The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) has asked all asset management companies (AMCs) to make KYC (know-your-customer) norms mandatory for all non-individual and NRI investors irrespective of the amount of investment.
Under the present norm, KYC is mandatory only for investments above Rs 50,000.
In a letter sent to AMCs, AMFI has said that the mutual fund industry should go ahead with making KYC mandatory, irrespective of the amount of investment for all non-individual investors/NRIs/channel investors (high risk category) with effect from October 01, 2010. These categories will include corporate, partnership firms, trusts, HUF (Hindu undivided family), NRI and investors coming through channel distributors.
However for individual investors, a decision would be taken only after feedback from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
For the convenience of investors, all mutual funds have made special arrangements with CDSL Ventures Ltd. (CVL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL).