Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 18, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹11.4083 as of 17 Sep 2026, with scheme AUM of ₹49 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 3.86%, Data not available and Data not available, and the fund sits in the Medium Risk category.
Our view is that this is a conservatively positioned debt scheme with a government-securities-heavy portfolio, so it may suit investors who value relatively steady credit quality more than fast return generation. The recent return pattern is modest, and the benchmark comparison suggests the fund has held up better than Nifty 50 over the same recent periods.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹11.4083 as of 17 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹49 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.31% |
| Launch Date | 20 Mar 2024 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | Medium Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Debt |
| Exit Load | No exit load |
| Fund Managers | Gautam Kaul |
The fund is managed by Gautam Kaul.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -1.3% | -3.66% |
| 3M | 0.62% | -3.71% |
| 1Y | 3.86% | -7.13% |
| 3Y | Data not available | Data not available |
| 5Y | Data not available | Data not available |
The 1-month and 3-month figures show a cautious but uneven near-term path. The fund was slightly negative over 1 month, but it remained better than the benchmark in that window, and it also posted a positive 3-month return while the benchmark stayed negative.
The 1-year return is the clearest usable medium-term signal here. At 3.86%, the fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark’s -7.13% over the same period, which tells us that the scheme has been more resilient than Nifty 50 in a year when the benchmark was under pressure. That said, the fund’s own 1-year path is not especially strong in absolute terms.
For a debt scheme, the chart pattern matters as much as the headline return. The recent sequence suggests some recovery after weaker patches, but not a smooth compounding profile. In our view, the fund has behaved more like a defensive fixed-income vehicle than a return-seeking growth engine.
Because 3-year and 5-year figures are not yet available, we would be careful about drawing any long-cycle conclusion. The live track record is still short, so the most reliable read is on recent stability and benchmark protection rather than long-horizon outperformance.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Bandhan Long Term?
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 Long Term? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 4.06% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 3.86% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Aditya Birla SL Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 3.18% | 6.5% | Data not available |
| ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 2.5% | 6.38% | 5.25% |
| SBI Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan | 2.43% | 6.04% | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
On the most recent 1-year figure, the fund sits close to the stronger peer names in this set, but Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has a slightly better return at 4.06%. The gap is not wide, so the recent story is one of competitive but not leading performance.
The longer-horizon picture is less complete for this fund because 3-year and 5-year returns are not available. Among peers with longer records, ICICI Pru Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan and SBI Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan both show solid 3-year outcomes, while ICICI Pru also has a 5-year return of 5.25%. That makes the peer set look more established on multi-year performance than this scheme.
So the short-term comparison is fairly balanced, but the longer-term comparison currently favours peer schemes that have a fuller record. For investors who want a newer debt fund with a stable recent profile, this fund is usable; for those who need evidence across full market cycles, the available peer history is more informative.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 7.3% GOI (MD 19/06/2053) | Government Securities | 55.22% |
| Triparty Repo TRP_010926 | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 12.93% |
| 7.06% GOI (MD 27/07/2041) | Government Securities | 10.14% |
| 7.46% GOI (MD 06/11/2073) | Government Securities | 9.93% |
| 6.9% GOI (MD 15/04/2065) | Government Securities | 9.24% |
| Net Current Assets | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 1.33% |
| Corporate Debt Market Development Fund Class A2 | Alternative Investment Fund | 1.22% |
We see a very concentrated government-debt pattern at the top of the portfolio. The largest holding alone is 55.22%, which means more than half of the scheme is tied to a single long-dated sovereign exposure.
The drop from the largest holding to the rest is steep, but the next four positions still add meaningful weight. After the top name, the portfolio moves into cash-like exposure and then several other government securities, which may keep the credit profile relatively conservative even though duration exposure can still matter.
All disclosed holdings together account for 100% of the portfolio across 7 rows, so there is no long tail in the visible portfolio. In our view, that makes the scheme’s behaviour likely to be driven mainly by the movements of a handful of sovereign securities rather than by broad diversification across many issuers.
Source data date: as of 17 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund fits investors who are comfortable with Medium Risk and who can stay invested long enough for a debt portfolio to work through rate cycles. The 1-year return is modest, and the absence of 3-year and 5-year records means the scheme is still building a longer track record.
It may appeal to investors who prefer government securities and a portfolio that is heavily anchored in sovereign paper rather than credit-heavy spread exposure. The trade-off is that the return profile has been restrained so far, so investors are accepting steadier positioning in exchange for only moderate recent performance. On the available evidence, it is better suited to a measured, patient allocation than to anyone looking for fast upside.
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 17 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its current NAV is ₹11.4083 as of 17 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The 1-year return is 3.86%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are Data not available.
How has it compared with its benchmark?
It has held up better than Nifty 50 over the recent periods shown. The fund posted -1.3% over 1 month, 0.62% over 3 months and 3.86% over 1 year, while the benchmark was negative in all three periods.
How does it compare with peer funds on recent returns?
Its 1-year return of 3.86% is close to Franklin India Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan at 4.06% and ahead of several longer-running peers that show lower 1-year figures. The comparison is less complete on 3-year and 5-year returns because this fund does not yet have those figures available.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Gautam Kaul, and the exit load is no exit load.
Bottom line
Bandhan Long Term Fund Direct Growth Plan has shown a modest but steadier recent return profile than Nifty 50, even though its own absolute return is not high. Its peer comparison is respectable on the 1-year figure, but the lack of 3-year and 5-year history keeps the longer-term picture incomplete. The portfolio is heavily concentrated in government securities, with one large sovereign holding dominating the mix. That makes the scheme more suitable for investors who want a debt-oriented, relatively conservative structure and can accept a restrained return path.
Published on 18 September 2026 at 1:04 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.