rally earlier in 2024–25, many equity funds piled up cash. AMFI data shows they were sitting on a hefty Rs 2.15 trillion as of April 2025, waiting for better opportunities. Technology stocks, which had corrected from their late-2024 highs, suddenly looked cheaper – and fund managers took notice. Several reasons have fueled the tech rally drumbeat:

•&�Բ�����;AI and Digital Transformation. Surveys (e.g. by EY India) highlight that most big IT firms have started rolling out GenAI projects, and enterprises are moving from experiments to production with AI. With governments and corporations eyeing big AI investments (think U.S. plans for AI infrastructure), fund managers believe India’s IT exporters stand to gain. For example, Reuters noted in January that IT stocks jumped on U.S. AI spending optimism. Mutual funds can’t ignore these structural trends in tech.

•&�Բ�����;Export Tailwinds. India’s services PMI remained robust in May 2025, fueled by “one of the strongest increases in export orders in the survey’s over a decade history”. Since IT companies get a big slice of revenue from overseas clients, a surge in global demand (especially from the U.S. and EU) spells more business for them. Funds are betting that a weaker Indian rupee (recently slipping toward an 86/$ level) could further boost the rupee value of those exports.

•&�Բ�����;Relative Valuations. After years of steady growth, IT stocks had corrected in 2024–25. By April 2025, the tech-heavy mutual funds category was down as much as 15–18% for the year. That decline has made tech valuations more attractive compared to other sectors. In fact, experts note that despite near-term headwinds, “the current correction offers a reasonable entry point for long-term investors” into tech-themed funds ?. Many fund managers see this as an opportunity to “stagger” into tech via SIPs or systematic transfers.

•&�Բ�����;Portfolio Positioning. Diversified equity funds already carry a fair chunk of IT stocks, but some large funds are tweaking allocations. Anecdotal data (like mutual fund shareholding trackers) show more funds accumulating core IT names. For example, one tech-focused fund added over 2 million shares of Infosys in May 2025 ?. (Overall, Trendlyne reports 219 mutual funds net bought Infosys in May, versus 114 sellers.) This suggests money is gravitating towards the sector. Fund managers often say technology remains a “core holding” even amid pullbacks.

At the same time, analysts advise caution. The Economic Times reports that technology funds have underperformed this year, partly due to weak Q4 results and cautious client spending. Many experts still recommend keeping tech exposure as a satellite (around 10–15% of equity) and moderating return expectations. After all, mutual fund portfolios already lean into large-cap IT, so adding more might be redundant.

Mutual Funds Data Dive

Hard figures are sparse in public news, but market trackers hint at the shift. Mutual funds’ cash buffers hit record highs in early 2025 ?, and a portion of that dry powder appears to be finding its way into tech stocks. For instance, in May 2025 Indian mutual funds ramped up their US tech holdings by 10% month-on-month ? (though that was overseas tech). Domestically, SEBI filings show fund portfolios overweighting IT names — TCS, Infosys, and LTIMindtree are commonly seen as top holdings in many diversified schemes. While SEBI data is tedious to parse, AMFI flow reports indirectly confirm the theme: the tech sector’s share in mutual fund equity portfolios ticked up even as others lagged.

However, it’s also clear funds are hedging their bets. AMFI’s monthly reports suggest mutual fund inflows have cooled and cash levels are high. In May 2025, equity inflows were the lowest in over a year, implying funds are more cautious. Industry veterans point out that “multi-dimensional headwinds” – from geo-political tensions to domestic rate cuts – could cap the upswing. So even if fund managers are bullish on tech themes, they’re not going all-in indiscriminately.

Risks on the Radar

No rally comes without risks. Here are a few red flags mutual fund managers are watching:
• Global Uncertainty. U.S. trade policy, China’s slowdown, and Middle-East tensions can spook markets. TCS itself warned that talk of U.S. tariffs was causing clients to delay discretionary projects. Infosys flagged a “tough year ahead” for IT demand amid macro uncertainty ?. If global growth stumbles, budgets for enterprise IT could be the first to be cut.

•&�Բ�����;Valuation Heat. Even after corrections, some IT names trade at stretched multiples (Nvidia-like momentum in U.S. tech).

•&�Բ�����;Rupee Volatility. A sharply stronger rupee would translate to lower rupee revenues for export-driven firms. In mid-June, the rupee was near a two-month low around ?86 to the dollar, helping exporters; but unexpected RBI moves or dollar strength could quickly reverse that tailwind.

•&�Բ�����;Interest Rates. Big tech spends usually ease when global rates are high. While the Fed appears done hiking in 2025, any surprise inflation data or hawkish surprises could keep clients cautious about IT spending.

•&�Բ�����;Sector Concentration. Overweighting IT increases single-sector risk. If tech disappoints, funds could suffer more than if they were diversified.

The Bigger Picture

So why all the optimism on tech? Fundamentally, funds are betting that long-term structural growth will outlast the short-term noise. India’s $283-billion software industry has room to run as big clients shift to cloud, digital services and AI tools. Even modest wins in digital transformation can boost revenues. And with domestic monetary easing (RBI cut 50 bps in June) improving the overall investment climate, investors are more willing to buy on dips.

In the Indian stock market of 2025, retail investors have a love-hate relationship with tech stocks. They can catapult indexes higher one day and drag them down the next. Right now, mutual funds seem to believe the positives outweigh the negatives for IT. But remember, mutual funds have stay-at-home capital too — those lofty cash piles mean managers will only add tech if the price is right.

Should You Join the Rally?

There’s no simple answer. The tech sector’s story is certainly compelling, but as one expert notes, it’s wise to approach with balanced expectations. Hype over AI and exports might last, but markets are fickle. A savvy retail investor would do well to consider tech as part of a diversified equity portfolio, rather than bet the farm on it alone. For now, it’s clear mutual funds are watching IT closely – and, cautiously or not, funds don’t put their chips on the table without a reason.

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.