Bandhan Short Term Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 11, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Bandhan Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹65.9105 as of 10 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹8,730 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.55%, 7.81% and 6.5%, and the fund sits in the Balanced Risk category.
Our view is that this is a steady debt-oriented option rather than a high-octane return chase. The return pattern is consistent across longer periods, while the portfolio’s mix of repo, CDs, corporate debt and cash-like positions suggests a structure aimed more at stability than aggressive upside.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹65.9105 as of 10 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹8,730 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | Balanced Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Debt |
| Exit Load | No exit load |
| Fund Managers | Suyash Choudhary |
The fund is managed by Suyash Choudhary.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 0.23% | -4.06% |
| 3M | 1.94% | 1.37% |
| 1Y | 6.55% | -7.31% |
| 3Y | 7.81% | 6.07% |
| 5Y | 6.5% | 5.91% |
The recent profile is constructive. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund has stayed positive, and that matters because the benchmark has been more uneven over the same windows. The 1-month benchmark return is negative, while the fund is modestly positive, which points to a relatively smoother short-term path.
Over 1 year, the fund’s 6.55% return stands well ahead of the benchmark’s negative 7.31%. That is a meaningful difference, but it should be read as a phase of relative resilience rather than a promise of similar future separation. The monthly path also shows some short swings, which is normal for a debt fund carrying credit exposure and money-market style holdings.
The longer record is steadier. The 3-year return of 7.81% is above the benchmark’s 6.07%, and the 5-year return of 6.5% is also ahead of the benchmark’s 5.91%. Our read is that the fund has compounded at a measured pace over time, with the latest 1-year stretch looking stronger than the benchmark but not radically out of character versus its own longer-term profile.
Overall, the performance pattern supports a view of moderate compounding with some short-term variation, rather than a fund that depends on one sharp stretch of outperformance.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan Short Term?
A fund’s past returns alone don’t tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.
The right decision depends on factors such as your current allocation, purchase price, risk profile, investment horizon and the role this fund plays in your overall portfolio.
Already holding Bandhan Short Term? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.55% | 7.81% | 6.5% |
| Aditya Birla SL Medium Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 9.4% | 10.65% | 12.73% |
| ICICI Pru Medium Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.88% | 8.53% | 7.41% |
| Kotak Medium Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.65% | 9.04% | 7.43% |
| SBI Medium Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.16% | 7.89% | 6.87% |
| Axis Medium Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.1% | 8.45% | 7.37% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
On the recent 1-year number, the fund trails the stronger peer figures in this group, where the leading medium-term options have posted higher returns. The same gap shows up over 3 years and 5 years as well, which means the fund’s return profile is steadier but less assertive than several comparable choices.
That said, the comparison is not one-note. The fund’s 1-year return is still above the lower end of the peer set, and its 3-year and 5-year results are close to some of the more moderate peers. So the short-term and longer-term pictures both point to a middle-ground outcome: not the most forceful return profile in the set, but also not detached from the broader peer range.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Triparty Repo TRP_010926 | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 10.73% |
| Small Industries Dev Bank of India ** | Certificate of Deposit | 9.63% |
| 7.48% National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development | Corporate Debt | 5.14% |
| Axis Bank Limited ** | Certificate of Deposit | 4.86% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | Certificate of Deposit | 4.33% |
| Net Current Assets | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 3.27% |
| 7.07% Bajaj Finance Limited | Corporate Debt | 3.1% |
| 7.8% Tata Capital Housing Finance Limited ** | Corporate Debt | 2.86% |
| 8.15% Tata Capital Limited ** | Corporate Debt | 2.3% |
| 7.5% Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited ** | Corporate Debt | 2.29% |
The largest holding is Triparty Repo TRP_010926 at 10.73%, which tells us the fund keeps a meaningful slice in highly liquid positioning. The next few holdings are also in CDs and high-grade debt, so the portfolio looks built around balance rather than a single dominant credit bet.
The fall-off from the first holding to the tenth is fairly measured, moving from 10.73% to 2.29%. That pattern suggests no single position dominates the visible top bucket, even though the weights are clearly concentrated enough for the largest few names to matter more than the rest.
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 48.51% of the portfolio, and the fund has 51 disclosed holdings overall. Our read is that the visible book is concentrated in a relatively compact set of positions, but there is also a long tail beyond the largest names, which may soften single-security dependence.
To see all holdings, visit the Bandhan Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who are comfortable with debt-fund style variability and want a return profile that has held up reasonably well over 1, 3 and 5 years. The Balanced Risk category and the portfolio’s mix of repo, certificates of deposit and corporate debt point to a comparatively measured approach, but the return path has still shown short-term movement.
A longer holding period makes more sense than a very short parking horizon, because the fund’s 3-year and 5-year outcomes are better guides to its rhythm than any single month. The main trade-off is straightforward: investors may get steadier debt-oriented compounding than equity-like swings, but they should also accept that the benchmark comparison can vary across periods and that returns are not designed to be dramatic.
Tax and exit load
| Holding period | Tax rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Units held less than 1 year | 20% | Short-term capital gains tax |
| Units held more than 1 year | 12.5% | Long-term capital gains tax |
No exit load.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Bandhan Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹65.9105 as of 10 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are 6.55% for 1 year, 7.81% for 3 years and 6.5% for 5 years.
How has the fund compared with its benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is especially noticeable over the 1-year period.
How does it compare with the listed peer funds?
Its returns are below several of the medium-term peers shown here, especially on the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year horizons. It still sits within the broader range of peer outcomes rather than far outside it.
Is there a minimum SIP amount?
Yes. The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
What are the risk category, fund manager and exit load?
The fund is in the Balanced Risk category, is managed by Suyash Choudhary, and has no exit load.
Bottom line
Bandhan Short Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a steadier long-term return profile than its benchmark, and its 1-year outcome has also been better than the benchmark’s recent stretch. Relative to the listed peers, however, the fund’s returns are more moderate than several medium-term alternatives. The portfolio leans on repo, CDs and corporate debt, which supports a more measured debt-style profile. Overall, it looks suitable for investors who want balanced credit-and-liquidity exposure and can stay invested long enough for the smoother compounding pattern to matter.
Published on 11 September 2026 at 12:52 PM IST
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RIA disclosure
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. This review is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. (earlier known as Uniapps Global Research Pvt. Ltd.) under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639 for general informational purposes and is not personalized investment advice.