Bandhan CRISIL IBX Gilt April 2028 Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 17, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Bandhan CRISIL IBX Gilt April 2028 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹13.9924 as of 16 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹3,397 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.46%, 7.33% and 6.07%, and it sits in the Balanced Risk category. Our view is that the fund suits investors who want gilt exposure with a defined maturity profile and a steadier return pattern than equity-linked options, while still accepting some movement in rates and prices.
The portfolio is almost entirely in government securities, which gives the scheme a clear duration-led character. That makes the return path more dependent on interest-rate trends than on credit selection, and the recent numbers show a fund that has held up better over longer periods than the benchmark, even though the very latest stretch has been softer.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹13.9924 as of 16 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹3,397 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.21% |
| Launch Date | 23 Mar 2021 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | Balanced Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Index Funds |
| Exit Load | No exit load |
| Fund Managers | Harshal Joshi, Gautam Kaul |
The fund is managed by Harshal Joshi and Gautam Kaul.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 0.16% | -4.41% |
| 3M | 1.14% | -3.60% |
| 1Y | 5.46% | -7.76% |
| 3Y | 7.33% | 5.74% |
| 5Y | 6.07% | 5.67% |
Recent performance has been firmer than the benchmark across the shorter windows. The fund was slightly positive over 1 month and 3 months, while the benchmark stayed negative in both periods. That points to a more resilient near-term pattern for the scheme, even though the move is still modest in absolute terms.
The 1-year return is also meaningfully ahead of the benchmark, which matters because the benchmark is showing a negative 1-year number. In our view, that gap suggests the fund has navigated the rate backdrop better over the last year than the benchmark track it is measured against.
Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund stays ahead of the benchmark on a return basis. The 3-year and 5-year figures are not especially high in absolute terms, but they are steadier than the benchmark’s same-period returns. The overall pattern is one of gradual compounding rather than sharp swings, with the latest short-term recovery sitting inside a longer record that has been positive but not aggressive.
The time pattern also matters. The fund’s path shows a relatively measured climb, with occasional pauses, rather than a dramatic rally or a deep drawdown. That is consistent with a gilt strategy whose outcome depends heavily on rate moves and bond-price sensitivity, so the return experience can change when the rate cycle turns.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan CRISIL IBX Gilt April 2028 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 Bandhan CRISIL IBX Gilt April 2028 Index? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan CRISIL IBX Gilt April 2028 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.46% | 7.33% | 6.07% |
| ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 29.31% | 30.01% | Data not available |
| Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 21.45% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 21.13% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty MidSmall Financial Services Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 20.68% | Data not available | Data not available |
| ICICI Pru Nifty Pharma Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 17.57% | 18.84% | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
On 1-year returns, the fund trails the faster-growing equity-oriented peer names in this table, but that comparison is not the most relevant one for a gilt strategy. A more useful read is that its 3-year and 5-year numbers remain positive and reasonably steady, while peers with strong 1-year figures often have no longer-term track record available here.
The peer set tells two different stories. In the short term, the fund looks much more subdued than the equity-led peers. Over 3 years and 5 years, however, the fund’s return profile is more complete and more stable than several peers that only have a 1-year figure to compare. That makes the scheme look like a lower-volatility fixed-income option rather than a return-chasing fund.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 7.17% GOI (MD 08/01/2028) | Government Securities | 58.04% |
| 8.28% GOI (M/D 21/09/2027) | Government Securities | 24.43% |
| 6.64% GOI (MD 09/12/2027) | Government Securities | 14.85% |
| Net Current Assets | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 1.68% |
| Triparty Repo TRP_010926 | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 0.88% |
The largest holding, 7.17% GOI (MD 08/01/2028), accounts for 58.04% of the portfolio, so it is likely to have the greatest influence on day-to-day movements. The second and third holdings still carry meaningful weights at 24.43% and 14.85%, which means the portfolio is heavily shaped by a few sovereign bond lines rather than a long spread of smaller positions.
Weight drops sharply after the three main government securities. The cash and near-cash entries are much smaller at 1.68% and 0.88%, so the disclosed portfolio looks tightly focused on the maturity and price behaviour of those government securities. With the five disclosed holdings already accounting for 99.88% of the portfolio, there is very little room in the visible allocation for a long tail to change the overall picture.
That structure may help the fund stay transparent and easy to read, but it also means interest-rate changes around these securities could matter more than they would in a more diversified bond portfolio. In practical terms, the scheme behaves like a concentrated gilt exposure with limited cash support rather than a broadly spread fixed-income mix.
Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund may suit investors who can tolerate moderate price movement and want government-securities exposure with a defined maturity theme. The return pattern is steadier than the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years, but it is still shaped by interest-rate conditions, so the short-term path can differ from the longer-term trend.
A longer holding horizon makes more sense here than a short trading horizon, because gilt returns tend to build through rate cycles rather than through quick jumps. The main trade-off is that the portfolio is concentrated in a few sovereign securities, so the fund can be sensitive to rate moves even though credit risk is low.
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 16 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Bandhan CRISIL IBX Gilt April 2028 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹13.9924 as of 16 Sep 2026.
How has the fund performed over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years?
Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.46%, 7.33% and 6.07%.
How does the fund compare with its benchmark?
It is ahead of the benchmark across 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The benchmark returns are negative over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, while the fund stays positive in those periods.
Which peer fund has the highest 1-year return in the comparison table?
ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan shows the highest 1-year return in the table at 29.31%. The other equity-oriented peers also show stronger 1-year returns than this gilt fund.
Is there a minimum SIP amount?
Yes, the minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
Who manages the fund and does it have an exit load?
The fund is managed by Harshal Joshi and Gautam Kaul. It has no exit load.
Bottom line
This fund’s short-term return pattern is better than the benchmark, while its longer-term record stays positive and fairly measured rather than fast-moving. Compared with the peer set, it looks modest on 1-year returns but more stable on longer windows, which fits a gilt strategy better than an equity-style return chase. The Balanced Risk label and the portfolio’s heavy concentration in government securities make it a focused rate-sensitive fund. It may suit investors who want a defined sovereign-bond exposure and can stay invested through rate cycles.
Published on 17 September 2026 at 9:48 AM 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.