Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea: Top 5 mutual funds by exposure — could Reliance Jio's listing reshuffle portfolios?

Mutual funds have significant exposure to Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, but the Reliance Jio Platforms IPO and its listing could change how fund managers allocate money across the telecom sector.

Some funds have allocated more than 20% of their portfolios to Bharti Airtel. Jio’s listing could give active fund managers another telecom stock to consider. Here is what investors need to know.

Which mutual funds have the highest exposure to Bharti Airtel?

These funds have the highest allocations to Airtel, with weightage expressed as a percentage of AUM. They are sectoral/thematic or passive funds (index funds/ETFs).

*Source: Value Research, Direct Plans, Data as on 30 September 2026

Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at Lemon, said these funds are likely to move first, potentially trimming Airtel or Reliance Industries to make room for Jio. This could also help thematic funds maintain distinct portfolios from diversified funds, as required by the new rules.

However, passive funds must wait for Jio to enter their respective indices. Garg said Jio could enter the Nifty Next 50 or Nifty 100 around March 2027. Entry into the Nifty 50 and Sensex could come later, potentially at the September 2027 review.

Manish P. Hingar, Chartered Accountant, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fintoo, said active funds such as Franklin India Technology and SBI Technology Opportunities can buy Jio after listing if the price looks right, and may sell some Airtel to make room.

However, Piyush Jhunjhunwala, Founder and CEO, Stockify, said the debut of Reliance Jio does not necessarily mean that Airtel will automatically lose weight in portfolios of funds with heft in Airtel stock. Its listing valuation and investment appeal will help determine whether fund managers allocate money to it.

Which diversified active schemes have the highest exposure to Bharti Airtel?

These actively managed schemes have the highest portfolio allocations to Airtel. Hybrid funds dominate the list, while equity funds (large-cap) do not feature among the top five.

*Source: Value Research, Direct Plans, Data as on 30 September 2026