Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Apr 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Apr 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹13.3473 as of 16 September 2026 and a scheme AUM of ₹3,285 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 5.94%, 7.31% and 0%, and the fund sits in the Low Risk bucket. In our view, this is a conservative debt-oriented index fund for investors who want measured movement rather than sharp swings, but the recent return path still needs to be read against the benchmark’s weaker short-term behaviour.

The fund’s appeal is steadiness more than standout upside. The portfolio is built mainly around state government securities, which can make the return pattern more tied to interest-rate and duration dynamics than to equity-market-style momentum.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹13.3473 as of 16 Sep 2026
AUM	₹3,285 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.21%
Launch Date	28 Jan 2022
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	Low Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Index Funds
Exit Load	No exit load
Fund Managers	Bhupesh Bameta, Harshil Suvarnkar

The fund is managed by Bhupesh Bameta and Harshil Suvarnkar.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.42%	-4.41%
3M	1.35%	-3.60%
1Y	5.94%	-7.76%
3Y	7.31%	5.74%
5Y	Data not available	Data not available

Recent performance has been steadier than the benchmark. Over 1 month and 3 months, the fund stayed marginally positive while the benchmark was negative, which tells us the portfolio has absorbed the short-term weakness better than the benchmark series shown here.

The 1-year picture is also more resilient on the fund side. The fund’s 5.94% return contrasts with a -7.76% benchmark return, so the gap is meaningful and suggests the benchmark has faced a rougher period than the fund over the same horizon.

The longer view is more balanced. At 3 years, the fund’s 7.31% return is ahead of the benchmark’s 5.74%, but the margin is not wide. That points to a fund that has done a little better than the benchmark over time, while still behaving like a conservative index product rather than a high-momentum strategy.

The 5-year field is not available, so we avoid forcing a long-run conclusion that is not supported here. Even so, the shorter and medium-term pattern suggests a return profile that has been more stable than the benchmark in the recent period and modestly better over 3 years.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Apr 2027 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 SDL Apr 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	5.94%	7.31%	Data not available
ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	29.31%	30.01%	Data not available
Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	21.45%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	21.13%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty MidSmall Financial Services Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	20.68%	Data not available	Data not available
ICICI Pru Nifty Pharma Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	17.57%	18.84%	Data not available

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

The current fund’s 1-year return is much lower than the strongest peer figures listed here, but the comparison changes when we look at the longer horizon. Its 3-year return is ahead of the available peer that has a 3-year figure in this set, while several peers do not have 3-year figures at all. That mix tells us the fund has not matched the sharper recent gains seen in some sector-focused peers, but its medium-term path is more competitive than the short-term comparison suggests.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
State Government Securities (09/11/2026)	Government Securities	22.80%
State Government Securities (29/03/2027)	Government Securities	10.96%
State Government Securities (15/02/2027)	Government Securities	7.82%
State Government Securities (26/10/2026)	Government Securities	5.51%
State Government Securities (28/09/2026)	Government Securities	5.23%
State Government Securities (01/03/2027)	Government Securities	5.22%
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	4.56%
State Government Securities (23/11/2026)	Government Securities	3.81%
State Government Securities (11/01/2027)	Government Securities	3.67%
State Government Securities (14/12/2026)	Government Securities	3.67%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 73.25% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Apr 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan page

The largest holding, State Government Securities (09/11/2026), carries a 22.80% weight, so it is likely to have the strongest single influence on the fund’s near-term behaviour. The next few positions are still meaningful, but the weights step down fairly quickly after the first line item, which means the portfolio does not rely on one isolated maturity alone.

By the tenth holding, the weight has fallen to 3.67%, so the displayed holdings show a clear tapering pattern rather than a flat spread. That suggests the portfolio may be shaped by a core set of government securities, with the rest of the basket filling out the maturity profile.

With 24 disclosed holdings and 73.25% of the portfolio covered by the top 10, the fund appears moderately concentrated in its visible sleeve. That concentration could make the biggest state security lines more influential, even though the presence of 24 holdings indicates there is still a longer tail beyond the largest positions.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund fits investors who are comfortable with low-risk debt exposure and want a steadier return pattern rather than aggressive upside. The 1-year and 3-year numbers show that it has held up better than the benchmark in the recent period and has stayed slightly ahead over 3 years, which makes it more suitable for those looking for measured participation in government-security-linked returns.

The main trade-off is that the portfolio is designed for stability, so it is not the kind of fund that usually delivers sharp gains when markets turn more favourable. Investors with a shorter-to-medium horizon and a preference for lower volatility may find the return pattern easier to tolerate than equity-like alternatives, but they should be comfortable with modest return expectations.

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

No exit load.

Source data date: as of 16 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Apr 2027 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹13.3473 as of 16 September 2026.

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

The fund’s 1-year return is 5.94%, the 3-year return is 7.31%, and the 5-year return is not available in the current performance set.

How has the fund done versus its benchmark?

It has outpaced the benchmark in the 1-month, 3-month, 1-year and 3-year periods shown here. The gap is especially wide over 1 year, while the 3-year edge is narrower.

How does it compare with the peer funds listed here?

Its recent return is below the strongest peer figures shown, but its 3-year return is ahead of the peer in this set that also has a 3-year figure. The short-term and medium-term comparisons do not tell the same story.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?

The fund is managed by Bhupesh Bameta and Harshil Suvarnkar. There is no exit load.

Bottom line

This fund’s recent return pattern is steadier than the benchmark and its 3-year record is modestly better as well, but the 5-year figure is not available here, so the longer story remains incomplete. Compared with the listed peers, the fund lags the stronger short-term return numbers but looks more balanced when the available medium-term figures are considered. Its low-risk profile and heavy tilt toward state government securities make it suitable for investors who prefer a conservative debt allocation with a concentrated core of holdings rather than a high-growth profile.

Published on 17 September 2026 at 1:33 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.