Reach ₹1 crore in 10 years through a monthly SIP and the exact contribution depends on one number you cannot control: the realised return. Here is the math, before the marketing rounds the numbers.
The base case
At a 12% expected return — the common assumption for diversified equity mutual funds over long horizons — you need roughly ₹43,000 per month for 10 years. At 10%, that climbs to ~₹49,000. At 15% (aggressive, mid-cap-heavy portfolio with above-average luck), it drops to ~₹37,000. A 5% swing in assumed return moves your required SIP by ~₹12,000 — a third of the contribution.
What "12%" actually means
Indian equity has delivered roughly 12-13% over 15+ year windows. Inside that average lies five-year stretches of -5% to +25%. If markets crash in year 7 and recover by year 10, your SIP may finish closer to ₹85L than ₹1Cr. Build a 15-20% buffer into your target.
Step-up SIP — the realistic alternative
Few investors actually hold ₹43K monthly contributions flat for a decade. Start at ₹28,000 with a 10% annual step-up and you reach ₹1Cr at 12% — but with a lower first-year burden that matches typical salary growth. The catch: you must actually step up every year.
Run your own numbers in the Goal SIP calculator or compare flat vs step-up in the step-up SIP tool.