Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹252.5962 as of 28 Aug 2026 and an AUM of ₹1,510 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -0.45%, 8.78% and 8.64%, respectively, and the scheme sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that it suits investors who want Nifty 50 exposure in a direct index format and can accept equity-style volatility in exchange for benchmark-linked participation.

The fund’s portfolio is almost entirely large-cap, which keeps the structure simple and market-cap heavy. That makes it a straightforward core allocation idea for long horizons, but the recent 1-year return shows that short-term swings can still be meaningful even in an index fund.

Quick facts

Detail	Value
NAV	₹252.5962
AUM	₹1,510 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.2%
Launch Date	01 Jan 2013
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Index Funds
Exit Load	No exit load after holding period
Fund Managers	Mehul Dama, Priya Sridhar

The fund is managed by Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-0.76%	-0.85%
3M	3.97%	3.39%
1Y	-0.45%	-2.29%
3Y	8.78%	6.4%
5Y	8.64%	7.13%

The fund has stayed close to its benchmark over the short windows, which is exactly what an index strategy should do, but it has not moved in lockstep every month. The 1-month and 3-month numbers show mild fluctuations around the benchmark, while the 1-year figure is still negative, indicating that the latest stretch has not been smooth even though the fall is smaller than the benchmark’s.

On a longer horizon, the picture is more constructive. The 3-year and 5-year returns are both ahead of the benchmark, which suggests the fund has preserved the index-linked growth path while adding a modest edge over time. That is the more relevant lens for a passive equity fund, because short-term phases can be choppy while the compounding trend matters more for patient investors.

The recent trend also looks different from the longer-term pattern. Over the past year, the fund has recovered from weakness but has still finished below zero, so the last 12 months do not mirror the stronger 3-year and 5-year outcomes. For investors, that means the fund can behave like a broad-market holding: largely steady relative to the index over time, but still exposed to the same market drawdowns that affect large-cap equities.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL 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.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	-0.45%	8.78%	8.64%
ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	35.235%	31.2535%	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	32.3519%	Data not available	Data not available
Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	32.0816%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	31.9037%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	31.8928%	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 peer set, this fund’s 1-year return is far softer, while its 3-year and 5-year outcomes are much steadier and remain positive. The shorter-window peers are all showing much stronger recent momentum, so the comparison tells two different stories: this fund has been the calmer long-term compounder in its own benchmark lane, but it has not matched the recent surge seen in the other index funds listed here.

That split matters for interpretation. Investors looking only at the latest 12 months may prefer the more dramatic recent numbers elsewhere, but the longer-run evidence here is more balanced. The fund’s 3-year and 5-year figures remain useful because they reflect the effect of tracking a broad equity benchmark through multiple market phases, rather than a single strong year.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

The market-cap mix is 99.66% large cap, 0% mid cap, 0% small cap and 0.34% other. That is an exceptionally concentrated large-cap profile, so the fund’s behaviour should be driven primarily by large index constituents.

Sector	Weight	Top holdings
BANK	50.79%	KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LIMITED (26.41%), HDFC BANK LIMITED (7.24%)
CRUDE OIL	6.39%	RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LIMITED (5.24%), OIL & NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED (0.56%)
IT	6.32%	INFOSYS LIMITED (2.6%), TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED (1.5%)
AUTOMOBILE & ANCILLARIES	4.67%	MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LIMITED (1.61%), MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA LIMITED (1.04%)
FMCG	3.74%	ITC LIMITED (1.77%), HINDUSTAN UNILEVER LIMITED (1.1%)

The BANK sector is materially larger than every other sector in the portfolio, and at 50.79% it dominates the structure. Within that, Kotak Mahindra Bank alone has a very large standalone weight, so banking conditions may have greater influence on day-to-day fund behaviour than any other single theme.

Beyond banking, the next sector weights are much smaller and fairly close to one another. Crude oil and IT are both a little above 6%, while automobiles and FMCG sit below 5%, so these areas may add diversification but are unlikely to overpower the portfolio. Because the allocation is so tilted toward large caps and the banking sector, the fund’s movement is likely to remain closely tied to heavyweights in the Nifty 50.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and want a simple Nifty 50 core holding. The 3-year and 5-year returns are positive and better than the benchmark, but the latest 1-year result shows that short-term outcomes can still be weak.

A longer investment horizon fits it better than a short one, because the fund’s broad large-cap structure is designed to reflect market cycles rather than protect capital in rough periods. The main trade-off is that you get wide large-cap exposure and benchmark-style participation, but you must accept market drawdowns and the possibility that one-year returns can be negative.

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.

Holding condition: If units sold after 0, exit load is 0%.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹252.5962 as of 28 Aug 2026.

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

The fund’s 1-year return is -0.45%, its 3-year return is 8.78%, and its 5-year return is 8.64%.

How has it performed against the Nifty 50 benchmark?

It has been ahead of the benchmark over 3 years and 5 years, while the 1-year figure remains negative but still better than the benchmark’s 1-year return.

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

Its 1-year return is much lower than the other peer funds listed here, while its longer-term 3-year and 5-year profile is steadier and still positive. The comparison suggests a weaker recent stretch but a more balanced long-run track record.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

What is the risk level and how is the portfolio structured?

The fund is in the High Risk category and is almost entirely large-cap, with 99.66% in large caps. Banking is the dominant sector at 50.79%, so the portfolio is heavily tilted toward financials.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed recent and longer-term picture: the latest 1-year return is weak, but the 3-year and 5-year returns are positive and ahead of the benchmark. Against the listed peers, it looks less impressive on the short window but more stable over longer periods. The fund remains a High Risk equity product, and its very large banking weight means large-cap financials can shape outcomes more than other sectors. It fits investors who want broad Nifty 50 exposure and can stay invested through market swings.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 4:56 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.