Axis CRISIL-IBX AAA Bond NBFC-HFC – Jun 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Axis CRISIL-IBX AAA Bond NBFC-HFC – Jun 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹11.2914 as of 28 Aug 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹7 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.1361%, 0% and 0%, and the fund sits in the Balanced Risk category.

Our view is that this is a low-cost, short-dated index fund with a concentrated credit-heavy portfolio and a relatively steady recent trend. The return profile is modest rather than standout, but the shorter maturity profile and AAA-focused corporate debt exposure may appeal to investors who want debt allocation visibility around the Jun 2027 horizon.

Quick facts

The fund is managed by Aditya Pagaria.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

The most recent month was stable, with a small positive return while the benchmark was negative. That suggests the fund held up better in a softer short-term market backdrop, even though the move itself was modest.

Over 3 months, the benchmark did better than the fund, which tells us the fund has not been the stronger short-term performer across every recent window. Even so, the fund stayed positive, and the pattern looks calmer than a volatile equity-style return path.

The 1-year figure is the clearest strength in the current record. The fund’s 6.14% return is comfortably ahead of the benchmark’s -2.29%, which shows that the fund has delivered a better full-year outcome than the benchmark used here. That gap matters because it suggests the fund has handled the one-year period more consistently than the benchmark.

At the same time, the longer-horizon fields do not yet add extra proof from 3-year or 5-year history. Because those periods are not available, our read is based more on the fund’s newer track record and its recent shape than on a long compounding history.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Peer comparison

The current fund’s 1-year return is much lower than the peer funds listed here, but that comparison is not apples-to-apples because those peers are growth-oriented equity-style index funds. On the available 3-year data, one peer also shows a much stronger figure, while most peer 3-year and 5-year fields are not available, so the longer-horizon comparison is limited.

That said, the current fund’s peer set reinforces the idea that its return profile is different from the higher-octane funds in the list. We see a debt-style outcome here, with steadier movement and lower return ambition, while the peer names shown carry materially higher recent gains. This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Market-cap distribution

Sector and holding mix

The portfolio is almost entirely placed in the Other Cap bucket, which is consistent with a debt-oriented index structure rather than an equity market-cap mix. Within the visible sector split, corporate debt is the dominant exposure at 90.91%, far above cash and equivalents at 8.58% and government securities at 0.51%.

That gap means corporate debt is likely to have the greatest influence on the fund’s behaviour. The two named corporate debt holdings together account for a meaningful part of the portfolio, while the cash bucket may mainly support liquidity and operational needs. Government securities are present, but only as a very small sleeve.

Our view is that the mix looks focused rather than diversified across many unrelated sectors. The fund’s behaviour is therefore more likely to be driven by the credit profile and maturity characteristics of the corporate debt holdings than by any broad market rotation.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with a Balanced Risk profile and want a debt-style allocation with a defined maturity theme. The recent return pattern is steady, and the 1-year result is better than the benchmark used here, but the longer history is still short.

The main trade-off is that the portfolio is concentrated in corporate debt, so the return potential is more measured than in equity-heavy options. Investors with a medium-term horizon and a preference for a more predictable credit-led structure may find the fund easier to understand than a broader market product.

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 Axis CRISIL-IBX AAA Bond NBFC-HFC – Jun 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹11.2914 as of 28 Aug 2026.

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

The fund’s 1-year return is 6.1361%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are not available in the current record.

How does the fund compare with its benchmark?

The fund’s 1-year return of 6.14% is better than the benchmark return of -2.29% for the same period. Over 3 months, the benchmark did better than the fund, so the short-term picture is mixed.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹1000.

What is the risk category and what does the portfolio look like?

The risk category is Balanced Risk. The portfolio is dominated by corporate debt at 90.91%, with cash and cash equivalents at 8.58% and government securities at 0.51%.

Who manages the fund and is there any exit load?

The fund is managed by Aditya Pagaria, and there is no exit load.

Bottom line

This fund shows a steadier recent profile than its benchmark, with the 1-year return holding up better even though the 3-month picture is less strong. Compared with the listed peers, the return level is clearly lower, but that difference reflects a very different debt-oriented structure rather than a simple like-for-like contest. The portfolio is concentrated in corporate debt, so investors are mainly taking a credit and maturity-driven outcome rather than broad market exposure.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 5:45 PM IST