Aditya Birla SL Banking & PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Aditya Birla SL Banking & PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has an NAV of ₹404.9163 as of 08 Sep 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹8,682 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.35%, 7.16% and 6.28%, and the fund is tagged as Medium Risk.

Our view is that this is a debt fund suited to conservative investors who want stability with moderate return potential rather than equity-like upside. The return pattern is steady over longer periods, while the benchmark has been weaker over 1 year, which helps this fund look comparatively resilient without making it a high-growth choice.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹404.9163 as of 08 Sep 2026
AUM	₹8,682 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.39%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹1,000
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Debt
Exit Load	No exit load after holding period
Fund Managers	Kaustubh Gupta, Harshil Suvarnkar

The fund is managed by Kaustubh Gupta and Harshil Suvarnkar.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.02%	-3.86%
3M	1.55%	1.69%
1Y	5.35%	-5.72%
3Y	7.16%	6.3%
5Y	6.28%	6.05%

The short-term pattern has been calm rather than exciting. Over 1 month, the fund was close to flat, and over 3 months it posted a small positive return. That tells us the recent path has been relatively stable, which is what many debt investors look for first.

The more useful comparison is with the benchmark. The fund was clearly ahead over 1 year, helped by a positive 5.35% return while the benchmark was negative. Over 3 years, the gap narrows, but the fund still stays slightly ahead. Over 5 years, the fund and benchmark are very close, which suggests the fund has broadly tracked the same return environment without dramatic divergence.

The longer-term chart pattern looks uneven but contained, with periods of drawdown followed by recovery rather than a one-way climb. That is important for debt investors because it shows the scheme has not delivered returns in a perfectly straight line, even though the overall compounding trend remains positive. In our view, the recent 1-year improvement is more supportive than the very short-term numbers alone, but it does not change the fact that this is still a measured-return debt strategy.

For investors, the main takeaway is that the fund has been stronger than the benchmark over the last year and slightly better over 3 years, while the 5-year picture is broadly in line. That combination points to a fund that has held up reasonably well, but it should still be judged as a debt allocation rather than a return-chasing option.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Banking & PSU Debt?

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.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Aditya Birla SL Banking & PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.35%	7.16%	6.28%
TRUSTMF Banking & PSU Fund Direct Growth Plan	7.26%	7.52%	6.17%
Franklin India Banking & PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.77%	7.59%	6.45%
UTI Banking & PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.3%	7.47%	7.72%
Bandhan Banking and PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.03%	7.22%	6.26%
ICICI Pru Banking and PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.98%	7.39%	6.72%

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

The fund’s 1-year return trails the stronger peer figures available in this set, where several schemes are above 6%. Even so, its 3-year return sits in the same broad band as the peer group, and its 5-year return is also competitive, though not the strongest among the listed funds. The short-term story is therefore a little softer than the longer-term one. That split matters: the fund has not led the recent pack, but its medium- and long-term record remains credible.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
7.48% National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (15/09/2028)	Corporate Debt	5.23%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	3.4%
Net Receivable / Payable	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	2.79%
6.58% Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd. (30/05/2030) **	Corporate Debt	2.24%
7.56% REC Ltd. (31/08/2027) **	Corporate Debt	2.19%
8.00% HDFC Bank Ltd. (27/07/2032) **	Corporate Debt	2.09%
7.17% REC Ltd. (01/07/2031)	Corporate Debt	1.97%
6.78% Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd. (30/04/2030) **	Corporate Debt	1.83%
7.42% State Bank of India (29/08/2039) **	Corporate Debt	1.82%
7.60% Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (13/04/2029) **	Corporate Debt	1.72%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 25.28% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Banking & PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, carries a 5.23% weight. That is meaningful, but it is not large enough to dominate the portfolio on its own. The fall from the largest holding to the tenth holding is fairly gradual, moving from 5.23% to 1.72%, which suggests a measured spread across individual positions.

At the same time, the top 10 holdings together make up only about a quarter of the portfolio, while the scheme discloses 76 holdings in total. That means the fund may be relying on a longer tail of smaller positions, rather than concentrating most of the asset base in a handful of securities. For a debt fund, that structure can help reduce dependence on any one issuer, although the largest names are still likely to have greater influence than the smaller positions.

Overall, the visible portfolio mix points to exposure that is spread across many instruments, with a clear bias toward debt securities and cash-like balances. In our view, that supports a relatively diversified construction within the scheme’s stated style.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with medium risk and want a debt allocation that can absorb some short-term variation. The 1-year return has been better than the benchmark, while the 3-year and 5-year returns show a steadier, more moderate pattern. That makes it more suitable for people with a medium to long investment horizon rather than those looking for quick gains.

The main trade-off is that the fund offers stability-oriented debt exposure, but not a standout return profile versus every peer or every time frame. Investors who want a smoother journey may find the return pattern acceptable, while those seeking the highest possible upside from debt funds may prefer to compare it more closely against other banking and PSU debt options.

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 after holding period.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Banking & PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹404.9163 as of 08 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?

The 1-year return is 5.35%, the 3-year return is 7.16% and the 5-year return is 6.28%.

How has the fund performed against its benchmark?

It has been ahead of the benchmark over 1 year and slightly ahead over 3 years, while the 5-year return is very close to the benchmark.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?

Its 1-year return is below several peer figures shown here, while its 3-year and 5-year returns remain broadly competitive. The short-term picture is softer than the longer-term one.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹1,000.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Kaustubh Gupta and Harshil Suvarnkar. There is no exit load after the holding period.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Banking & PSU Debt Fund Direct Growth Plan looks more stable over longer horizons than its very short-term numbers suggest. It has stayed close to the benchmark over 5 years, but its 1-year return is more supportive and its peer comparison is mixed rather than leading across every period. The fund’s Medium Risk tag, broad spread across many holdings and clear debt-oriented construction make it suitable for investors who want measured risk and are comfortable with some return variation.

Published on 9 September 2026 at 4:42 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.