Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund Direct Growth Plan is priced at ₹185.54 as of 28 Aug 2026, and its scheme AUM stands at ₹4,022 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -1.06%, 7.64% and 6.06%, respectively, and the fund is tagged as High Risk.

Our view is that this is a focused equity fund with a strong tilt toward technology and related businesses, so it can suit investors who are comfortable with sharper swings in return. The longer-term numbers are steady but not exceptional, and the recent 1-year decline shows that the path has not been smooth.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Kunal Sangoi.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

The recent picture is more constructive than the 1-year headline alone suggests. The fund has been firmer over 1 month and 3 months than the benchmark, which tells us the portfolio has participated well in the latest rebound phase.

Over 1 year, the fund is still negative, but the decline is less severe than the benchmark’s fall. That is important because it shows relative resilience in a difficult stretch, even though absolute returns have not yet turned into a strong one-year result.

The longer trend is mixed. The 3-year return is ahead of the benchmark, while the 5-year return trails it slightly. Our reading is that the fund has delivered acceptable compounding over medium horizons, but it has not consistently outpaced the index across full market cycles.

The movement pattern also points to noticeable ups and downs rather than a smooth climb. For investors, that means the fund can recover well in better phases, but it may also give back gains when the theme it owns falls out of favour.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Peer comparison

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

On the recent 1-year number, this fund trails the stronger peer returns by a wide margin, even though it stayed slightly ahead of the benchmark over the same period. The 3-year result is respectable in context, but it is lower than the better-performing peer that has both 1-year and 3-year figures available. The 5-year number is also more moderate than the longer-horizon peer with published data, so the peer set suggests that this fund has been steadier than spectacular.

The short-term comparison and longer-term comparison tell somewhat different stories. In the near term, the fund has not matched the most dynamic peers, but over 3 years it has held up better against the benchmark than over 5 years. Our read is that the current phase looks more supportive than the full-cycle record, which is useful for context when judging the fund’s style.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The portfolio is balanced between a large-cap base and meaningful mid-cap and small-cap exposure. Large caps form just over half of the mix, while mid caps and small caps together account for a little over 41%, so the fund is not built like a pure large-cap scheme.

The IT bucket is far larger than the other sectors at 61.50%, which makes the portfolio distinctly theme-led. Telecom and retailing are the next largest areas, but both are far smaller, so the fund’s behaviour may still be driven mainly by technology-linked names.

That concentration means sector swings may matter more here than in a broader equity fund. IT could have the greatest influence on returns, while the rest of the portfolio may add diversification but is unlikely to dominate the overall outcome.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can accept high volatility and who want exposure to a concentrated digital theme rather than a broad market basket. The 1-year loss, along with better 3-year results and a softer 5-year outcome, points to a return pattern that can improve over time but may remain uneven.

A longer investment horizon is important here because the fund’s theme-led portfolio can move sharply with sector sentiment. Investors who are comfortable with a large IT tilt and who do not need smooth year-by-year results may find the risk profile more workable.

The main trade-off is between thematic upside and consistency. The fund has shown periods of relative strength, but it also has stretches where returns lag or turn negative, so the price of concentration is a less predictable path.

Tax and exit load

Exit load

1% if units are sold on or before 30 days; nil after 30 days.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹185.54 as of 28 Aug 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
Its 1-year return is -1.06%, the 3-year return is 7.64%, and the 5-year return is 6.06%.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
The fund is ahead of the benchmark over 1 month, 3 months, 1 year and 3 years, but it trails slightly over 5 years.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

How concentrated is the portfolio?
The portfolio is heavily tilted toward IT at 61.50%, with large-cap exposure at 50.11%, mid-cap at 20.59% and small-cap at 21.04%.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Kunal Sangoi. The exit load is 1% if units are sold on or before 30 days, and nil after 30 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed record: recent performance is better than the benchmark over short horizons, but the 5-year return is only modest and slightly behind the index. The peer comparison also shows that stronger short-term numbers are available elsewhere, while this fund looks more restrained over longer periods. Its High Risk tag and 61.50% IT exposure make it a concentrated thematic option, so it fits investors who can tolerate volatility and want a focused digital play.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 2:38 PM IST