How to Start SIP , Track, and Truly Understand SIP — More Than Just a Buzzword in Investing
By the time most of us hear the term SIP, it’s already dressed up in finance jargon. Brochures make it sound sleek, apps pitch it as “just a few taps away,” and well-meaning friends toss it around at chai breaks as if everyone’s been doing it since birth. But here’s the truth — a Systematic Investment Plan isn’t magic. It’s a habit. A little like brewing your morning tea: same cup, same time, every day — and before you know it, the comfort becomes the reward.
This guide isn’t just another “open app, click start” tutorial. It’s about how to start SIPs on platforms like Groww, Zerodha, and Upstox, how to actually track them without going cross-eyed, and — just for the curveball — what SIP means in telecom.
1. How to Start SIP in Apps Like Groww, Zerodha, and Upstox
A. Groww: The No-Nonsense Starting Point
Groww has somehow nailed that balance between minimal fuss and clean design.
Steps (minus the boredom):
- Download the app, sign up, get your KYC done. (Yes, that Aadhaar OTP step too.)
- Head to Mutual Funds.
- Pick a fund — equity if you’re in for the long haul, debt if you’re the cautious type.
- Tap “Start SIP” and set your amount (₹500 a month if you’re just dipping your toes).
- Choose frequency — most go monthly, but weekly and quarterly are there too.
- Link your bank (UPI or auto-debit).
- Confirm, and you’re officially an investor.
Here's a Video Tutorial of how to start a SIP with @CoinDCX
— Yash Karakoti (@YashKarakoti8) June 28, 2025
It's super fast and easy. pic.twitter.com/SQpPqP4Urd
B. Zerodha’s Coin: For the “I Like It Direct” Crowd
Zerodha’s Coin is for those who like to keep it bare-bones and direct.
How it rolls:
- Log in via Zerodha Console.
- Filter, search, and stalk funds until one clicks.
- Hit “Start SIP,” fill in amount, date, and duration.
- Register your payment mandate via net banking.
- Done — your SIP kicks in when the date comes around.
C. Upstox: Where ₹100 Gets You In
Even if your budget’s tight, Upstox keeps the door wide open.
The drill:
- Go to Invest → Mutual Funds.
- Shortlist based on ratings and past performance.
- Hit “Start SIP” and put in your amount (₹100 is the bare minimum).
- Set your frequency and date.
- Complete the e-mandate, sit back.
2. Tracking Your SIP: The Part People Ignore (Until They Shouldn’t)
Starting a SIP is easy; keeping an eye on it is where most investors go missing.
Here’s the smarter way:
- In-App Dashboards: Groww, Zerodha, Upstox — all have a “Your Investments” section.
- CAMS/KFintech: These are like the backstage pass to all your mutual funds in one view.
- Old-School Excel/Google Sheets: Perfect for control freaks who like colour-coded cells.
SIP Calculators — Not Just Pretty Sliders
They work on three things: your monthly amount, expected annual return (say, 12%), and investment period.
Example: ₹5,000/month for 10 years at 12% → about ₹11.5 lakh maturity.
Choosing the “Best” SIP?
Look at:
- Fund’s consistency over at least five years.
- Low expense ratio.
- Fund manager’s track record.
- Your risk appetite — equity for growth, debt for stability.
3. SIP Means More Than You Think — And Sometimes, Nothing to Do With Money
In Investing
Systematic Investment Plan — small, regular investments that ride out market ups and downs. Benefits? Rupee cost averaging, compounding, and enforced discipline.
In Telecom
- SIP Trunking: How companies make calls over the internet instead of copper lines. Cheaper, smarter.
- SIP Calling: Voice calls using SIP protocol — think WhatsApp calls, Zoom meetings.
(Yes, completely unrelated to your mutual funds, but useful to know when tech folk drop acronyms mid-sentence.)
4. Final Thoughts
SIP isn’t a get-rich-quick tool. It’s more like planting trees — you don’t dig them up every month to check the roots. You water them, protect them, and trust the seasons. Platforms like Groww, Zerodha, and Upstox make it ridiculously easy to start, but the real trick is to keep showing up, month after month, year after year.
FAQs — As Answered Over Coffee, Not a Boardroom
1. What’s SIP, really?
A Systematic Investment Plan — putting in a fixed amount into mutual funds at set intervals.
2. How does it actually work?
You choose an amount, frequency, and fund. Money gets auto-deducted, units get added, and over time, compounding does the heavy lifting.
3. Is a SIP calculator worth my time?
Yes. It won’t predict the future, but it’ll give you a ballpark figure. Markets aren’t robots.
4. Can I change my SIP amount later?
Absolutely. Step it up, scale it down — life changes, so can your investments.
5. SIP vs. lump sum?
SIP if the market’s moody. Lump sum if you’re betting on a bullish run.