Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Plus PSU Bond Sep 2026 60:40 Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Plus PSU Bond Sep 2026 60:40 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan had a NAV of ₹13.2994 as of 28 August 2026 and an AUM of ₹7,148 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 6.03%, 7.22% and 0%, and it sits in the Low Risk category. Our view is that this is a conservative debt-oriented index fund, but the return pattern has been uneven enough that investors should judge it by stability and portfolio fit rather than expecting strong upside.

The fund’s portfolio is dominated by government securities and other fixed-income paper, which fits its low-volatility profile. That makes it more relevant for investors who want measured debt exposure and can hold through periods when returns do not move smoothly.

Quick facts

Metric	Value
NAV	₹13.2994
AUM	₹7,148 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.2%
Launch Date	24 Sep 2021
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	Low Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Index Funds
Exit Load	No exit load
Fund Managers	Mohit Sharma

The fund is managed by Mohit Sharma.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	0.43%	-0.85%
3M	1.45%	3.39%
1Y	6.03%	-2.29%
3Y	7.22%	6.40%
5Y	Data not available	Data not available

The recent picture is mixed. Over 1 month, the fund stayed positive while the benchmark was negative, which points to relative resilience in a short, choppy window. Over 3 months, however, the benchmark did better, so the fund did not lead every recent stretch.

The 1-year figure is notably better than the benchmark’s negative return, which tells us the fund held up well over a longer and more meaningful holding period. That said, the path was not smooth; the underlying pattern shows periods of softness before recovery, which is typical for a fixed-income portfolio that still carries rate and credit sensitivity.

The 3-year return remains positive and slightly ahead of the benchmark, which supports the case for steady compounding rather than sharp upside. The lack of a 5-year return means we should not stretch the interpretation beyond the available history, especially because the scheme itself was launched in 2021. For investors, the key takeaway is that the fund has been more about preservation and consistency than strong outperformance in every window.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Plus PSU Bond Sep 2026 60:40 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 Plus PSU Bond Sep 2026 60:40 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	6.03%	7.22%	Data not available
ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	35.24%	31.25%	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	32.35%	Data not available	Data not available
Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	32.08%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	31.90%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	31.89%	Data not available	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 far below the peer returns shown here, while its 3-year return is also well below the stronger multi-year figure available for ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan. That difference is important: the peer set includes growth-oriented index strategies, while this scheme is built around fixed-income exposure, so the comparison naturally produces very different return levels.

What stands out is that the current fund’s longer-horizon return is steadier and more subdued, which is consistent with its portfolio structure, but it does not match the stronger returns seen in the peers with available longer-term numbers. In short, the peer table tells a growth-versus-stability story rather than a like-for-like contest, and this fund’s place in that picture is defined more by lower volatility than by high return momentum.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Market-cap distribution

Bucket	Allocation
Large cap	0%
Mid cap	0%
Small cap	0%
Other	100%

Sector	Weight	Top holdings
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES	55.57%	STATE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES (13/07/2026) — 11.38%; STATE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES (14/09/2026) — 9.83%
CORPORATE DEBT	35.24%	7.58% NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (31/07/2026) — 4.56%; 7.44% SMALL INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT BANK OF INDIA (04/09/2026) ** — 3.26%
CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS AND NET ASSETS	4.45%	NET RECEIVABLES / (PAYABLES) — 2.47%; CLEARING CORPORATION OF INDIA LIMITED — 1.28%
TREASURY BILLS	2.59%	Data not available
COMMERCIAL PAPER	2.15%	NTPC LTD. (23/09/2026) — 1.00%; EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF INDIA (07/09/2026) — 0.52%

The portfolio is overwhelmingly fixed-income in nature, with no equity market-cap exposure and a full allocation under “other” assets. That means the fund’s behaviour is likely to be driven mainly by government securities and debt market movements rather than stock-market swings.

Government securities at 55.57% are materially larger than any other sleeve, and corporate debt at 35.24% is the next major block. Together they make up the bulk of the portfolio, so the fund’s day-to-day movement may reflect interest-rate expectations, sovereign paper pricing and credit conditions more than anything else.

Among the listed sectors, government securities is likely to have the greatest influence on portfolio behaviour because it is the largest allocation by a clear margin. Corporate debt is also substantial and could add a second layer of sensitivity, while the smaller cash and short-term segments may mainly support liquidity and near-term stability.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who are comfortable with low-risk debt exposure and who want a portfolio built around government securities and other fixed-income instruments. The 1-year and 3-year returns show steady but moderate compounding, while the benchmark comparison suggests that recent behaviour has been more stable than the benchmark in some periods and weaker in others.

The main trade-off is simple: you may get a calmer ride, but you should not expect the kind of return profile associated with faster-growing equity or thematic strategies. A medium to longer holding horizon is more sensible than a very short one, because that gives the debt portfolio time to work through rate movements and avoids overreacting to short-term variation.

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.

Source data date: as of 28 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Aditya Birla SL Nifty SDL Plus PSU Bond Sep 2026 60:40 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?

The current NAV is ₹13.2994 as of 28 August 2026.

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

The fund’s 1-year return is 6.03%, its 3-year return is 7.22%, and its 5-year return is Data not available.

How has the fund done against the benchmark?

It has outperformed the benchmark over 1 year and 3 years, while the benchmark was ahead over 3 months. Over 1 month, the fund was positive while the benchmark was negative.

How does it compare with the peer funds shown here?

Its return profile is much lower than the peer funds shown here, especially the equity-oriented index funds with much stronger 1-year figures. That difference reflects the fund’s debt-heavy structure and lower-volatility profile.

What is the minimum SIP amount?

The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

Who manages the fund and what is its exit load?

The fund is managed by Mohit Sharma, and it has no exit load.

Bottom line

This fund has delivered a steadier debt-style return pattern rather than the stronger growth profile seen in the peer examples, and that difference is reinforced by its government-securities-heavy allocation. The 1-year and 3-year numbers indicate reasonable consistency, but recent movements have been mixed across shorter periods. For investors who want low-risk fixed-income exposure and can accept modest return expectations, the portfolio structure and no-exit-load feature are the main practical points to notice.

Published on 31 August 2026 at 5:13 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.