FII DII Data FY2025-26: Monthly Buying and Selling Figures from April 2025 to May 2026
By Kaushik Brahmakshatriya
Published On 23 June 2026.
FII DII Data FY2025-26 Monthly Buying Selling
Introduction: Why FY2025-26 Was a Defining Year for Institutional Flows
Financial Year 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026) — followed by early FY2026-27 data for April and May 2026 — stands out as one of the most turbulent periods for institutional money movement in India’s capital market history. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), also called Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), maintained a sustained selling streak across most months. Meanwhile, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), powered by record-breaking SIP contributions exceeding ₹29,000 crore per month, acted as the primary shock absorber for Indian equity markets.
Understanding this data helps retail investors, traders, and market observers decode why Nifty 50 and Sensex moved the way they did across this period.
FII (FPI) Monthly Net Buying / Selling — April 2025 to May 2026
(All figures in ₹ Crore | Source: NSDL / NSE | Negative = Net Selling)
| Month | FII Net Activity (₹ Cr) | Status |
| April 2025 | +4,223 | Net Buyer |
| May 2025 | +19,860 | Net Buyer |
| June 2025 | +14,580 | Net Buyer |
| July 2025 | +8,740 | Net Buyer |
| August 2025 | -47,000 | Heavy Net Seller |
| September 2025 | -21,500 | Net Seller |
| October 2025 | -18,900 | Net Seller |
| November 2025 | -12,400 | Net Seller |
| December 2025 | -15,600 | Net Seller |
| January 2026 | 35,962 | Net Seller |
| February 2026 | +22,615 | Net Buyer |
| March 2026 | -1,17,775 | Record Net Seller |
| April 2026 | -60,847 | Heavy Net Seller |
| May 2026 | -32,963 | Net Seller |
Note: Figures for April–July 2025 are based on publicly reported estimates. August 2025 to May 2026 figures are sourced from NSDL-reported data.
DII Monthly Net Buying / Selling — April 2025 to May 2026
All figures in ₹ Crore | Positive = Net Buying)
| Month | DII Net Activity (₹ Cr) | Status |
| April 2025 | +8,650 | Net Buyer |
| May 2025 | +10,470 | Net Buyer |
| June 2025 | +9,200 | Net Buyer |
| July 2025 | +14,300 | Net Buyer |
| August 2025 | +95,000 | Aggressive Net Buyer |
| September 2025 | +28,700 | Net Buyer |
| October 2025 | +22,400 | Net Buyer |
| November 2025 | +19,800 | Net Buyer |
| December 2025 | +21,350 | Net Buyer |
| January 2026 | +43,256 | Net Buyer |
| February 2026 | +18,400 | Strong Net Buyer |
| March 2026 | +1,02,000 | Aggressive Net Buyer |
| April 2026 | +58,900 | Strong Net Buyer |
| May 2026 | +38,200 | Net Buyer |
Major Highlights of This Period
April–July 2025: Brief FII Return
After the brutal selling phase of October 2024 to March 2025, FIIs returned as cautious buyers in the first quarter of FY26. Easing US dollar pressure, India-US trade optimism, and attractive valuations following the deep correction attracted selective foreign buying. DIIs continued buying steadily, supporting the ongoing recovery rally in Nifty.
August 2025: Worst Month of FY26 for FII
India’s financial markets faced a critical test in August 2025 when foreign institutional investors pulled out nearly ₹47,000 crore, marking the highest monthly outflow of the year. The exodus was triggered by global tariff shocks, weak corporate earnings, and a strengthening US dollar. Yet DII resilience was extraordinary — domestic institutional investors, led by mutual funds, LIC, and other insurers, invested nearly ₹95,000 crore, more than offsetting the foreign sell-off.
January–May 2026: Accelerating FII Exit
Calendar year 2026 turned even more alarming for FII flows. Foreign Portfolio Investors sold equities worth ₹1,17,775 crore in March 2026, making it the highest monthly outflow recorded so far in that year. FPIs had sold ₹60,847 crore in April 2026, and ₹32,963 crore in May 2026 — the third consecutive month of net selling.
Overall, FIIs withdrew a net ₹2,24,932 crore from Indian equities in the first five months of 2026 alone — already surpassing the total outflow of the entire calendar year 2025.
A Historic Structural Shift
For the first time in India’s market history, domestic institutions own more of Indian equities than foreign ones — a structural shift built on 25+ months of continuous DII buying worth ₹11.40 lakh crore. Monthly SIP contributions crossed ₹29,000 crore every month throughout this period.
FII vs DII — Quarterly Phase Analysis (FY2025-26 + Q1 FY27)
| Quarter | FII Stance | DII Stance | Nifty Direction | Key Driver |
| Q1 FY26 (Apr–Jun 2025) | Mild Buyer | Steady Buyer | Recovery Rally | US Dollar Weakening |
| Q2 FY26 (Jul–Sep 2025) | Buyer turning Seller | Aggressive Buyer | Volatile / Correction | Global Tariff Shocks |
| Q3 FY26 (Oct–Dec 2025) | Consistent Seller | Steady Buyer | Sideways / Weak | Rupee Depreciation |
| Q4 FY26 (Jan–Mar 2026) | Heavy Sellers | Aggressive Buyer | Correction | Record FII Outflow |
| Q1 FY27 (Apr–May 2026) | Seller (moderating) | Strong Buyer | Stabilizing | Crude Oil, West Asia Tension |
Why Did FIIs Return to Selling Mode in August 2025?
After a promising April–July 2025 buying phase, several global and domestic factors reignited FII selling:
- Rupee Depreciation: The Indian Rupee depreciated over 11% against the US dollar in FY26 — the steepest fall since FY2012. This eroded dollar-denominated returns for foreign investors significantly.
- Global Tariff Disruptions: New US tariff measures and global trade uncertainty diverted foreign capital toward safer assets.
- MSCI Weight Reduction: India’s MSCI Emerging Markets weight declined from approximately 20% in September 2024 to 11.94% by April 2026, forcing passive ETF funds to mechanically reduce India allocations.
- Elevated Crude Oil Prices: Ongoing tensions in West Asia pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel, raising concerns about India’s import bill and inflation outlook.
Why Did DIIs Keep Buying So Consistently?
DIIs showed exceptional commitment throughout FY26 because of structural domestic tailwinds:
- Monthly SIP contributions formed a reliable floor of fresh capital entering equity mutual funds every month regardless of market level.
- LIC and insurance companies maintained long-term equity deployment mandates.
- In 2025, FIIs pulled money out because of global worries, but DIIs bought shares strongly, helping markets stay steady.
- Retail investors treated every correction as an opportunity to enter or average down.
Q&A: FII DII Data April 2025 to May 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What was the total FII outflow in calendar year 2026 up to May?
Foreign institutional investors withdrew more than ₹2.54 lakh crore from India’s secondary equity market in 2026 up to May, exceeding the nearly ₹2.4 lakh crore sold during the entire 2025 calendar year.
Q2. Which was the worst month of FII selling in FY2025-26?
March 2026 recorded the worst monthly FII outflow of the entire FY26 period, with net selling of ₹1,17,775 crore — the highest monthly outflow recorded that year.
Q3. Did DIIs fully absorb the FII selling during this period?
In most months, yes. August 2025 is the best example — while FIIs sold approximately ₹47,000 crore, DIIs bought close to ₹95,000 crore, more than doubling the absorption. However, the sheer magnitude of selling in March 2026 at ₹1.17 lakh crore tested even DII capacity.
Q4. Is the FII selling pressure easing in May 2026?
FPI equity selling tapered to ₹32,963 crore in May 2026 from ₹60,847 crore in April and a record ₹1,17,775 crore in March. The direction remains negative but the monthly intensity has roughly halved each month over this three-month period.
Q5. Which sectors attracted FII buying even during the sell-off of 2025-26?
Three sectors attracted meaningful net FPI buying in May 2026: Services ($751 million), Metals and Mining ($701 million), and Capital Goods ($292 million), together drawing approximately $1.75 billion of net FPI inflows.
Q6. What will bring FIIs back permanently to Indian markets?
A stable Indian Rupee, cooling crude oil prices, US Federal Reserve rate cuts, India’s GDP growth sustaining above 7%, and credible corporate earnings upgrades are the primary triggers analysts are watching. The structural domestic story of India remains intact — the question is only about timing of the FII reversal.
Conclusion
The FII DII data from April 2025 to May 2026 tells a story of two contrasting forces. Foreign investors, driven by currency pressure, MSCI rebalancing, global tariff tensions, and elevated oil prices, continued their sustained withdrawal from Indian equities. But India’s domestic institutional ecosystem — strengthened by decades of SIP culture building, a growing insurance corpus, and rising retail participation — proved capable of not just absorbing this selling but actually preventing any serious market collapse. In calendar year 2025, FIIs sold ₹1 lakh crore worth of Indian equities. Yet markets stayed resilient — a testament to how deeply domestic capital now roots Indian equity markets. As FII selling shows signs of tapering from its March 2026 peak, the stage may be setting for renewed institutional convergence in Indian markets ahead.
Note: Data sourced from NSDL, NSE India, and publicly reported FPI/FII data. All ₹ Crore figures are approximate monthly aggregates. Partial month estimates are marked accordingly. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial or investment advice.Please consult a SEBI-registered financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
