Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹179.6 as of 08 Sep 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹4,108 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -3.6%, 4.7% and 4.84% respectively, and the scheme sits in the High Risk bucket. Our view is that this is a fund for investors who can tolerate sharp swings and want a technology-led portfolio, but the longer record still needs stronger consistency before it can look steady across market cycles.

Benchmark context matters here. The fund has stayed below the Nifty 50 over 3 years and 5 years, even though the shorter 3-month stretch improved noticeably. That mix suggests an investment that can recover after weak phases, but one that has not yet delivered a smooth long-term edge over a broad market index.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹179.6 as of 08 Sep 2026
AUM	₹4,108 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.85%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	1% on or before 30D, Nil after 30D
Fund Managers	Kunal Sangoi

The fund is managed by Kunal Sangoi.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-1.39%	-3.86%
3M	10.23%	1.69%
1Y	-3.6%	-5.72%
3Y	4.7%	6.3%
5Y	4.84%	6.05%

Recent performance has been better than the benchmark in the shorter windows, especially over 3 months, where the fund rebounded much faster than the Nifty 50. That kind of move usually tells us the portfolio can participate strongly in a recovery phase, but it also confirms that the journey is likely to be uneven rather than linear.

Over 1 year, the fund still stayed negative, though the fall was smaller than the benchmark’s decline. That is a useful sign of relative resilience, but it does not change the broader picture: the fund has not yet translated those shorter improvements into a clean long-term advantage.

The 3-year and 5-year numbers remain below the benchmark, which is the key point for a long-term investor. The current pattern shows periods of recovery, but the wider compounding trail has been more modest than a plain index approach. Our reading is that the fund’s return profile has become more constructive recently, yet the longer horizon still reflects a trade-off between sector conviction and steadier benchmark-style compounding.

That pattern is also visible in the return path. The fund has moved through clear swings rather than a straight upward climb, and the latest stretch looks better than the earlier weak phases. For investors, the practical takeaway is that timing and patience matter more here than in a diversified broad-market fund.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Digital India?

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 Digital India Fund Direct Growth Plan	-3.6%	4.7%	4.84%
ICICI Pru Strategic Metal and Energy Equity FoF Direct Growth Plan	71.49%	36.55%	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Active Momentum Fund Direct Growth Plan	30.45%	Data not available	Data not available
Kotak Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	28.85%	Data not available	Data not available
HDFC Pharma and Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	28.6%	Data not available	Data not available
PGIM India Healthcare Fund Direct Growth Plan	27.47%	Data not available	Data not available

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

Compared with the listed peers, the fund’s 1-year return is much softer, while several peers have posted very strong gains in the same period. That contrast matters because it shows the fund has not been part of the recent momentum that lifted some sector-focused strategies.

On the longer horizon, the picture is also mixed. The fund’s 3-year and 5-year returns are positive, but they are lower than the available 3-year benchmarked peer figure and remain modest relative to the high short-term gains seen elsewhere in the table. So the peer set tells two different stories: some peers have delivered powerful recent upside, while this fund has shown more restrained long-term compounding.

That does not automatically make the fund unsuitable, but it does place it in a different return profile. Investors comparing only on recent upside may prefer other options, while those looking for a dedicated digital theme with a more measured long-run outcome may view this fund differently.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Infosys Ltd.	IT	9.97%
Tech Mahindra Ltd.	IT	7.38%
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.	IT	7.02%
Bharti Airtel Ltd.	Telecom	6.92%
Eternal Ltd.	Retailing	6.55%
Coforge Ltd.	IT	5.45%
Persistent Systems Ltd.	IT	5.01%
LTM Ltd.	IT	4.8%
HCL Technologies Ltd.	IT	4.16%
Swiggy Ltd.	Retailing	4.12%

The largest holding, Infosys Ltd., carries a 9.97% weight, which is meaningful but not extreme on its own. The next few positions also stay sizeable, so the portfolio does not rely on a single bet alone.

What stands out more is the way weight tapers through the top ten. The drop from 9.97% to 4.12% is not abrupt, but it is enough to show that the biggest names have more influence than the smaller entries in this list. That means performance may still be affected by a relatively small set of large positions.

With 61.38% of the portfolio in the top ten holdings and 37 disclosed holdings overall, the fund looks moderately concentrated rather than broadly spread across many equal positions. Our view is that this structure may amplify the impact of the fund’s strongest ideas, while also making it more sensitive to sector swings, especially because IT dominates the top holdings table.

To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk exposure and can stay invested through uneven stretches. The 1-year return is still negative, but the 3-year and 5-year figures are positive, which suggests the fund may work better for patient investors than for those who need smoother short-term outcomes.

The benchmark comparison also points to a specific trade-off. The fund has not outpaced the Nifty 50 over 3 years or 5 years, so an investor here is accepting a more theme-specific portfolio in exchange for the possibility of stronger recovery phases. The relatively heavy IT tilt means outcomes may differ materially from a broad-market fund, so this is better suited to someone who is willing to accept that concentration and the volatility that can come with it.

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: 1% if units are sold within 30 days; nil after 30 days.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹179.6 as of 08 Sep 2026.

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

The 1-year return is -3.6%, the 3-year return is 4.7%, and the 5-year return is 4.84%.

How has the fund performed versus the benchmark?

It has beaten the Nifty 50 over 1 month and 3 months, and it has also been less negative over 1 year. Over 3 years and 5 years, however, it trails the benchmark.

How does it compare with the listed peer funds on recent returns?

Its 1-year return is weaker than the listed peers, while some peers have posted very strong recent gains. The longer-horizon comparison is less direct because only one listed peer shows a 3-year figure and the rest have no stated 3-year or 5-year return.

Does the fund have a minimum SIP amount?

Yes, the minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

What are the main portfolio and exit-load features?

The portfolio is led by Infosys Ltd. at 9.97%, and the top ten holdings account for 61.38% of the portfolio. The exit load is 1% if units are sold within 30 days, and nil after 30 days.

Bottom line

This fund’s recent rebound is stronger than its longer-term record, but the 3-year and 5-year returns still trail the broad benchmark. Compared with the listed peers, the 1-year number looks weak, even though the fund has shown a steadier multi-year base than its short-term result suggests. The risk profile is high, and the portfolio is meaningfully tilted to IT, which can help when that theme works but can also make returns more uneven. It is best suited to investors who can accept volatility and prefer a concentrated digital-sector exposure over smoother benchmark-like behaviour.

Published on 9 September 2026 at 4:25 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.