{"id":224814,"date":"2026-08-31T17:02:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T11:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T17:02:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T11:32:33","slug":"aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio &#038; Should You Invest?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-g-direct-plan\">Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a> has a NAV of \u20b913.9623 as of 28 Aug 2026 and an AUM of \u20b91,283 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 31.8928%, Data not available and Data not available, and the scheme carries a High Risk profile. Our view is that the fund has delivered strong recent traction, but the portfolio is still tied closely to a defence and industrial theme, so investors need to be comfortable with sharp swings.<\/p>\n<p>For investors who want a focused thematic allocation and can tolerate high volatility, the fund\u2019s recent return profile and sector mix will be the main points to weigh. The benchmark has moved differently over the same periods, so the comparison is more about theme-driven behaviour than broad-market stability.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Quick_facts\" title=\"Quick facts\">Quick facts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Performance\" title=\"Performance\">Performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Should_you_BUY_or_HOLD_Aditya_Birla_SL_Nifty_India_Defence_Index\" title=\"Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index?\">Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Peer_comparison\" title=\"Peer comparison\">Peer comparison<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Portfolio_where_your_money_goes\" title=\"Portfolio: where your money goes\">Portfolio: where your money goes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Who_should_invest\" title=\"Who should invest\">Who should invest<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Tax_and_exit_load\" title=\"Tax and exit load\">Tax and exit load<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Frequently_asked_questions\" title=\"Frequently asked questions\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#What_is_the_current_NAV_of_Aditya_Birla_SL_Nifty_India_Defence_Index_Fund_Direct_Growth_Plan\" title=\"What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?\">What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#What_are_the_funds_1-year_3-year_and_5-year_returns\" title=\"What are the fund\u2019s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?\">What are the fund\u2019s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#How_has_the_fund_performed_versus_Nifty_50\" title=\"How has the fund performed versus Nifty 50?\">How has the fund performed versus Nifty 50?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#How_much_can_I_start_with_through_SIP\" title=\"How much can I start with through SIP?\">How much can I start with through SIP?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#What_is_the_risk_level_of_this_fund\" title=\"What is the risk level of this fund?\">What is the risk level of this fund?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Who_manages_the_fund_and_what_is_the_exit_load\" title=\"Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?\">Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Bottom_line\" title=\"Bottom line\">Bottom line<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#Explore_mutual_funds_with_Univest\" title=\"Explore mutual funds with Univest\">Explore mutual funds with Univest<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-direct-growth-review-2026\/#RIA_disclosure\" title=\"RIA disclosure\">RIA disclosure<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quick_facts\"><\/span>Quick facts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Metric<\/th>\n<th>Value<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>NAV<\/td>\n<td>\u20b913.9623<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>AUM<\/td>\n<td>\u20b91,283 Cr<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Expense Ratio<\/td>\n<td>0.31%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Launch Date<\/td>\n<td>30 Aug 2024<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Min SIP<\/td>\n<td>\u20b9500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Risk Category<\/td>\n<td>High Risk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Benchmark<\/td>\n<td>Nifty 50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fund Category<\/td>\n<td>Index Funds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Exit Load<\/td>\n<td>0.05% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fund Managers<\/td>\n<td>Mehul Dama, Priya Sridhar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The fund is managed by Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Performance\"><\/span>Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Period<\/th>\n<th>Fund return<\/th>\n<th>Benchmark return<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>1M<\/td>\n<td>4.57%<\/td>\n<td>-0.85%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3M<\/td>\n<td>9.36%<\/td>\n<td>3.39%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1Y<\/td>\n<td>31.89%<\/td>\n<td>-2.29%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3Y<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5Y<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The short-term pattern is clearly positive. The fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, which tells us the theme has continued to find buyers even when the broader benchmark has been flat or negative in places.<\/p>\n<p>The 1-year return is the most important headline number here because the fund has less than two years of history. A 31.89% return versus -2.29% for the benchmark shows that the strategy has done far better than the broader index over that stretch, although the gap also reflects how differently a defence-focused fund can behave from a market benchmark like Nifty 50.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, the path has not been one-way. The monthly and quarterly movement shows pauses and pullbacks along the way, so the return profile is still more choppy than smooth. That is consistent with a concentrated thematic fund: upside can be strong when the segment is in favour, but the same structure can also amplify reversals.<\/p>\n<p>We would read the recent figures as a sign of momentum rather than maturity. Because the fund was launched only in August 2024, the lack of 3-year and 5-year history limits any judgement about how it behaves across a full cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<section class=\"univest-mf-premium-cta\" style=\"margin:28px 0;padding:24px;border-radius:10px;border:1px solid #d8e3f0;background:#f7faff\">\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_you_BUY_or_HOLD_Aditya_Birla_SL_Nifty_India_Defence_Index\"><\/span>Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A fund&#8217;s past returns alone don&#8217;t tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Already holding Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index? Thinking of investing now?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\" style=\"font-weight:700;text-decoration:none\">Get your portfolio analysed for FREE by SEBI-registered Investment Adviser (RIA) through Univest MF Premium<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peer_comparison\"><\/span>Peer comparison<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Fund<\/th>\n<th>1Y return<\/th>\n<th>3Y return<\/th>\n<th>5Y return<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/icici-pru-nasdaq-100-index-fund-g-direct-plan\">ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>35.235%<\/td>\n<td>31.2535%<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/motilal-oswal-nifty-capital-market-index-fund-g-direct-plan\">Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>32.3519%<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/tata-nifty-capital-markets-index-fund-g-direct-plan\">Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>32.0816%<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/motilal-oswal-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-g-direct-plan\">Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>31.9037%<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/mutual-funds\/aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-g-direct-plan\">Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan<\/a><\/td>\n<td>31.8928%<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<td>Data not available<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. On 1-year returns, the fund is broadly in line with the other defence index fund shown and only slightly behind the nearby capital-markets indices. That suggests the recent outcome has been competitive, but not meaningfully distinct from the rest of the themed group.<\/p>\n<p>For longer horizons, the picture is limited because 3-year and 5-year figures are not available for the fund, while only one peer in this set has a usable 3-year figure. That means the available comparison leans heavily toward recent performance, and the short-term story is more informative here than any long-term peer pattern.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<div class=\"univest-peer-login-cta\" style=\"margin:20px 0;padding:16px 18px;border:1px solid #d8e3f0;border-radius:8px;background:#f7faff\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\"><strong>Want to know more?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/user\/log-in\" style=\"font-weight:700;text-decoration:none\">Log in to Univest<\/a> for more mutual fund insights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Portfolio_where_your_money_goes\"><\/span>Portfolio: where your money goes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Market cap segment<\/th>\n<th>Weight<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Large cap<\/td>\n<td>56.82%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mid cap<\/td>\n<td>21.24%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Small cap<\/td>\n<td>21.93%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Other<\/td>\n<td>0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Sector<\/th>\n<th>Weight<\/th>\n<th>Top holdings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>CAPITAL GOODS<\/td>\n<td>60.39%<\/td>\n<td>BHARAT ELECTRONICS LIMITED (17.82%), HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LIMITED (17.47%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>AUTOMOBILE &amp; ANCILLARIES<\/td>\n<td>14.56%<\/td>\n<td>BHARAT FORGE LIMITED (13.04%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>SHIP BUILDING<\/td>\n<td>12.61%<\/td>\n<td>MAZAGON DOCK SHIPBUILDERS LIMITED (5.54%), COCHIN SHIPYARD LIMITED (3.89%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>CHEMICALS<\/td>\n<td>11.36%<\/td>\n<td>SOLAR INDUSTRIES INDIA LIMITED (10.2%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>IRON &amp; STEEL<\/td>\n<td>0.57%<\/td>\n<td>MISHRA DHATU NIGAM LIMITED (0.52%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The market-cap mix is reasonably balanced for a thematic fund, but it is still tilted toward larger companies. Large caps account for 56.82%, while mid caps and small caps together make up 43.17%, so the portfolio is not restricted to only one size bucket.<\/p>\n<p>The sector picture is far more concentrated. Capital Goods alone is 60.39%, which is materially higher than the next sector weights, and that means the fund\u2019s behaviour may be driven most by defence and industrial names inside that segment. Automobiles and ancillaries, ship building and chemicals are meaningful secondary exposures, but none comes close to the capital-goods weight.<\/p>\n<p>In our view, Bharat Electronics and Hindustan Aeronautics are the clearest individual anchors because they are the two largest holdings listed, and together they sit within the dominant sector bucket. That concentration could support strong upside when the theme is in favour, but it may also make the portfolio more sensitive to any reversal in sentiment around defence-linked industrial stocks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_should_invest\"><\/span>Who should invest<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk and who want a thematic allocation rather than a core diversified equity holding. The current return profile is strong over 1 year, but the absence of longer history means the fund has not yet shown how it behaves across different market cycles.<\/p>\n<p>The benchmark comparison also suggests that returns can diverge sharply from a broad-market index, which is a feature some investors will want and others will avoid. A medium- to long-term horizon is more appropriate, because a defence theme can move in bursts and the portfolio is concentrated enough that short holding periods may not give the strategy enough time to play out.<\/p>\n<p>The main trade-off is clear: you get exposure to a focused segment with strong recent momentum, but you accept concentration in one dominant sector and the possibility of wider swings than a diversified equity fund.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tax_and_exit_load\"><\/span>Tax and exit load<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Holding period<\/th>\n<th>Tax rate<\/th>\n<th>Description<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Units held less than 1 year<\/td>\n<td>20%<\/td>\n<td>Short-term capital gains tax<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Units held more than 1 year<\/td>\n<td>12.5%<\/td>\n<td>Long-term capital gains tax<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Exit load:<\/strong> 0.05% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mf-source-date\"><small>Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026<\/small><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_asked_questions\"><\/span>Frequently asked questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_current_NAV_of_Aditya_Birla_SL_Nifty_India_Defence_Index_Fund_Direct_Growth_Plan\"><\/span>What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The current NAV is \u20b913.9623 as of 28 Aug 2026.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_funds_1-year_3-year_and_5-year_returns\"><\/span>What are the fund\u2019s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The 1-year return is 31.8928%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are Data not available.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_has_the_fund_performed_versus_Nifty_50\"><\/span>How has the fund performed versus Nifty 50?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It has outperformed Nifty 50 over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year. The fund\u2019s 1-year return is 31.89% compared with -2.29% for the benchmark.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_can_I_start_with_through_SIP\"><\/span>How much can I start with through SIP?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The minimum SIP amount is \u20b9500.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_risk_level_of_this_fund\"><\/span>What is the risk level of this fund?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The fund is categorised as High Risk. It also has a defence-themed portfolio with a heavy weight in Capital Goods, so investors need comfort with concentrated sector exposure.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_manages_the_fund_and_what_is_the_exit_load\"><\/span>Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The fund is managed by Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar. The exit load is 0.05% on or before 30D, and nil after 30D.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bottom_line\"><\/span>Bottom line<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This fund\u2019s recent return profile is strong, but it is still too early to read it as a full-cycle track record. Compared with the peer set shown, the 1-year figure is competitive, while the longer-term view remains limited by the fund\u2019s short history. The portfolio is clearly concentrated in Capital Goods, which may drive performance when the defence theme is strong. That makes the fund more suitable for investors who can accept higher volatility and want a focused thematic exposure rather than broad equity stability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"univest-posted-at\" style=\"font-size:14px;color:#666;margin:20px 0 8px\">Published on 31 August 2026 at 5:00 PM IST<\/p>\n<section class=\"univest-login-cta\" style=\"margin:28px 0;padding:24px;border-radius:10px;background:#eef5ff;border:1px solid #cddff7;text-align:center\">\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Explore_mutual_funds_with_Univest\"><\/span>Explore mutual funds with Univest<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Review mutual fund data, compare performance and explore fund insights on Univest.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/user\/log-in\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:11px 20px;border-radius:6px;background:#1f4e79;color:#fff !important;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700\">Explore Univest<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"univest-disclaimer\">\n<h2 style=\"font-weight:700\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"RIA_disclosure\"><\/span>RIA disclosure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"InvestmentFund\",\"name\":\"Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan\",\"identifier\":\"aditya-birla-sl-nifty-india-defence-index-fund-g-direct-plan\",\"category\":\"Index Funds\",\"dateCreated\":\"30 Aug 2024\",\"isAccessibleForFree\":true,\"additionalProperty\":[{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"NAV\",\"value\":13.9623,\"valueReference\":\"as of 28 Aug 2026\"},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"AUM\",\"value\":\"1283 Cr\"},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"Expense Ratio\",\"value\":\"0.31\"},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"Benchmark\",\"value\":\"Nifty 50\"},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"1Y Return\",\"value\":31.8928},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"3Y Return\",\"value\":0},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"5Y Return\",\"value\":0},{\"@type\":\"PropertyValue\",\"name\":\"Fund Managers\",\"value\":\"Mehul Dama, Priya Sridhar\"}]}<\/script><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The current NAV is \u20b913.9623 as of 28 Aug 2026.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are the fund\u2019s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The 1-year return is 31.8928%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are Data not available.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How has the fund performed versus Nifty 50?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It has outperformed Nifty 50 over 1 month, 3 months and 1 year. The fund\u2019s 1-year return is 31.89% compared with -2.29% for the benchmark.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much can I start with through SIP?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The minimum SIP amount is \u20b9500.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the risk level of this fund?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The fund is categorised as High Risk. It also has a defence-themed portfolio with a heavy weight in Capital Goods, so investors need comfort with concentrated sector exposure.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The fund is managed by Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar. The exit load is 0.05% on or before 30D, and nil after 30D.\"}}]}<\/script><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"{{ANALYST_NAME}}\",\"affiliation\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd.\"},\"description\":\"Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. \u2014 SEBI Registered Investment Adviser INA000017639\"}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of \u20b913.9623 as of 28 Aug 2026, AUM of \u20b91,283 Cr and a High Risk profile. Its 1-year return is 31.8928%, while 3-year and 5-year returns are Data not available.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":224812,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3841],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mutual-funds"],"metadata":{"rank_math_internal_links_processed":["1"],"_thumbnail_id":["224812"],"rank_math_title":["Aditya Birla Defence Fund Review 2026"],"rank_math_description":["Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan review 2026: NAV \u20b913.9623, 1Y return 31.8928%, High Risk."],"rank_math_focus_keyword":["Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan review"],"rank_math_robots":["a:2:{i:0;s:7:\"noindex\";i:1;s:8:\"nofollow\";}"]},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aditya_Birla_SL_Nifty_India_Defence_Index_Fund_Direct_Growth_Review_2026_NAV_Returns_Portfolio_Should_You_Invest_bullish.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224814\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/224812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}