ICICI Prudential Rural Opportunities Fund NFO Opens on January 9—Key Highlights and Insights

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has unveiled its latest offering—the ICICI Prudential Rural Opportunities Fund, an open-ended equity scheme focused on tapping growth opportunities in rural and allied sectors. This New Fund Offer (NFO) opens on January 9, 2025, and closes on January 23, 2025.

Why Focus on Rural Development?

Rural India contributes a significant portion to the nation’s GDP. Recent government initiatives, including infrastructure development, housing, and employment schemes, have spurred growth in these areas. The fund seeks to harness this transformation by investing in companies that drive and benefit from rural progress.

Key initiatives supporting rural growth include:

• Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY-G): Affordable housing for rural populations.
• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Clean water supply initiatives.
• Ayushman Bharat (AB-JAY): Healthcare schemes improving rural access.
• Mahatma Gandhi NREGA: Employment generation programs.

These developments are expected to create structural growth and cyclical opportunities, benefiting sectors like agriculture, housing, FMCG, and infrastructure.

Investment Strategy and Flexibility

The scheme aims to offer:

1. Diversified Investments: Exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks.
2. Flexible Allocation: Dynamic allocation across sectors based on market conditions.
3. Long-term Wealth Creation: Focus on sustainable growth through rural development.

Benchmarked against the Nifty Rural Index, the fund will track rural-focused companies from the Nifty 500 universe, covering key growth drivers.

Who Manages the Fund?

The fund will be co-managed by Sankaran Naren and Priyanka Khandelwal. Supported by an experienced research team. 

Key Features at a Glance

• Scheme type: Open-ended equity scheme.
• Theme focus: Rural and allied sectors.
• Diversification: Across all market caps—large, mid, and small.
• Benchmark: Nifty Rural Index TRI.
• Fund managers: Sankaran Naren and Priyanka Khandelwal.
• NFO period: January 9–January 23, 2025.

Risk and Disclosures

The fund falls under the equity riskometer and is subject to market risks. Investors should carefully evaluate their financial goals and consult with advisors before investing.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions. 

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully.