Axis Gilt Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 4, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Axis Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹28.4822 as of 08 Sep 2026 and manages ₹340 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 4.66%, 7.28% and 6.07%, while the risk category is Medium Risk. Our view is that this fund suits conservative debt investors who want government-securities exposure and can accept some interest-rate movement in exchange for steadier long-term compounding.
The mix is dominated by sovereign papers, with a large share in central and state government securities. That structure can help anchor portfolio quality, but it also means returns will largely depend on the direction of rates rather than credit selection.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹28.4822 as of 08 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹340 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.42% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹1,000 |
| Risk Category | Medium Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Debt |
| Exit Load | No exit load after holding period |
| Fund Managers | Devang Shah, Sachin Jain |
The fund is managed by Devang Shah and Sachin Jain.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -0.73% | -3.86% |
| 3M | 1.52% | 1.69% |
| 1Y | 4.66% | -5.72% |
| 3Y | 7.28% | 6.3% |
| 5Y | 6.07% | 6.05% |
The short-term pattern has been mixed, but the latest month is still less weak than the benchmark. Over 1 month, the fund fell by 0.73% while the benchmark fell by 3.86%, which shows better resilience even in a soft patch. The 3-month figure is positive and close to the benchmark, so recent behaviour has been orderly rather than dramatic.
The 1-year figure is the clearest positive in the set. The fund returned 4.66% while the benchmark stayed negative at -5.72%, which points to a meaningful difference in how the two have behaved through the year. That gap matters because it suggests the fund has handled the interest-rate environment more effectively than the benchmark reference.
Longer term, the picture is steadier. The 3-year return of 7.28% is ahead of the benchmark’s 6.3%, while the 5-year return of 6.07% is almost matched by the benchmark’s 6.05%. Our read is that the fund has delivered consistent compounding over time, but the edge is not uniform across every horizon.
The time pattern also suggests periods of softness followed by recovery rather than a straight line. For an investor, that usually means the fund can still move with rate cycles, but its longer-run record has been more stable than the recent one-year swing might imply.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Axis Gilt?
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 Axis Gilt? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 4.66% | 7.28% | 6.07% |
| Bandhan Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.79% | 7.96% | 6.4% |
| Franklin India Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.21% | 6.63% | 5.48% |
| Bandhan 10 year Constant Maturity Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.2% | 7.78% | 5.93% |
| UTI Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.17% | 6.69% | 5.76% |
| ICICI Pru Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.06% | 7.31% | 6.67% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On the latest 1-year data, the fund trails several peers, although it has still held up better than the benchmark reference. Over 3 years, it sits close to the stronger peer outcomes and ahead of the benchmark, and the 5-year result is respectable but not the strongest among the available comparisons. The short-term picture therefore looks softer than the longer-term one, while the longer horizon still shows credible compounding.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Want to know more? Log in to Univest for more mutual fund insights.
Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 6.94% Government of India (11/05/2036) | Government Securities | 41.81% |
| 7.24% Government of India (18/08/2055) | Government Securities | 16.96% |
| 7.09% Government of India (05/08/2054) | Government Securities | 6.93% |
| 7.86% Bihar State Development Loans (11/02/2039) | Government Securities | 5.94% |
| 7.71% Government of India (18/05/2066) | Government Securities | 5.93% |
| Clearing Corporation of India Ltd | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 5.69% |
| 7.49% Haryana State Development Loans (27/03/2035) | Government Securities | 4.32% |
| 364 Days Tbill (MD 02/10/2026) | Treasury Bills | 2.92% |
| 7.34% Government of India (22/04/2064) | Government Securities | 2.81% |
| 7.46% Government of India (06/11/2073) | Government Securities | 1.43% |
The largest holding alone accounts for 41.81% of the portfolio, so it is likely to have greater influence on day-to-day movements than any other single position. The drop from that position to the tenth holding, at 1.43%, is steep, which tells us the disclosed book is not evenly spread across the top names.
At the same time, the top 10 holdings together account for approximately 94.74% of the portfolio, and the fund discloses 18 holdings in total. That combination suggests a fairly concentrated structure within the disclosed book, with a small number of government securities carrying most of the weight.
Because the holdings are mostly sovereign and quasi-sovereign instruments, the portfolio may be more about interest-rate positioning than about security selection across many issuers. That can help keep credit quality high, but it also means the fund’s path may still be shaped by moves in bond yields.
To see all holdings, visit the Axis Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund is better suited to investors who are comfortable with Medium Risk and who can stay invested for at least a few years. The 3-year and 5-year figures show that the strategy has compounded reasonably well over time, but the 1-year result is softer than the longer-term trend, so patience matters.
The main trade-off is between stability of credit quality and sensitivity to interest-rate movement. The portfolio is built mostly around government securities, so it may appeal to investors who want a debt allocation with sovereign exposure, but the benchmark comparison also shows that near-term outcomes can move around.
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 after holding period.
Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Axis Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹28.4822 as of 08 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The returns are 4.66% for 1 year, 7.28% for 3 years and 6.07% for 5 years.
How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has beaten the benchmark on 1-year, 3-year and 5-year figures in the table, with the clearest gap seen over 1 year.
How does it compare with peer gilt funds?
Its 1-year return is below several peer funds, while its 3-year and 5-year figures are broadly competitive and close to some of the peer outcomes.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹1,000.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
Devang Shah and Sachin Jain manage the fund. The exit load is shown as no exit load after the holding period.
Bottom line
Axis Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan looks steadier over longer horizons than the latest 1-year result suggests. It has outpaced the benchmark across the reported windows, and it sits in the middle of a peer field where short-term results vary more widely than the longer record. The portfolio is heavily tilted toward government securities, which supports a conservative debt profile but also keeps it tied to rate movements. For investors with a medium-risk appetite and a multi-year horizon, that balance may be acceptable.
Published on 9 September 2026 at 3:30 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.