Srinagar, July 2 -- But when the numbers were revealed, it wasn't a market giant that led the pack. It was M I Securities, a small Kashmiri firm that outpaced over 4,000 contenders to become India's top performer in new SIP business.

Systematic Investment Plans, or SIPs, are one of the most popular ways for ordinary people to invest in mutual funds.

Instead of investing a lump sum, people contribute small, fixed amounts regularly, often monthly. SIPs make it easier to build wealth over time, without taking big financial risks.

The applause that night wasn't just for the win. It was for where it came from-not a big office in Mumbai, but a small one in Srinagar, built on trust.

"This isn't about numbers," says Irshad Mushtaq, the founde...