New Delhi. If you also invest in the stock market and mutual funds, then a big opportunity is coming for you in the new year 2025. This new mutual fund offer (NFO) to be launched from January 9 will have the power to attract money from rural India and this fund will give you an opportunity to invest money in rural based schemes and earn returns. The NFO of ICICI Prudential Rural Opportunities Fund will open on January 9 and investment can be made in it till January 25.

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has announced Rural Opportunities Fund, an open-ended equity scheme based on rural and allied themes. The scheme will invest primarily in sectors that contribute to and benefit from the growth and development of rural India. It aims to generate robust returns over the long term by investing primarily in equity and equity-related instruments of companies involved in the rural and allied sectors.

Rural India has immense potential
Sankaran Naren, ED, CIO, ICICI Prudential AMC and Fund Manager, NFO, said that rural India is a theme that can have a transformational impact in the next decade. Driven by structural and cyclical economic factors and the increasing focus on rural development through various initiatives by many state governments, this will likely be the segment that will contribute to economic growth. Hence, our new scheme aims to take advantage of these developments, giving investors an opportunity to participate in India's rural growth story.

Rural Economy India's Root
India's growth story is deeply intertwined with its rural development. As the country aspires to become a global manufacturing hub, rural India plays a vital role in this transformation. The government has made significant progress in improving basic necessities and quality of life in rural areas, paving the way for a massive developmental effort. The revival of rural demand after a decade of stagnation is promising.

Which schemes will benefit?
The Nifty Rural Index aims to track the performance of stocks from the Nifty 500 index, which represent the rural theme. The largest 75 stocks of eligible basic industries are selected based on the 6-month average free-float market capitalization. A significant part of India's GDP comes from rural areas and the government's focus is on improving rural infrastructure and economy. These include schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana along with MNREGA, which will benefit the investors of this fund.