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 is an index fund with a NAV of ₹247.0117 as of 08 Sep 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹1,488 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -3%, 7.42% and 7.47%, respectively, and the fund sits in the High Risk category. Our view is that this is a straightforward Nifty 50 tracker for investors who want benchmark-style equity exposure and are comfortable with market swings rather than seeking active return outperformance.

The fund has stayed close to its benchmark over time, but the shorter window has been weak, with the recent 1-year period still negative. The longer 3-year and 5-year numbers are steadier, which suggests the fund can participate in equity compounding when markets are supportive, even though near-term moves can remain uneven.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹247.0117 as of 08 Sep 2026
AUM	₹1,488 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 08 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-3.83%	-3.86%
3M	2.24%	1.69%
1Y	-3%	-5.72%
3Y	7.42%	6.3%
5Y	7.47%	6.05%

The fund has been broadly in line with the benchmark in the very short term, but it has not escaped the recent weakness in large-cap equities. Over 1 month, both the fund and the benchmark were negative by a similar amount, which tells us this is still a market-linked product rather than a defensive buffer in falling markets.

The 3-month picture is more constructive. The fund outperformed the benchmark in that window, which indicates it recovered a bit better during the recent rebound phase. That said, the gain was modest, so we would read it as stabilisation rather than a strong momentum phase.

Over longer horizons, the fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark in both 3-year and 5-year periods. The margin is not large, but it is consistent, and that is important for an index fund because the goal is typically close tracking with a small edge from expenses and implementation. The one-year return is still negative, so the recent stretch is clearly weaker than the multi-year trend.

Overall, the pattern says the fund has behaved like a normal equity index strategy: sensitive in down cycles, then able to regain ground over time. For investors, that means the main question is not whether the fund can beat the market dramatically, but whether they can tolerate the short-run fluctuations that come with holding a broad market index through softer phases.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 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	-3%	7.42%	7.47%
ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	33.85%	29.56%	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	32.69%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	29.61%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	25.87%	Data not available	Data not available
Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	25.59%	Data not available	Data not available

This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639. The fund’s 1-year return is far below the strong one-year numbers shown by the peer list, but that gap is driven by the fund’s different benchmark and market exposure. Its 3-year and 5-year results are steadier, and on those longer periods it looks more in line with a broad-market index strategy than with the high-growth peer names shown here.

What stands out is the split between the short-term and longer-term picture. Peers with available 1-year figures have much stronger momentum, while this fund’s longer-horizon profile is more measured and benchmark-like. That makes the comparison useful for setting expectations: this fund appears built more for core Nifty 50 exposure than for chasing recent sector-led strength.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Bank	9.86%
ICICI Bank Ltd.	Bank	9.46%
Reliance Industries Ltd.	Crude Oil	7.83%
Bharti Airtel Ltd.	Telecom	5%
Larsen & Toubro Ltd.	Infrastructure	4.3%
State Bank of India	Bank	3.98%
Infosys Ltd.	IT	3.61%
Axis Bank Ltd.	Bank	3.39%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.	Bank	2.8%
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	2.66%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 52.89% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding, HDFC Bank Ltd., is 9.86%, which is large enough to have a meaningful influence on near-term fund moves. ICICI Bank Ltd. at 9.46% and Reliance Industries Ltd. at 7.83% follow closely, so the top end of the portfolio is anchored by a few large names rather than a single dominant position.

The weight drop from the largest holding to the tenth holding is noticeable, moving from 9.86% to 2.66%. That gap suggests the fund may still be sensitive to the behaviour of its heaviest names, even though exposure is spread across 49 disclosed holdings overall. Because the top 10 together make up about 52.89% of the portfolio, the disclosed holdings look fairly concentrated at the top while still leaving room for a longer tail.

For investors, that mix may mean the fund’s day-to-day movements can lean on a relatively small set of large-cap stocks, especially the banking names that appear several times in the list. At the same time, the broader set of 49 holdings may help reduce the impact of any one position over a full market cycle.

Source data date: as of 08 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund is suited to investors who are comfortable with High Risk equity exposure and who can stay invested for a longer horizon. The return pattern shows that the fund can look weak over short windows, but it has been steadier over 3-year and 5-year periods, which makes patience important.

The main trade-off is simple: you get broad Nifty 50 exposure and close benchmark-style behaviour, but you must accept that the fund can still post negative returns in weaker market phases. Compared with the peer list, its recent return profile is much softer, so it is better viewed as a core large-cap allocation than a momentum-led choice.

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 Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?
Its NAV is ₹247.0117 as of 08 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The returns are -3% for 1 year, 7.42% for 3 years and 7.47% for 5 years.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has outpaced the benchmark over 3 years and 5 years, while the 1-year result has been weaker than the longer trend.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?
Its 1-year return is well below the peer names shown here, while its 3-year and 5-year figures are more measured and benchmark-like than the stronger one-year peer returns.

What is the minimum SIP amount?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹100.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by Mehul Dama and Priya Sridhar. There is no exit load after the holding period.

Bottom line

Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a mixed near-term record but a steadier longer-term pattern. Its 1-year return is weak, yet the 3-year and 5-year numbers are more stable and sit ahead of the benchmark. The portfolio is led by a handful of large banking and index heavyweights, so it may move with the broader market rather than insulate against it. That makes it more suitable for investors seeking core large-cap equity exposure with High Risk tolerance and a longer holding period.

Published on 9 September 2026 at 4:04 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.