Nippon India Index Fund-Nifty 50(B)-Direct Plan Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- September 11, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
Nippon India Index Fund-Nifty 50 Plan(B)-Direct Plan currently has a NAV of ₹43.3801 as of 10 Sep 2026 and an AUM of ₹3,883 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -4.85%, 6.77% and 7.2%, and the scheme carries a High Risk label.
Our view is that this is a straightforward Nifty 50 index fund for investors who want core large-cap market exposure rather than an active stock-picking approach. The portfolio is concentrated in large banks and other heavyweight names, so the fund can closely reflect the benchmark while still moving through periods of short-term weakness.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹43.3801 as of 10 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹3,883 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Index Funds |
| Exit Load | No exit load |
| Fund Managers | Himanshu Mange |
The fund is managed by Himanshu Mange.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -4.03% | -4.06% |
| 3M | 1.93% | 1.37% |
| 1Y | -4.85% | -7.31% |
| 3Y | 6.77% | 6.07% |
| 5Y | 7.2% | 5.91% |
The short-term numbers point to a mixed year. The fund was slightly less weak than the benchmark over 1 month and 1 year, and it also held up better over 3 months. That tells us the fund has stayed fairly close to the index while avoiding some of the sharper down moves the benchmark has seen in the latest 12 months.
The longer view is steadier. Over 3 years and 5 years, the fund has been ahead of NIFTY 50 by a modest margin, which is what we would expect from a low-cost index product that stays closely aligned with the market. The edge is not large, but it does show that the fund has delivered slightly better compounding than the benchmark over full market cycles.
The month-to-month path also suggests normal index-style volatility rather than a one-direction pattern. There have been stretches of recovery and pullback, but nothing that looks detached from the broad market move. For investors, that means the fund is best judged on cycle-based holding periods rather than short bursts of performance.
Overall, recent weakness does not erase the stronger 3-year and 5-year trend. The fund has remained close to benchmark behaviour, which is useful when the goal is broad large-cap exposure with limited style drift.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD Nippon India Index Fund-Nifty 50 Plan(B)-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 Index Fund-Nifty 50 Plan(B)-Direct Plan? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon India Index Fund-Nifty 50 Direct Growth Plan | -4.85% | 6.77% | 7.2% |
| ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 33.08% | 30.07% | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 26.95% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 26.94% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 24.33% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 23.74% | Data not available | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On a 1-year view, this fund trails the best peer returns by a wide margin, because the peers shown here are very different thematic or overseas strategies. The more useful comparison is that the fund’s 3-year and 5-year numbers are steadier and remain positive, while several peer rows do not provide longer-horizon figures. That creates a split picture: weaker recent returns than the headline peer names listed here, but a more complete and stable longer-run record.
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 9.86% |
| ICICI Bank Limited | Bank | 9.46% |
| Reliance Industries Limited | Crude Oil | 7.83% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | Telecom | 5% |
| Larsen & Toubro Limited | Infrastructure | 4.3% |
| State Bank of India | Bank | 3.98% |
| Infosys Limited | IT | 3.61% |
| Axis Bank Limited | Bank | 3.39% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | Bank | 2.8% |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Limited | Automobile & Ancillaries | 2.66% |
The largest holding, HDFC Bank Limited, is 9.86%, so it is large enough to matter to day-to-day tracking but still far from a single-stock style portfolio. The tenth holding is 2.66%, which shows a fairly normal drop from the top position into the rest of the top ten.
The top 10 holdings account for approximately 52.89% of the portfolio. That tells us the portfolio is meaningfully concentrated in its biggest positions, even though it still has 49 disclosed holdings in total. In practice, that mix may keep the fund closely tied to the movement of a handful of large companies while preserving enough breadth to reflect the benchmark rather than a narrow bet.
To see all holdings, visit the Nippon India Index Fund-Nifty 50 Plan(B)-Direct Plan page
Source data date: as of 10 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and want a simple way to track the NIFTY 50. The 3-year and 5-year returns are positive, but the 1-year number is negative, so the holding period needs to be long enough for index compounding to matter.
Our view is that it fits best as a core large-cap allocation for investors who can tolerate market swings and do not expect the fund to beat the benchmark by a wide margin. The main trade-off is accepting full equity volatility in exchange for low-cost, market-linked participation and a portfolio that stays close to the index.
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 10 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of Nippon India Index Fund-Nifty 50 Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹43.3801 as of 10 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are -4.85% over 1 year, 6.77% over 3 years and 7.2% over 5 years.
How has the fund performed versus NIFTY 50?
It has been slightly ahead of NIFTY 50 over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is modest, but it does show a small long-run edge versus the benchmark.
How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its 1-year return is much lower than the listed thematic and overseas peers, while its longer-term returns are steadier. The comparison is more about consistency than about chasing the highest short-term number.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
A minimum SIP amount is not stated here.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Himanshu Mange, and the exit load is nil.
Bottom line
Nippon India Index Fund-Nifty 50 Direct Growth Plan looks like a standard low-cost NIFTY 50 tracker with a High Risk equity profile. The recent 1-year result is weak, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers are positive and modestly ahead of the benchmark. The portfolio is led by large financial names, which keeps it closely tied to market moves. For investors who want broad large-cap exposure and can hold through volatility, the fund fits a core-index allocation role.
Published on 11 September 2026 at 12:45 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.