SBI Children's Fund-Investment Direct Growth Plan Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

SBI Children's Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan currently has a NAV of ₹52.924 as of 15 September 2026 and scheme AUM of ₹7,764 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 13.72%, 20.41% and 19.85%, and the scheme sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that the fund has combined strong longer-term compounding with a weaker recent patch, while also carrying a portfolio profile that includes overseas equities and a meaningful cash buffer. That mix can suit investors who are comfortable with volatility and are looking for a solution-oriented fund with a long holding period in mind.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹52.924 as of 15 Sep 2026
AUM	₹7,764 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.86%
Launch Date	29 Sep 2020
Min SIP	₹500
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Solution Oriented
Exit Load	3% on or before 1Y, 2% after 1Y but on or before 2Y, 1% after 2Y but on or before 3Y, Nil after 3Y
Fund Managers	R. Srinivasan, Lokesh Mallya

The fund is managed by R. Srinivasan and Lokesh Mallya.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-1.78%	-4.81%
3M	3.01%	-3.63%
1Y	13.72%	-8.27%
3Y	20.41%	5.59%
5Y	19.85%	5.58%

The fund’s recent pattern is mixed, but the latest one-month figure is less weak than the benchmark’s decline. The 3-month return is positive while the benchmark stays negative, which suggests the fund has handled the recent stretch better than the index even though it has still seen some pullback.

Over 1 year, the gap versus the benchmark is wide: the fund has delivered a positive double-digit return while the benchmark is negative. That tells us the scheme has not simply tracked the market; it has used its active allocation to produce a very different outcome from the benchmark in the latest year.

The longer-term picture is stronger. Both the 3-year and 5-year returns are around 20%, while the benchmark is near 5.6% for the same horizons. That means the fund has compounded much faster than the benchmark over holding periods that matter more for a solution-oriented scheme, even though the short-term path has not been smooth.

Reading the daily movement pattern alongside the return figures, we see a fund that has had periods of recovery and occasional drawdown rather than a straight line up. For investors, that matters: the return profile rewards patience, but the recent softness shows why the High Risk label is relevant.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD SBI Children's Fund-Investment Plan?

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
SBI Children's Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan	13.72%	20.41%	19.85%
SBI Children's Fund-Savings Plan Direct Growth Plan	8.77%	11.51%	10.56%
LIC MF Children’s Fund Direct Growth Plan	3.83%	8.25%	7.62%
Aditya Birla SL Bal Bhavishya Yojna Direct Growth Plan	3.46%	10.1%	9.34%
Baroda BNP Paribas Children's Fund Direct Growth Plan	3.27%	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 latest 1-year comparison, the fund stands ahead of the other listed children-focused schemes on the available numbers. The same lead continues over 3 years and 5 years where the return figures are clearly stronger than the peer set shown here, while the two peers with missing longer-horizon figures cannot be compared on those periods.

The important point is that the short-term and long-term stories are aligned rather than conflicting. The fund has been better over 1 year, and it also carries that advantage over 3-year and 5-year periods, which suggests the recent result is not an isolated spike.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
TREPS	Cash & Cash Equivalents and Net Assets	6.88%
Alphabet Inc.	Overseas Equities	5.42%
State Bank of India	Bank	4.91%
Thangamayil Jewellery Ltd.	Diamond & Jewellery	4.88%
Hatsun Agro Product Ltd.	FMCG	4.25%
Renew Energy Global	Overseas Equities	3.81%
Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.	Bank	3.78%
Life Insurance Corporation of India	Insurance	3.77%
Adani Enterprises Ltd.	Trading	3.68%
E.I.D-Parry (India) Ltd.	Agri	3.48%

The largest disclosed holding is TREPS at 6.88%, so cash and cash equivalents are the single biggest visible position. That can help liquidity, but it also means a meaningful share of the portfolio is not sitting in one operating business.

Weight then steps down fairly gradually rather than collapsing after the first position. The tenth holding is 3.48%, so the gap from the largest holding to the tenth is noticeable but not extreme, which suggests the visible book is spread across several positions rather than built around one or two dominant names.

The top 10 holdings together account for approximately 44.86% of the portfolio, and there are 34 disclosed holdings in total. Our read is that the fund may have a reasonably long tail beyond these names, while the visible portion still shows enough concentration in a handful of positions to matter for returns.

To see all holdings, visit the SBI Children's Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan page

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund may suit investors who can accept High Risk exposure and stay invested for several years. The 3-year and 5-year return pattern is much stronger than the benchmark, but the 1-year result and the recent monthly movement show that the ride can still be uneven.

It may appeal to investors looking for a solution-oriented scheme with a long horizon, especially if they are comfortable with overseas equities and a portfolio that is not entirely concentrated in large domestic stocks. The main trade-off is that stronger long-term compounding has come with periods of volatility and weaker short-term behaviour relative to longer-run gains.

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

3% on or before 1Y, 2% after 1Y but on or before 2Y, 1% after 2Y but on or before 3Y, Nil after 3Y.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of SBI Children's Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹52.924 as of 15 September 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
Its 1-year return is 13.72%, its 3-year return is 20.41%, and its 5-year return is 19.85%.

How does it compare with the benchmark?
It has outpaced the Nifty 50 across 1-year, 3-year and 5-year periods. The benchmark returns are -8.27%, 5.59% and 5.58% for those horizons.

How does it compare with peer funds on the available figures?
Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are stronger than the other peer schemes listed here on the available numbers. One peer has missing 3-year and 5-year figures, so those cells are marked as Data not available.

What is the minimum investment through SIP?
The minimum SIP amount is ₹500.

Who manages the fund and what is the exit load?
The fund is managed by R. Srinivasan and Lokesh Mallya. The exit load is 3% on or before 1Y, 2% after 1Y but on or before 2Y, 1% after 2Y but on or before 3Y, and nil after 3Y.

Bottom line

SBI Children's Fund-Investment Plan Direct Growth Plan has a clear split between a softer recent stretch and a much stronger longer-term record. Its returns over 3 and 5 years are well ahead of the benchmark, while the latest year is still positive even as the benchmark is negative. The portfolio also shows a meaningful cash and overseas equity presence, which can shape behaviour. For investors who can tolerate High Risk and hold through swings, it offers a long-horizon story rather than a smooth short-term one.

Published on 16 September 2026 at 4:22 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.