New Delhi, May 26 -- Rising geopolitical tensions-from Indo-Pak border strains to Trump-era tariff shocks-are prompting investors to rethink where to park their money. As global uncertainty deepens, the spotlight is shifting away from sectors like IT and pharma and turning toward manufacturing and capital-expenditure-led industries, especially in India.

Investing in popular sectors or themes with the hope of beating the market can sound like a smart strategy. But in reality, consistently outperforming a diversified portfolio through active sector or thematic bets is as difficult as timing the market-often with results no better than a coin toss.

The challenges of picking winners

Sectors can appear attractive due to a mix of factors: re...