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 built around the Nifty 50. As of 03 Sep 2026, its NAV is ₹249.4708 and its scheme AUM is ₹1,510 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are -2.53%, 8.08% and 7.59%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this fund fits investors who want broad large-cap market exposure and are comfortable with benchmark-linked ups and downs. The longer track record is steadier than the latest 1-year result, but the portfolio still carries meaningful concentration in a handful of large names, so it is better suited to a patient horizon than to short-term expectations.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹249.4708 as of 03 Sep 2026
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 03 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-2.98%	-3.01%
3M	2.53%	1.95%
1Y	-2.53%	-4.4%
3Y	8.08%	5.74%
5Y	7.59%	6.27%

The recent picture is mixed rather than smooth. Over 1 month and 1 year, the fund has moved in a fairly similar direction to the benchmark, which tells us the index exposure is doing what it is meant to do: reflect market swings rather than smooth them out. The fund has been slightly better than the benchmark over each of the return windows shown, but the 1-year number is still negative, so the last stretch has not been comfortable for investors.

The 3-year and 5-year figures are more encouraging. The fund has stayed ahead of the benchmark over both periods, and the gap is wide enough to matter for a passive large-cap allocation. That said, the lead is measured in years, not months, so the better long-term showing should be read as steadier compounding rather than a strong defensive profile.

The time pattern also matters. The mid-horizon trend looks more resilient than the latest 12-month stretch, which suggests the fund has recovered better over a fuller cycle than it has behaved in the very recent period. For investors, that combination usually means the outcome will depend heavily on staying invested through drawdowns and not judging the fund only by a weak 1-year phase.

Source data date: as of 03 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.

Already holding Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index? Thinking of investing now?

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Aditya Birla SL Nifty 50 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	-2.53%	8.08%	7.59%
ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	35.19%	29.24%	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.39%	Data not available	Data not available
Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.12%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.02%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.02%	Data not available	Data not available

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

On the available 1-year comparison, this fund trails the stronger peer figures by a wide margin, even though it remains ahead of its benchmark over the same period. That tells us the fund’s latest stretch has been modest compared with the sharper 1-year moves seen in the peer list.

The longer view is more balanced. Its 3-year and 5-year returns are solid for a Nifty 50 index fund, but the peer list with available longer-duration figures shows much faster compounding in the one case where those numbers are present. So the fund’s relative appeal comes more from benchmark tracking and large-cap exposure than from standout peer-style outperformance.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
HDFC Bank Ltd.	Bank	10.23%
ICICI Bank Ltd.	Bank	9.18%
Reliance Industries Ltd.	Crude Oil	7.89%
Bharti Airtel Ltd.	Telecom	5.36%
Larsen & Toubro Ltd.	Infrastructure	4.12%
State Bank of India	Bank	3.79%
Infosys Ltd.	IT	3.54%
Axis Bank Ltd.	Bank	3.15%
Bajaj Finance Ltd.	Finance	2.73%
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.	Automobile & Ancillaries	2.71%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 52.7% 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., carries a 10.23% weight, so it is large enough to have a visible effect on day-to-day fund movement. The next few positions also sit at meaningful weights, which means the fund is not spread evenly across every holding.

Weight drops from 10.23% at the top to 2.71% in the tenth holding. That fall suggests the biggest names matter much more than the tail of smaller positions, even though the fund still holds 49 names in total.

With the top 10 holdings accounting for about 52.7% of the portfolio, the fund looks moderately concentrated in a cluster of large companies. That structure may help it behave like the benchmark, but it also means a few stocks could have greater influence on returns than the rest of the portfolio.

Source data date: as of 03 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with High Risk exposure and want a simple large-cap equity allocation rather than an active stock-picking approach. The 3-year and 5-year numbers show that the longer holding period has been more rewarding than the weak 1-year phase, so a medium-to-long horizon is more appropriate than a short-term one.

The main trade-off is straightforward: you get broad Nifty 50 exposure and benchmark-style diversification, but you must accept market swings and periods when returns trail stronger peer outcomes. The portfolio’s heavy weight in a few large stocks can also make short-term movement more noticeable, even though it remains a diversified index fund at heart.

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 03 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

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

The current NAV is ₹249.4708 as of 03 Sep 2026.

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

The 1-year return is -2.53%, the 3-year return is 8.08%, and the 5-year return is 7.59%.

How has the fund done against the Nifty 50 benchmark?

It has stayed ahead of the Nifty 50 over 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. The gap is most meaningful over the 3-year and 5-year periods.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?

Its 1-year return is far below the stronger peer figures shown, while its 3-year and 5-year returns are more in line with a steady index-fund profile. The shorter-term comparison and the longer-term comparison tell different stories.

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

This fund’s latest 1-year phase is weaker than its longer-term record, but the 3-year and 5-year numbers still show a reasonably steady large-cap index-fund outcome. Against the benchmark, it has stayed ahead across the return windows shown, while the peer list suggests the short-term return picture is less impressive than the strongest alternatives. The portfolio is concentrated in a few large stocks, so the ride may not feel smooth. It fits investors who want Nifty 50 exposure and can stay patient through uneven stretches.

Published on 4 September 2026 at 12:59 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.