Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Sep 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Sep 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹12.9683 as of 28 August 2026 and an AUM of ₹40 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.0862%, 7.5979% and 0% respectively, and the scheme is tagged as Balanced Risk. Our view is that this is a niche index fund for investors who want a debt-oriented allocation linked to state government securities, with modest return potential and relatively contained portfolio complexity.

It also has a low expense ratio of 0.2% and a minimum SIP of ₹500. The fund’s return profile has been steadier over 3 years than in the most recent 1-year period, but the 5-year figure is not available as a meaningful track record. That makes it more relevant for investors looking at a targeted fixed-income-style index exposure rather than a high-growth equity fund.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Harshil Suvarnkar.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

In the latest 1-month period, the fund was positive while the benchmark was negative, which points to a cleaner short-term result for the scheme. The 3-month period was also positive, although the benchmark did better over that window, so the recent picture is mixed rather than uniformly strong.

The 1-year number is the clearest difference: the fund stayed positive while the benchmark was negative, which suggests it held up better over the past year. That matters because the fund is not being judged against a volatile equity-style outcome; instead, investors are looking for steadier fixed-income behaviour, and the recent 1-year outcome supports that view.

Over 3 years, the fund’s return is ahead of the benchmark, but not by a wide margin. The broader pattern is one of gradual compounding rather than sharp jumps, and that fits a debt-index strategy where the main objective is to follow a defined portfolio closely and preserve relative stability. We do not see a dramatic change in trend; instead, the fund’s shorter windows and 3-year record point to moderate, controlled movement.

At the same time, the absence of a meaningful 5-year record means investors should not treat the fund as a long-established compounding story. The available track record is enough to judge the recent pattern, but it still leaves less history than a longer-running core debt option would provide.

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.

The current fund’s 1-year return is far below the peer returns shown here, while its 3-year return is also more subdued than the stronger longer-window result posted by ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan. That does not automatically make the fund unsuitable, because the comparison funds belong to different themes, but it does show that this scheme has not delivered the same pace of return.

On the other hand, the current fund’s 3-year result is available and positive, while several peers do not have longer-window figures in the table. So the short-term comparison clearly favours the higher-return peers, but the longer-window comparison is less complete and should be read as a difference in both strategy and track record depth.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The portfolio is entirely in the “other” bucket, which fits a debt-style index strategy rather than an equity mix. That means the fund is not trying to spread exposure across listed-company size buckets; instead, it is concentrated in sovereign-linked instruments and liquidity balances.

Government Securities dominate the portfolio at 95.97%, so this single segment is likely to have the greatest influence on the fund’s day-to-day behaviour. The cash and cash equivalent portion at 4.03% is small, and it mainly supports operations rather than changing the overall direction of the scheme.

The two state government security holdings together show the main structure of the fund, but we would still read the portfolio as securities-led rather than stock-led. The concentration is material because the largest sector is overwhelmingly larger than the rest, yet it is also consistent with the fund’s stated index style.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better suited to investors who are comfortable with a Balanced Risk profile and who can hold for a medium to longer horizon rather than chasing short-term gains. The recent 1-year result is positive, and the 3-year record remains ahead of the benchmark, but the overall return level is still modest compared with stronger-returning peer strategies.

The main trade-off is that the portfolio is concentrated in government securities, so investors get a targeted fixed-income-style exposure instead of diversified equity participation. That makes the fund more suitable for those who value structure, transparency and relatively steadier movement, while accepting that return potential may remain limited.

Tax and exit load

Exit load: No exit load.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Sep 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹12.9683 as of 28 August 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?

The fund’s 1-year return is 6.0862%, the 3-year return is 7.5979%, and the 5-year return is not available as a meaningful figure here.

How has the fund performed against the benchmark?

It has done better than the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years. Over 1 month, the fund was also positive while the benchmark was negative, but over 3 months the benchmark was ahead.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

What is the portfolio mix of this fund?

The portfolio is 100% in the other bucket, with 95.97% in Government Securities and 4.03% in Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets.

Who manages this fund and is there an exit load?

The fund is managed by Harshil Suvarnkar. There is no exit load.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Sep 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steadier 3-year pattern than the benchmark, while the most recent 1-year result is still positive. Compared with the peer returns shown here, it is less aggressive on return, but its portfolio is also more focused and more debt-like, with Government Securities forming the clear core. That combination makes it better suited to investors who want a targeted, moderate-risk index exposure and are comfortable with a relatively measured return profile.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 5:17 PM IST