Franklin India Income Plus Arbitrage Active FoF Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 11, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Franklin India Income Plus Arbitrage Active FoF Direct Growth Plan has a current NAV of ₹25.4095 as of 09 Sep 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹143 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.39%, 12.65% and 11.05%, and the scheme sits in the Balanced Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors looking for a steadier hybrid-style allocation than an equity-heavy fund, but the recent return pattern is still more uneven than the longer-term record suggests.
The fund’s portfolio structure, built around debt, arbitrage and cash-oriented underlying funds, supports that balance. Compared with the benchmark’s weaker 1-year showing, the fund has held up better over the same period, while its 3-year and 5-year numbers still point to moderate compounding rather than aggressive growth.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹25.4095 as of 09 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹143 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% |
| Launch Date | 28 Nov 2014 |
| Min SIP | ₹500 |
| Risk Category | Balanced Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Fund of Fund |
| Exit Load | No exit load |
| Fund Managers | Rohan Maru, Pallab Roy, Rahul Goswami |
The fund is managed by Rohan Maru, Pallab Roy and Rahul Goswami.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 0.35% | -4.06% |
| 3M | 1.78% | 1.37% |
| 1Y | 6.39% | -7.31% |
| 3Y | 12.65% | 6.07% |
| 5Y | 11.05% | 5.91% |
The recent pattern is constructive. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund remained positive while the benchmark was flat to negative, which tells us the scheme has been more resilient in the latest stretch.
The 1-year figure is especially notable because the benchmark is negative over the same period. That does not make the fund a high-growth equity substitute, but it does show that the underlying mix has absorbed a weaker market backdrop better than the benchmark.
Longer-term, the story is more balanced. The 3-year and 5-year returns are both positive and comfortably ahead of the benchmark, yet they are still moderate rather than fast-moving. That profile fits a fund designed to combine income-oriented exposure with arbitrage and other low-volatility building blocks.
The return path also looks less linear than a pure debt-style product, with periods of mild recovery and soft patches before the longer compounding trend reasserted itself. For an investor, that means the scheme may be useful as a diversified allocation rather than a simple steady-return parking place.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Franklin India Income Plus Arbitrage Active FoF?
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 Franklin India Income Plus Arbitrage Active FoF? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin India Income Plus Arbitrage Active FoF Direct Growth Plan | 6.39% | 12.65% | 11.05% |
| SBI Silver ETF FOF Direct Growth Plan | 88.17% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Kotak Silver ETF FoF Direct Growth Plan | 86.54% | 46.64% | Data not available |
| Axis Silver FoF Direct Growth Plan | 85.6% | 46.72% | Data not available |
| Zerodha Silver ETF FoF Direct Growth Plan | 85.48% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Aditya Birla SL Silver ETF FOF Direct Growth Plan | 84.59% | 46.31% | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The fund’s 1-year return trails the silver-linked peer set by a wide margin, but that comparison is not really like-for-like because the peer group is built around a very different theme. Within its own style, the more relevant point is that Franklin’s scheme has a steadier longer record than the short-term figures alone imply.
Its 3-year and 5-year returns are respectable, and those longer windows are much more useful for judging a fund that mixes underlying debt, arbitrage and other income-oriented exposures. The short-term peer comparison tells one story about theme-driven momentum, while the longer-term comparison tells another story about steadier compounding.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Want to know more? Log in to Univest for more mutual fund insights.
Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin India Money Market Fund – Direct-Growth Plan | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 19.51% |
| Franklin India Corporate Bond Fund – Direct Plan – Growth | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 19.48% |
| Franklin India Arbitrage Fund – Direct Plan – Growth | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 19.41% |
| Franklin India Gilt Fund – Direct Plan – Growth | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 10.29% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Arbitrage Fund – Direct Plan – Growth | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 7.21% |
| Kotak Arbitrage Fund – Direct Plan – Growth | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 7.02% |
| Tata Arbitrage Fund – Direct Plan – Growth | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 6.84% |
| Axis Corporate Bond Fund – Direct Plan – Growth | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 4.04% |
| Kotak Corporate Bond Fund – Direct Plan – Growth | Domestic Mutual Funds Units | 3.31% |
| Call, Cash & Other Assets | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 2.16% |
The single largest holding is Franklin India Money Market Fund – Direct-Growth Plan at 19.51%, which is large enough to matter but not so dominant that one line item defines the scheme on its own. The next few positions are also close in size, with three holdings clustered around the 19% mark, so the portfolio does not lean on a single oversized bet.
Weight then steps down gradually into the high single digits and low single digits. By the tenth disclosed holding, the weight is 2.16%, which suggests a clear taper rather than a sudden drop-off.
Because the top 10 disclosed holdings together account for about 99.27% of the portfolio and 11 holdings are disclosed in total, the visible allocation looks highly concentrated in a small set of underlying funds. That concentration may make the return pattern more dependent on the behaviour of a few sleeve-level exposures, even though the underlying mix itself still spans money market, corporate bond, arbitrage, gilt and cash-oriented holdings.
To see all holdings, visit the Franklin India Income Plus Arbitrage Active FoF Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This scheme fits investors who can accept Balanced Risk exposure and want a fund that behaves more steadily than a broad equity allocation. Its 1-year return has been positive even while the benchmark has been negative, and the 3-year and 5-year numbers show that the fund has been able to compound over time without relying on aggressive swings.
The main trade-off is that the fund’s return profile is moderate rather than high-octane. It may suit a medium- to longer-horizon investor who values smoother participation across debt, arbitrage and other underlying income-oriented sleeves, while accepting that short-term bursts of performance are unlikely to resemble theme-led equity products.
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 |
Exit load: No exit load.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Franklin India Income Plus Arbitrage Active FoF Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹25.4095 as of 09 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is 6.39%, the 3-year return is 12.65%, and the 5-year return is 11.05%.
How does the fund compare with the benchmark?
It has outperformed the benchmark across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is widest at 1 year, where the fund is positive while the benchmark is negative.
How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
The fund’s 1-year return is much lower than the silver-linked peer funds shown here, while its 3-year and 5-year figures are more useful for judging its own style. Those peer funds are built around a different theme, so the comparison is best read as a return snapshot rather than a like-for-like verdict.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.
Who manages the fund and does it have an exit load?
The fund is managed by Rohan Maru, Pallab Roy and Rahul Goswami. It has no exit load.
Bottom line
Franklin India Income Plus Arbitrage Active FoF Direct Growth Plan has a steadier longer record than its short-term path alone suggests. The fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark over the recent windows as well as over 3 years and 5 years, but the return profile remains moderate rather than aggressive. Its portfolio is built from a small set of underlying fund exposures, so a few sleeves are likely to have greater influence on outcomes. That makes it better suited to investors who want balanced-risk exposure and can hold through uneven periods.
Published on 11 September 2026 at 3:38 PM IST
Explore mutual funds with Univest
Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.
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.