Nippon India Gilt Fund-DMDO-Direct Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 11, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Nippon India Gilt Fund-DMDO-Direct Plan is an open-ended debt fund with a current NAV of ₹44.4537 as of 10 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹1,517 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 4.26%, 6.47% and 5.67% respectively, and the scheme sits in the Medium Risk category.
Our view is that this is a relatively steady gilt fund for conservative debt allocation, with longer-run returns that have held up better than its benchmark and a portfolio anchored in government securities. The trade-off is clear: the fund is built for interest-rate sensitivity rather than aggressive return seeking, so the pattern is more about stability and measured compounding than sharp upside.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹44.4537 as of 10 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹1,517 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.5% |
| Launch Date | 23 Jul 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹100 |
| Risk Category | Medium Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Debt |
| Exit Load | 0.25% on or before 7D, Nil after 7D |
| Fund Managers | Pranay Sinha, Kinjal Desai |
The fund is managed by Pranay Sinha and Kinjal Desai.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -0.79% | -4.06% |
| 3M | 1.82% | 1.37% |
| 1Y | 4.26% | -7.31% |
| 3Y | 6.47% | 6.07% |
| 5Y | 5.67% | 5.91% |
The recent pattern is constructive. Over one month, the fund was mildly negative, but that decline was still smaller than the benchmark’s fall, which points to better short-term resilience. The 3-month return also improved, and the move from a weak one-month reading to a positive 3-month reading suggests the fund recovered some ground as conditions stabilised.
The clearer story appears over longer horizons. The 1-year return is 4.26%, while the benchmark is deeply negative at -7.31%, so the fund has clearly handled the past year better. That said, the 3-year return of 6.47% is only a touch ahead of the benchmark’s 6.07%, and the 5-year return of 5.67% is slightly below the benchmark’s 5.91%.
That mix tells us the fund has not moved in a straight line. There were periods of pressure and recovery, but the longer pattern still looks orderly for a gilt strategy. For investors, the key point is that this is not a high-growth profile; it is a rate-sensitive debt fund that has generally preserved a steadier trajectory than the benchmark in the more recent period.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Nippon India Gilt Fund-DMDO-Direct Plan?
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 Nippon India Gilt Fund-DMDO-Direct Plan? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon India Gilt Fund-DMDO-Direct Plan | 4.26% | 6.47% | 5.67% |
| Bandhan Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 7.94% | 7.99% | 6.38% |
| Franklin India Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 6.49% | 6.64% | 5.48% |
| UTI Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.34% | 6.72% | 5.75% |
| Bandhan 10 year Constant Maturity Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.31% | 7.81% | 5.9% |
| ICICI Pru Gilt Fund Direct Growth Plan | 5.22% | 7.25% | 6.62% |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
The recent 1-year return trails the stronger peer figures in this group, where several funds are above 5% and one is close to 8%. That makes the fund look softer on the latest 12-month stretch, even though it did better than the benchmark over the same period.
On the longer horizon, the picture is more mixed. The 3-year return is respectable and close to the middle of the peer set, but the 5-year return sits below some of the better peer outcomes and only modestly above the benchmark. So the short-term comparison is weaker than the long-term one, but neither horizon points to a standout peer profile.
For investors, that means the fund’s appeal lies more in its stability and benchmark-relative defence than in leading peer-style return delivery.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 7.34% Government of India | Government Securities | 12.23% |
| Triparty Repo | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 9.76% |
| 6.9% Government of India | Government Securities | 8.38% |
| Net Current Assets | Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets | 8.01% |
| 7.24% Government of India | Government Securities | 6.66% |
| 7.25% Government of India | Government Securities | 6.28% |
| 6.79% Government of India | Government Securities | 5.49% |
| 182 Days Tbill | Treasury Bills | 4.94% |
| 6.36% Government of India | Government Securities | 4.9% |
| 7.3% Government of India | Government Securities | 4.47% |
The largest holding is 7.34% Government of India at 12.23%, so a single sovereign paper still carries meaningful weight. That can matter in a gilt fund because the portfolio is likely to be more sensitive to changes in government bond yields than a broader credit-oriented debt fund.
Weight then steps down fairly gradually from the top holding into a cluster of other government securities, cash-like positions and a treasury bill. The tenth holding is 4.47%, which shows that the visible sleeve is not dominated by one or two oversized positions alone, even though the first few holdings still have the greatest influence.
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 71.12% of the portfolio, and the fund discloses 25 holdings in total. That tells us the portfolio is meaningfully concentrated in its largest exposures, but there is also a longer tail beyond the top 10 that may help spread day-to-day movements across several sovereign and cash positions.
To see all holdings, visit the Nippon India Gilt Fund-DMDO-Direct Plan page
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who are comfortable with medium risk and want a debt allocation built around government securities rather than corporate credit. The return pattern suggests a more dependable longer-term profile than a pure tactical debt bet, with the strongest recent stretch coming in the past year relative to the benchmark.
An investor in this fund should have a medium-term to long-term horizon and accept that gilt returns can move with interest-rate cycles. The main trade-off is between benchmark-style defence and the possibility of periods where returns stay modest or uneven, especially when rates shift sharply. It may fit investors who value sovereign bond exposure and want a relatively measured debt holding.
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: 0.25% if units are sold on or before 7 days; nil after 7 days.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Nippon India Gilt Fund-DMDO-Direct Plan?
The current NAV is ₹44.4537 as of 10 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is 4.26%, the 3-year return is 6.47% and the 5-year return is 5.67%.
How has it compared with the benchmark?
It has done better than the benchmark over 1 year, slightly better over 3 years and slightly below over 5 years. The one-year difference is the clearest, with the fund holding up while the benchmark was negative.
How does it compare with other gilt funds on recent returns?
Its 1-year return is lower than several peer gilt funds in the comparison set, while its 3-year and 5-year figures sit in the middle of the group rather than at the very top. The peer table shows a mixed picture rather than a uniform lead or lag.
What is the exit load?
The exit load is 0.25% if units are sold on or before 7 days, and nil after 7 days.
Who manages the fund?
The fund is managed by Pranay Sinha and Kinjal Desai.
Bottom line
Nippon India Gilt Fund-DMDO-Direct Plan has shown a steadier recent stretch than its benchmark, especially over the past year, while its longer-term record remains broadly respectable rather than dominant. Compared with peers, the fund looks mixed on available return data: softer on 1 year, reasonable on 3 years and not far from the benchmark on 5 years. The portfolio is centred on government securities, which fits its Medium Risk profile and makes it a more sovereign-bond-led debt option for investors who can accept rate sensitivity and uneven short-term moves.
Published on 11 September 2026 at 11:07 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.