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How to invest during a market downturn? SIP vs. Lump Sum: Learn the best options.
KalamTimes | March 8, 2026 2:39 AM CST

When the stock market declines, many investors see it as an investment opportunity and plan to invest at lower prices. Let's learn more about this...

 

 

SIP or lump sum investment during market downturn?

SIP vs. Lump Sum Investment: When the stock market declines, many investors see it as an investment opportunity and plan to invest at lower prices. At such times, the question often arises whether it would be better to invest a lump sum in mutual funds or invest gradually through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP).

Both methods have their own advantages. A lump sum investment involves investing the entire amount at once, while a SIP involves investing smaller amounts at regular intervals. Let's learn more about this...

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What is the difference between lump sum and SIP investments?

Experts often consider market declines to be a good investment opportunity, but it's difficult to predict how long these declines will last. This leads to two common investment options: lump-sum investment and SIP.

In a lump sum investment, the investor invests the entire amount in one go, whereas in SIP, a fixed amount is invested gradually every month.

SIP is right during market downturns

Whenever the market declines, investors often wonder whether to invest a lump sum or continue investing through SIPs. Market experts say that SIPs can be a better option in a declining market.

The reason behind this is that in a falling market, the value of a lump sum investment can decrease, which takes time to recover. Whereas investing through a SIP averages the purchase price.  

Let's understand this with an example: If someone invests through a SIP on March 6th, when the Nifty was at ₹24,500. If the Nifty declines on the same date the following month and is trading at ₹24,000, the investor will be allotted more units than before. Investors may also experience the opposite result.

You can also invest by combining both methods

Some investors have the funds to invest a lump sum, but they avoid investing the entire amount all at once. Such investors typically invest a small amount at once and gradually invest the remaining amount through SIPs every month.

This method allows them to benefit from cost averaging. However, experts believe that if someone is investing for the long term, they can choose either method based on their convenience and strategy.


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