UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?
- August 28, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: Mutual Funds
UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan had a NAV of ₹165.0262 as of 09 Sep 2026 and manages ₹29,485 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -4.92%, 6.74% and 7.19%, and the scheme sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors who want broad Nifty 50 exposure and can tolerate periods of underperformance against the benchmark, especially over shorter windows.
The fund is a straightforward index option, with low-cost structure and a large portfolio that closely tracks the market. The recent return pattern has been uneven, but the longer-term record is steadier, so it is better viewed as a patient, benchmark-oriented holding than a short-term performance play.
Quick facts
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| NAV | ₹165.0262 as of 09 Sep 2026 |
| AUM | ₹29,485 Cr |
| Expense Ratio | 0.17% |
| Launch Date | 01 Jan 2013 |
| Min SIP | ₹500 |
| Risk Category | High Risk |
| Benchmark | Nifty 50 |
| Fund Category | Index Funds |
| Exit Load | No exit load |
| Fund Managers | Sharwan Kumar Goyal, Ayush Jain, Lokesh Kulthia |
The fund is managed by Sharwan Kumar Goyal, Ayush Jain and Lokesh Kulthia.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Performance
| Period | Fund return | Benchmark return |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | -4.67% | -4.69% |
| 3M | 1.49% | 0.93% |
| 1Y | -4.92% | -7.16% |
| 3Y | 6.74% | 6% |
| 5Y | 7.19% | 5.87% |
The recent pattern is mixed rather than smooth. Over 1 month, the fund and benchmark were both weak, but the fund held up marginally better. Over 3 months, it recovered a little faster than the benchmark, which points to a modest edge in the latest phase of market movement.
The 1-year number is still negative, yet it is less weak than the benchmark, so the fund has protected capital slightly better over that stretch. That matters for an index fund because the main goal is not to beat the market in every window, but to stay close to it while keeping tracking differences contained.
The longer view is more constructive. The 3-year and 5-year returns are both positive and sit above the benchmark returns shown here, which suggests the fund has compounded in line with, and at times better than, the index over full market cycles. The move from a negative 1-year reading to positive multi-year returns also shows that the recent softness does not define the full record.
For investors, the main takeaway is that this fund looks calmer at medium and longer horizons than it does in the short term. It is not built for fast gains, but the historical pattern still supports its role as a core market-linked holding for investors who can remain invested through volatility.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Should you BUY or HOLD UTI Nifty 50 Index?
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 UTI Nifty 50 Index? Thinking of investing now?
Peer comparison
| Fund | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | -4.92% | 6.74% | 7.19% |
| 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 | 31.48% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 31.48% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 24.6% | Data not available | Data not available |
| Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan | 24.33% | Data not available | Data not available |
This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.
Against the peer set shown here, the fund’s 1-year return is much softer than the specialist thematic funds, though those funds are also operating in very different market segments. The important comparison for this scheme is the steadier multi-year pattern: its 3-year and 5-year returns are positive, while the peer list contains several funds with missing longer-horizon records, so the broad comparison is not one-to-one.
Where longer-horizon figures are available, the fund’s 3-year and 5-year numbers look more balanced than the very strong but concentrated short-term gains seen in some peers. That makes the case for this fund less about chasing recent momentum and more about holding a diversified benchmark-linked core through a full cycle.
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
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Portfolio: where your money goes
| Holding | Sector | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Eq – HDFC Bank Limited | Bank | 9.85% |
| Eq – ICICI Bank Ltd | Bank | 9.45% |
| Eq – Reliance Industries Ltd. | Crude Oil | 7.83% |
| Eq – Bharti Airtel Ltd. | Telecom | 5% |
| Eq – Larsen & Toubro Ltd. | Infrastructure | 4.3% |
| Eq – State Bank of India | Bank | 3.98% |
| Eq – Infosys Ltd. | IT | 3.61% |
| Eq – Axis Bank Ltd. | Bank | 3.39% |
| Eq – Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. | Bank | 2.8% |
| Eq – Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. | Automobile & Ancillaries | 2.66% |
The largest holding, HDFC Bank, is 9.85%, which is sizeable for a single position but still typical of a large-cap index structure. The tenth holding, Mahindra & Mahindra, is 2.66%, so the weight falls away fairly steadily from the top to the tenth name rather than dropping sharply after just a few stocks.
The displayed top 10 holdings together account for about 52.87% of the portfolio, which means just over half the scheme sits in these names while the rest is spread across a longer list. With 49 disclosed holdings in total, the fund may still offer broad market exposure even though the largest banks carry meaningful influence.
That mix suggests a portfolio where bank exposure is likely to matter in day-to-day performance, but not in a way that completely dominates the scheme. The structure looks relatively concentrated at the top and still diversified across the full basket, which is consistent with a benchmark-tracking index fund.
To see all holdings, visit the UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan page
Source data date: as of 09 Sep 2026
Who should invest
This fund fits investors who are comfortable with equity-market swings and want Nifty 50 exposure through a benchmark-linked structure. The High Risk tag and the negative 1-year return show that short-term volatility can be uncomfortable, but the positive 3-year and 5-year figures indicate that patience has mattered.
Our view is that it is better suited to a medium- to long-term horizon, where the aim is to stay invested through cycles rather than to rely on a smooth monthly path. The main trade-off is simple: you get broad large-cap market participation and low-cost indexing, but you must accept periods when the fund trails near-term expectations or moves in line with a weak 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 09 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NAV of UTI Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹165.0262 as of 09 Sep 2026.
What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s returns are -4.92% for 1 year, 6.74% for 3 years and 7.19% for 5 years.
How has the fund done versus the Nifty 50 benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark over 3 years and 5 years, and it was also less weak over 1 year. Over 1 month and 3 months, the difference versus the benchmark has been small.
Which peer funds show stronger short-term returns?
The peer list includes several thematic and overseas index funds with much stronger 1-year returns, including ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan at 33.08% and Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan at 31.48%. Their longer-horizon records are not equally available in every case.
What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.
Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Sharwan Kumar Goyal, Ayush Jain and Lokesh Kulthia. There is no exit load.
Bottom line
The fund’s latest year has been weaker, but its 3-year and 5-year returns are positive and sit above the benchmark figures shown here. That gap between short-term softness and longer-term steadiness is important: it looks like a market-linked holding that can absorb volatility, not a smooth-return product. The top holdings are led by large banks, and the portfolio remains spread across 49 disclosed holdings, which supports its role as a broad large-cap index fund for investors with a patient horizon.
Published on 10 September 2026 at 4:21 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.