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

Aditya Birla SL Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹458.8265 as of 08 Sep 2026 and manages ₹69,830 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.6%, 7.03% and 6.4% respectively, and the scheme sits in the Medium Risk bucket. Our view is that it has offered steady, low-drama compounding, but the recent pattern is not meaningfully stronger than its longer-term record.

The fund has behaved like a conservative liquid scheme with a large asset base and a short-duration portfolio profile. That makes it more relevant for investors who value liquidity and controlled fluctuations than for those seeking sharp upside.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹458.8265 as of 08 Sep 2026
AUM	₹69,830 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.21%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Risk Category	Medium Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Equity
Exit Load	0.007% for Day 1, 0.0065% on Day 2, 0.0060% on Day 3, 0.0055% on Day 4, 0.0050% on Day 5, 0.0045% on Day 6, NIL after 7D
Fund Managers	Kaustubh Gupta, Sunaina da Cunha, Sanjay Pawar

The fund is managed by Kaustubh Gupta, Sunaina da Cunha, and Sanjay Pawar.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.53%	-3.86%
3M	1.69%	1.69%
1Y	6.6%	-5.72%
3Y	7.03%	6.3%
5Y	6.4%	6.05%

The recent 1-month and 3-month pattern looks stable rather than exciting. The fund held up better than the benchmark over 1 month, while the 3-month figure matched the benchmark exactly, which tells us the short-term drift has been contained.

Over 1 year, the fund’s 6.6% return stands out against the benchmark’s -5.72%. That gap matters because it shows the scheme has preserved a positive outcome through a weaker index period, even though the absolute return itself remains moderate.

The longer record is steadier than spectacular. The 3-year return of 7.03% is slightly above the benchmark’s 6.3%, and the 5-year return of 6.4% is also ahead of the benchmark’s 6.05%. Our reading is that the fund has delivered a small but consistent edge over the benchmark across longer windows, without showing a sharp jump in momentum recently.

The pattern from the 1-year chart also suggests some interruptions along the way, but the finish is still positive. For investors, that usually points to a fund that prioritises steadiness and liquidity over aggressive return chasing.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Liquid?

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 Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.6%	7.03%	6.4%
Axis Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.6%	7.02%	6.39%
Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.6%	7.02%	6.37%
JioBlackRock Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.59%	Data not available	Data not available
Edelweiss Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.57%	7.03%	6.38%

On the latest 1-year figure, the fund sits very close to Axis Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan and Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan, while staying just ahead of Edelweiss Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan and JioBlackRock Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan. That tells us the short-term return profile is tightly clustered among the better-known liquid options rather than widely separated.

At 3 years and 5 years, the fund is again broadly in line with the stronger peer group. It is slightly ahead of Axis Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan, Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan and Edelweiss Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan on the longer windows shown here, which supports the view that its edge has been modest but persistent.

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

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Reverse Repo	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	3.94%
91 Day T-Bill 05.11.26	Treasury Bills	3.26%
Union Bank of India (01/10/2026) **#	Certificate of Deposit	2.78%
HDFC Bank Ltd. (11/09/2026) **#	Certificate of Deposit	2.22%
182 Day T-Bill 10.09.26	Treasury Bills	1.79%
City Union Bank Ltd. (10/09/2026) **#	Certificate of Deposit	1.72%
91 Day T-Bill 12.11.26	Treasury Bills	1.67%
HDFC Bank Ltd. (06/11/2026) **#	Certificate of Deposit	1.63%
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (11/09/2026) **	Commercial Paper	1.43%
364 Day T-Bill 08.10.26	Treasury Bills	1.42%

The largest disclosed holding is Reverse Repo at 3.94%, which is a modest single-line exposure by itself. The tenth holding is 364 Day T-Bill 08.10.26 at 1.42%, so the weight drop from the first to the tenth position is noticeable but not abrupt.

That pattern suggests the portfolio may be spread across many short-dated cash, treasury bill and certificate-of-deposit positions rather than depending heavily on one or two names. The top ten holdings together account for about 21.86% of the portfolio, and there are 67 disclosed holding rows overall, which points to a fairly long tail beyond the largest positions.

For investors, that kind of structure could mean no single disclosed holding is likely to dominate the scheme’s day-to-day behaviour. Instead, the overall mix appears designed so that many small positions may contribute to return and liquidity management.

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

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is better suited to investors who are comfortable with Medium Risk and want relatively controlled swings rather than strong capital appreciation. Its benchmark-beating record over 1, 3 and 5 years suggests a steadier profile, but the returns themselves remain moderate rather than high.

The most suitable horizon is short to medium term, especially where liquidity and day-to-day stability matter. The trade-off is straightforward: investors may accept lower upside in exchange for a portfolio that leans toward cash-like and short-dated instruments instead of a more aggressive growth mix.

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 applies on a sliding basis for the first seven days: 0.007% on Day 1, 0.0065% on Day 2, 0.0060% on Day 3, 0.0055% on Day 4, 0.0050% on Day 5, 0.0045% on Day 6, and NIL after 7 days.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹458.8265 as of 08 Sep 2026.

What are the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is 6.6%, the 3-year return is 7.03% and the 5-year return is 6.4%.

How has the fund performed versus its benchmark?
It has been ahead of the benchmark over 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The benchmark return is -5.72% over 1 year, 6.3% over 3 years and 6.05% over 5 years.

How does it compare with peers on recent returns?
Its 1-year return of 6.6% is broadly in line with Axis Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan and Sundaram Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan, and its 3-year and 5-year numbers are also close to the stronger peer readings shown here.

Is there a minimum SIP amount listed?
A minimum SIP amount is not listed here.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Kaustubh Gupta, Sunaina da Cunha and Sanjay Pawar. Exit load is a sliding charge over the first seven days and becomes nil after 7 days.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Liquid Fund Direct Growth Plan has a steady long-term record that is slightly better than its benchmark across 1-, 3- and 5-year windows, while its recent figures remain calm rather than striking. The peer comparison shows it moving very close to the stronger liquid-fund group, not away from it. Its Medium Risk label, short-dated holdings and large base of disclosed positions make it more suitable for investors seeking liquidity and relative stability than for those chasing aggressive returns.

Published on 9 September 2026 at 2:54 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.