Motilal Oswal Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 16, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Motilal Oswal Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan is an index fund with a ₹20.1931 NAV as of 15 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹892 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -6.88%, 5.67% and 6.76%, and it carries a High Risk tag. Our view is that this fund suits investors who want simple Nifty 50 exposure and can accept near-term swings in exchange for benchmark-linked participation over a longer horizon.
The fund’s low expense ratio of 0.12% supports a cost-conscious approach, while the portfolio is built around large, established Indian companies. That mix may help it track the market closely, but it also means recent performance can move sharply with the benchmark and with broader equity sentiment.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹20.1931 as of 15 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹892 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% |
| Launch Date | 23 Dec 2019 |
| Min SIP | ₹500 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Index Funds |
| Exit Load | No exit load |
| Fund Managers | Swapnil P Mayekar, Dishant Mehta, Rakesh Shetty |
The fund is managed by Swapnil P Mayekar, Dishant Mehta and Rakesh Shetty.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -4.79% | -4.81% |
| 3M | -3.11% | -3.63% |
| 1Y | -6.88% | -8.27% |
| 3Y | 5.67% | 5.59% |
| 5Y | 6.76% | 5.58% |
The recent pattern is soft, but it is not meaningfully worse than the benchmark. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund stayed close to Nifty 50, which tells us the portfolio has behaved like a true index product rather than trying to protect capital when the market weakened. The 1-year figure is still negative, yet it is better than the benchmark’s decline, so the fund has held up slightly better over that stretch.
The longer view is steadier. The 3-year and 5-year returns are both positive, and the fund is ahead of the benchmark in each of those periods by a small margin. That points to tracking discipline with modest value added from implementation, rather than a strategy that departs materially from the index. For an investor, that is the main appeal: broad market exposure with returns that have stayed very close to Nifty 50 across full market cycles.
The time pattern also suggests the fund has passed through a choppy phase rather than a structural break. The shorter windows show weakness and recovery around a low base, while the 3-year and 5-year stretches still leave the fund in positive territory. In our view, that combination is typical of an index fund tied to large-cap equities, where the outcome depends more on market direction than on active stock selection.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Motilal Oswal Nifty 50 Index?
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 Motilal Oswal Nifty 50 Index? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motilal Oswal Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | -6.88% | 5.67% | 6.76% |
| ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 32.61% | 29.92% | Data not available |
| Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 25.91% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 21.71% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty MidSmall Financial Services Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 20.15% | Data not available | Data not available |
| ICICI Pru Nifty Pharma Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 18.11% | 18.92% | Data not available |
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 weaker than the peer figures shown here, but that comparison is not very informative by itself because the peers track different themes. What matters more is that the fund’s 3-year and 5-year numbers are positive and close to the benchmark, which is a more relevant sign for a Nifty 50 index strategy.
Among the peers with longer history in this list, the current fund is broadly in line on the longer horizon against the benchmark-focused comparisons, while some thematic funds show much stronger short-term numbers. That creates two different stories: the current fund looks conservative and index-like, while the thematic peers have delivered sharper recent gains but on a very different return path.
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 9.85% |
| ICICI Bank Limited | Bank | 9.45% |
| Reliance Industries Limited | Crude Oil | 7.83% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | Telecom | 5% |
| Larsen & Toubro Limited | Infrastructure | 4.3% |
| State Bank of India | Bank | 3.98% |
| Infosys Limited | IT | 3.61% |
| Axis Bank Limited | Bank | 3.39% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd | Bank | 2.8% |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Limited | Automobile & Ancillaries | 2.66% |
The largest holding, HDFC Bank Limited, carries a 9.85% weight, which is sizeable but still consistent with a diversified large-cap index approach. The fall from the first holding to the tenth is fairly gradual rather than abrupt, which suggests the portfolio is not dominated by a single stock.
The top 10 holdings together account for approximately 52.87% of the portfolio, and there are 49 disclosed holdings in total. That tells us the fund may still be influenced most by its biggest financials and large private-sector names, but the remaining exposure is spread across a longer tail of positions. The portfolio therefore looks concentrated enough for the largest names to matter, while still broad enough to avoid relying on only a handful of stocks.
To see all holdings, visit the Motilal Oswal Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is suitable for investors who can tolerate High Risk and want a straightforward large-cap equity allocation rather than an active stock-picking style. The positive 3-year and 5-year returns, despite a weak 1-year number, suggest it is better viewed as a long-horizon market exposure than a short-term performance play.
Its closest fit is for investors with a medium-to-long investment horizon who want Nifty 50 exposure at a low cost and are comfortable with benchmark-like ups and downs. The main trade-off is that the fund may not protect capital in weak markets, but it does offer diversified participation in the market’s largest names without relying on manager calls.
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 15 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Motilal Oswal Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹20.1931 as of 15 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is -6.88%, the 3-year return is 5.67% and the 5-year return is 6.76%.
How has the fund done versus the Nifty 50 benchmark?
It is close to the benchmark over short periods, and it is slightly ahead over 3 years and 5 years. Over 1 year, it has also held up better than the benchmark’s decline.
Who manages the fund?
The fund is managed by Swapnil P Mayekar, Dishant Mehta and Rakesh Shetty.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.
What is the exit load and risk level?
There is no exit load. The fund is tagged High Risk, so investors need to be comfortable with equity market volatility.
Bottom line
Motilal Oswal Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a weaker 1-year showing, but its 3-year and 5-year returns stay positive and close to the benchmark, which fits an index fund more than an active return-chasing product. Compared with the peer set shown here, its recent return is modest, while its longer-run profile is more balanced. The portfolio is led by large financials and other market leaders, so the fund is likely to behave like broad large-cap India exposure rather than a differentiated satellite bet.
Published on 16 September 2026 at 2:14 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.