Mutual Funds India

Mutual Funds
Complete Dashboard

Live NAV data, SIP calculator, top performing funds, AMC directory, fund categories comparison, and everything you need to make smarter mutual fund decisions.

SIP Calculator Fund Finder NAV Lookup 30+ Tools
₹67.1L Cr
Industry AUM
~11,500+
Schemes
21.2 Cr
Folios
₹26,400 Cr
Monthly SIP
44
AMCs

SIP Calculator

Calculate how much your monthly SIP investments can grow over time

Interactive
₹10,000
₹500₹2,00,000
12%
1%30%
10 years
1 yr40 yrs
0%
0%25%
6%
0%15%

Total Value

₹23,23,391

Invested

₹12,00,000

Returns

₹11,23,391

Wealth Gain

93.6%

Inflation-Adjusted Value (Today's ₹)

₹12,97,568

Invested Amount
Expected Returns

Drag the sliders to see how SIP amount, returns, and duration affect your wealth

Lumpsum Calculator

Estimate the future value of a one-time investment

One-Time
₹5,00,000
₹10K₹1 Cr
12%
1%30%
10 years
1 yr40 yrs
6%
0%15%

Future Value

₹15,52,924

Invested

₹5,00,000

Returns

₹10,52,924

Wealth Gain

210.6%

Inflation-Adjusted Value (Today's ₹)

₹8,67,196

Invested
Returns

Power of compounding — see how a one-time investment multiplies over time

SWP Calculator

Plan regular withdrawals from your mutual fund corpus — ideal for retirees

Withdrawal
₹50,00,000
₹1L₹5 Cr
₹30,000
₹1K₹5L
8%
1%20%
20 years
1 yr40 yrs
6%
0%15%

Withdrawal rises each year to beat inflation

Balance After 20 Years

₹21,42,876

Total Withdrawn

₹72,00,000

Returns Earned

₹43,42,876

Corpus Lasts

20+ yrs

Last Withdrawal Worth (Today's ₹)

₹9,357

How SWP works: You invest a lump sum and withdraw a fixed monthly amount. The remaining corpus stays invested and earns returns. If withdrawals exceed returns, the corpus depletes over time.

Mutual Fund Categories

Understand the different types of mutual funds and their risk-return profiles

SEBI Categories

Equity Funds

High Risk · High Return

Invest primarily in stocks. Includes Large Cap, Mid Cap, Small Cap, Multi Cap, Flexi Cap, Sectoral/Thematic, ELSS, and Value/Contra funds.

Ideal: 5+ years Avg Return: 12-15% p.a.

Debt Funds

Low Risk · Stable

Invest in bonds and fixed-income securities. Includes Liquid, Overnight, Ultra Short, Short Duration, Corporate Bond, Gilt, and Dynamic Bond funds.

Ideal: 1-3 years Avg Return: 6-8% p.a.

Hybrid Funds

Medium Risk

Invest in both equity and debt. Includes Balanced Advantage, Aggressive Hybrid, Conservative Hybrid, Multi-Asset Allocation, and Arbitrage funds.

Ideal: 3-5 years Avg Return: 8-12% p.a.

Index & ETFs

Passive · Low Cost

Track market indices like Nifty 50, Sensex, Nifty Next 50, and Nifty 500. Lowest expense ratios. ETFs trade like stocks on exchanges.

Ideal: 5+ years Avg Return: 10-13% p.a.

Solution Oriented

Goal Based

Designed for specific goals — Retirement Funds (5-year lock-in) and Children's Funds. Tax-saving ELSS funds also fall under equity with 3-year lock-in.

Lock-in: 3-5 yrs Avg Return: 10-14% p.a.

International Funds

Global Diversification

Invest in US/global markets — S&P 500, Nasdaq, global equities, emerging markets. Provides geographical diversification and USD exposure.

Ideal: 5+ years Avg Return: 10-15% p.a.

Top Performing Funds

Best-performing mutual funds by category based on trailing returns

Returns Data
Fund NameCategory1Y Return3Y Return5Y ReturnAUM (Cr)Expense
Quant Small Cap FundSmall Cap38.2%28.4%42.1%₹26,4500.64%
Nippon India Small Cap FundSmall Cap32.5%26.8%35.7%₹48,2000.68%
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap FundFlexi Cap25.3%20.1%24.6%₹72,1000.63%
HDFC Mid-Cap OpportunitiesMid Cap29.8%24.5%27.9%₹65,4000.73%
Motilal Oswal Midcap FundMid Cap41.2%29.3%30.1%₹18,9000.58%
Mirae Asset Large Cap FundLarge Cap18.7%14.2%16.8%₹40,2000.53%
SBI Contra FundContra26.4%22.6%28.3%₹32,7000.55%

Returns are illustrative and based on recent historical data. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Data sourced from AMFI/Value Research.

Fund NameCategory1Y Return3Y ReturnAUM (Cr)Expense
HDFC Short Term Debt FundShort Duration7.8%6.9%₹15,4000.28%
ICICI Pru Corporate Bond FundCorporate Bond7.5%6.6%₹28,1000.30%
SBI Magnum Gilt FundGilt8.4%7.2%₹9,8000.46%
Axis Liquid FundLiquid7.1%6.3%₹34,2000.15%
Kotak Dynamic Bond FundDynamic Bond8.1%7.0%₹3,2000.52%
Fund NameCategory1Y Return3Y Return5Y ReturnAUM (Cr)Expense
ICICI Pru Balanced AdvantageBAF15.2%12.8%14.1%₹58,9000.87%
HDFC Balanced Advantage FundBAF18.6%16.2%16.8%₹87,2000.74%
SBI Equity Hybrid FundAggressive Hybrid17.4%14.5%15.8%₹72,1000.68%
ICICI Pru Multi-Asset FundMulti Asset21.3%18.7%19.2%₹42,6000.92%
Fund NameTracks1Y Return3Y Return5Y ReturnAUM (Cr)Expense
UTI Nifty 50 Index FundNifty 5014.8%12.1%15.2%₹18,4000.10%
Motilal Oswal Nifty 500 FundNifty 50018.9%14.6%17.1%₹5,2000.18%
Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FoFNasdaq 10028.3%12.4%20.8%₹4,8000.18%
HDFC Nifty Next 50 Index FundNifty Next 5026.1%18.5%19.4%₹8,1000.12%
Navi Nifty 50 Index FundNifty 5014.6%——₹1,9000.06%
Fund Name1Y Return3Y Return5Y ReturnAUM (Cr)Lock-inExpense
Quant ELSS Tax Saver35.8%26.1%33.2%₹10,2003 yrs0.57%
Parag Parikh ELSS Tax Saver22.4%——₹4,1003 yrs0.58%
Mirae Asset ELSS Tax Saver19.6%15.4%18.7%₹24,8003 yrs0.56%
SBI Long Term Equity Fund21.2%16.5%17.9%₹26,3003 yrs0.79%

AMC Directory

All SEBI-registered Asset Management Companies in India with AUM data

44 AMCs

SBI Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹10,12,000 Cr

HDFC Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹7,24,000 Cr

ICICI Prudential MF

AUM: ₹8,42,000 Cr

Nippon India MF

AUM: ₹5,18,000 Cr

Kotak Mahindra MF

AUM: ₹4,82,000 Cr

Axis Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹2,98,000 Cr

Birla Sun Life MF

AUM: ₹3,56,000 Cr

UTI Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹3,14,000 Cr

Tata Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹1,42,000 Cr

DSP Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹1,68,000 Cr

Mirae Asset MF

AUM: ₹1,85,000 Cr

PPFAS Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹82,000 Cr

Motilal Oswal MF

AUM: ₹96,000 Cr

Franklin Templeton MF

AUM: ₹72,000 Cr

Quant Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹98,000 Cr

Bandhan Mutual Fund

AUM: ₹1,12,000 Cr

Showing top 16 AMCs by AUM. Full list at AMFI India.

Understanding Expense Ratios

The annual fee charged by the fund house — lower is better for your returns

Cost Matters

Typical Expense Ratios by Category

Index Funds
0.05-0.2%
Liquid Funds
0.10-0.25%
Debt Funds
0.20-0.70%
Large Cap
0.50-1.00%
Mid/Small Cap
0.50-1.50%
Hybrid Funds
0.70-1.80%

Impact of Expense Ratio on ₹10L over 20 years

0.1% expense

Index Fund (Direct)

₹95.4L
0.5% expense

Active Fund (Direct)

₹88.1L
1.0% expense

Active Fund (Regular)

₹79.3L
2.0% expense

High-cost Fund

₹64.5L

Assuming 12% p.a. pre-expense returns. The difference between 0.1% and 2% expense is ₹30.9L — always choose Direct plans and low-cost funds.

Mutual Fund Tax Rules (2026)

Current capital gains tax rules for different mutual fund categories

Tax Guide
Fund Type Holding Period for LTCG STCG Tax LTCG Tax Exemption Indexation
Equity Funds (≥65% equity) 12 months 20% 12.5% ₹1.25L/year No
Debt Funds Slab Rate * As per slab As per slab None No *
Hybrid (≥65% equity) 12 months 20% 12.5% ₹1.25L/year No
Hybrid (<65% equity) 24 months As per slab 12.5% None No
ELSS (Tax Saver) 12 months (after 3-yr lock-in) 20% 12.5% ₹1.25L/year No
International Funds 24 months As per slab 12.5% None No

* Debt fund gains are taxed as per income tax slab irrespective of holding period (post Budget 2023 amendment). Verify with a tax advisor for latest rules.

Active vs Passive: The Great Debate

How do actively managed funds compare to index funds over time?

Comparison

Active Funds

  • ✓Fund manager picks stocks — potential to beat the index
  • ✓Can navigate market downturns with cash allocation
  • ✓Mid/small cap alpha still meaningful in India
  • ✗Higher expense ratios (0.5-2.0%)
  • ✗~65% of large-cap funds underperform Nifty 50 over 5 years
  • ✗Manager risk — performance depends on one person

Index / Passive Funds

  • ✓Ultra-low cost (0.05-0.20% expense ratio)
  • ✓No fund manager bias — pure market returns
  • ✓Transparent — you always know what you own
  • ✓Outperforms majority of active large-cap funds over long term
  • ✗Can't beat the index — tracking error only adds to drag
  • ✗No downside protection in crashes

Our take: For large-cap, go passive (Nifty 50/Next 50 index). For mid/small-cap, active funds with consistent track record can still add alpha. Always choose Direct plans over Regular.

New Fund Offers (NFOs)

Currently open and upcoming NFOs — invest at ₹10 NAV

Latest
Open

SBI Nifty Alpha Low Volatility 30 Index Fund

Category: Index Fund · AMC: SBI MF · Opens: 10 Mar · Closes: 24 Mar

NAV: ₹10
Open

HDFC Manufacturing Fund

Category: Sectoral · AMC: HDFC MF · Opens: 12 Mar · Closes: 26 Mar

NAV: ₹10
Upcoming

Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence ETF

Category: Thematic ETF · AMC: Motilal Oswal · Expected: Apr 2026

NAV: ₹10

NFO data is illustrative. Check AMFI or your broker for live NFO listings. We recommend investing in NFOs only if the theme/strategy is unique and not available via existing funds.

Mutual Fund Basics

Essential concepts every investor should know

Education

📋 What is a Mutual Fund?

A mutual fund pools money from thousands of investors and invests it in stocks, bonds, or other securities — managed by professional fund managers. You own "units" proportional to your investment. The fund's value per unit is the NAV (Net Asset Value), calculated daily after market close.

🔄 SIP vs Lumpsum

SIP (Systematic Investment Plan): Fixed amount invested monthly. Benefits from rupee-cost averaging — you buy more units when prices are low. Best for salaried investors.

Lumpsum: One-time investment. Works best when markets are undervalued. Statistically, lumpsum beats SIP ~65% of the time if market is trending up.

📊 Direct vs Regular Plans

Direct Plan: Buy directly from AMC/platforms like MFCentral, Kuvera, Groww. Lower expense ratio (no distributor commission). Always gives ~0.5-1.5% higher returns.

Regular Plan: Bought through distributors/advisors. Higher expense ratio includes distributor trail commission. Over 20 years, the difference on ₹10L can be ₹10L+ in lost returns.

🎯 Growth vs IDCW (Dividend)

Growth: All profits are reinvested — the NAV keeps growing. Best for wealth creation (most investors should choose this).

IDCW (Income Distribution cum Capital Withdrawal): Fund distributes profits periodically. Not truly "dividend" — it reduces NAV. IDCW is taxable at your slab rate. Only useful if you need regular cash flow.

Common MF Myths — Busted

Don't let misconceptions stop you from investing

Fact Check

❌ Myth

"Low NAV means the fund is cheap"

✓ Reality

NAV is not like stock price. A fund with ₹10 NAV isn't cheaper than one with ₹500 NAV. What matters is future returns %, not the NAV number. A new fund at ₹10 can give 10% and an older fund at ₹500 can also give 10% — you get the same return on your invested amount.

❌ Myth

"5-star rated fund = best fund"

✓ Reality

Star ratings are backward-looking and change frequently. A 5-star fund today was often 3-star a year ago. Focus on consistency, fund manager tenure, investment process, and expense ratio — not just past returns or ratings.

❌ Myth

"NFOs at ₹10 are a great deal"

✓ Reality

An NFO at ₹10 NAV has no track record, no proven strategy, and often replicates an existing fund. You're better off investing in proven funds with 3-5 year track records. The ₹10 starting NAV is not a discount — it's just a starting point.

❌ Myth

"More funds = more diversification"

✓ Reality

Holding 10+ equity funds often means owning the same stocks through different funds. 3-4 well-chosen funds across categories give you enough diversification. Over-diversification dilutes returns and makes tracking difficult.

❌ Myth

"SIP guarantees profits"

✓ Reality

SIP reduces timing risk through rupee-cost averaging, but doesn't guarantee positive returns. Equity SIPs can show losses in the short term. The key is staying invested for 7+ years — no 10-year SIP in Nifty 50 has ever given negative return historically.

❌ Myth

"Stop SIP when markets crash"

✓ Reality

Crashes are when SIP works best — you buy more units at lower prices. Investors who continued SIPs through 2008, 2020 made the highest returns. Market crashes are SIP's best friend. Never stop a SIP due to panic.

Fund Finder Wizard

Answer 3 quick questions — get a personalized mutual fund recommendation

Smart Pick

Step 1 of 3

What is your investment horizon?

Model Portfolios

Sample mutual fund allocations by risk profile — pick the one that matches you

Allocation
🛡️

Conservative

Low risk · Stable returns

Liquid/Ultra Short20%
Short Duration Debt35%
Corporate Bond20%
Large Cap Equity15%
Balanced Advantage10%
Expected: 7-9% p.a. · Best for 1-3 year goals, retirees, risk-averse investors.
⚖️

Balanced

Medium risk · Growth + stability

Nifty 50 Index25%
Flexi Cap / Large Cap20%
Balanced Advantage20%
Short Duration Debt20%
International Fund15%
Expected: 10-13% p.a. · Best for 3-7 year goals, salaried investors building wealth.
🔥

Aggressive

High risk · Maximum growth

Mid Cap Fund25%
Small Cap Fund20%
Flexi Cap / Multi Cap20%
Nifty Next 50 Index15%
International / Sectoral20%
Expected: 14-18% p.a. · Best for 7+ year horizon, young investors, high income.

These are illustrative model portfolios — not investment advice. Allocations should be customized based on your age, income, goals, and risk tolerance. Use our Retirement Calculator or Financial Health Quiz for personalized insights.

Mutual Funds vs Other Investments

How do mutual funds stack up against FDs, PPF, NPS, Stocks, Gold & Real Estate?

Head-to-Head
Feature Mutual Funds Fixed Deposit PPF NPS Stocks Gold
Returns (p.a.) 10-15% 6-7.5% 7.1% 9-12% 12-18% 8-10%
Risk Level Low to High Very Low Zero Low-Medium Very High Medium
Liquidity High Medium Low (15yr) Low (60yr) Very High High
Tax Benefit (80C) ELSS only 5-yr FD Yes (EEE) Yes (80CCD) No No
Min Investment ₹100 SIP ₹1,000 ₹500/yr ₹1,000/yr 1 share ₹1 (SGB)
Professional Mgmt Yes No No Yes Self No
Diversification Built-in Single Single Built-in Manual Single
Best For All goals Safe parking Long-term safe Retirement Experienced Hedge
⚖️ Investment Comparator 🏦 Fixed Income Comparator 📊 Retirement Plans Comparator

Exit Load Quick Reference

Charges
Fund TypeExit LoadIf Held
Liquid Funds0%7+ days
Overnight Funds0%Any time
Debt Funds0-0.25%< 30 days
Equity Funds1%< 1 year
ELSS0%3-yr lock-in
Index Funds0-0.25%< 15 days
Sectoral Funds1%< 1 year
Exit load varies by AMC and scheme. Always check the Scheme Information Document (SID) before investing.

Best SIP Date — Does It Matter?

Analysis
📅

Short answer: No significant difference

Historical analysis of 20+ years of Nifty 50 data shows the SIP date (1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 25th) makes less than 0.1% difference in CAGR over long periods.

✅

Best practice: Choose your salary credit date

Set SIP 1-2 days after salary credit. This ensures the money is available and you "pay yourself first." Consistency matters more than the date.

💡

Pro tip: Spread across dates for large SIPs

If investing ₹50K+/month across multiple funds, pick different dates (e.g., 5th, 10th, 15th) for better rupee-cost averaging within the month.

How to Start Investing in Mutual Funds

From zero to your first SIP — complete step-by-step guide for beginners

Beginner
1
🆔

Complete KYC

PAN + Aadhaar based eKYC. Takes 5 minutes on any platform. One-time process — valid across all AMCs.

2
📱

Choose a Platform

Pick a Direct plan platform: Groww, Kuvera, Zerodha Coin, or MFCentral. Always invest in Direct plans.

3
🎯

Define Your Goal

Emergency fund? Retirement? Child's education? Tax saving? Your goal decides the fund category and time horizon.

4
📋

Select Fund(s)

Use the Fund Finder above or pick from our Top Funds list. Start with 1-2 funds.

5
🚀

Start a SIP

Set up auto-debit SIP (even ₹500/month). Choose Growth + Direct plan. Set and forget — review annually.

📈 Plan Your SIP → 🎯 Goal-Based SIP → ⏰ Cost of Delay → ❤️ Financial Health Quiz →

Best Direct Mutual Fund Platforms

Invest in Direct plans with zero commission — compare top platforms

Direct Only
GR

Groww

Most popular in India

CostFree
MF Schemes5,000+
Stocks/ETFsYes
Best ForBeginners
KV

Kuvera

Commission-free since 2017

CostFree
MF Schemes5,000+
Goal PlanningYes
Best ForMF-only investors
ZC

Zerodha Coin

India's largest broker

CostFree for MF
MF Schemes3,000+
Stocks/ETFsYes
Best ForStock + MF investors
MF

MFCentral

Official AMFI/RTA portal

CostFree
Backed ByCAMS + KFintech
CAS StatementYes
Best ForPortfolio consolidation
PM

Paytm Money

UPI-first experience

CostFree for MF
MF Schemes4,000+
NPS SupportYes
Best ForPaytm ecosystem
ET

ET Money

Smart insights & analytics

CostFree / Premium
Smart DepositYes
Tax ReportsYes
Best ForData-driven investors

Always choose Direct plans. Over 20 years, the 0.5-1.5% lower expense ratio of Direct vs Regular can mean 15-30% more wealth. Use our Compound Interest Calculator to see the difference.

MF Jargon Buster

Quick reference for mutual fund terminology — click to learn more

View Full Glossary →
📈

SIP

Systematic Investment Plan
💫

NAV

Net Asset Value
🏦

AUM

Assets Under Management
💸

Expense Ratio

Annual fund cost %
📊

CAGR

Compound Annual Growth
📦

ETF

Exchange Traded Fund
📋

Index Fund

Tracks market index
💰

SWP

Systematic Withdrawal
🧾

LTCG / STCG

Capital Gains Tax
🇮🇳

Nifty 50

NSE benchmark index
🌐

Diversification

Spread your risk
🎲

Risk Tolerance

Your risk comfort level
🎁

IDCW (Dividend)

Income distribution
⬆️

Step-up SIP

Increasing SIP amount
📐

Asset Allocation

Portfolio mix strategy
Did You Know?

India's Mutual Fund Journey

1963

UTI Established

Unit Trust of India — India's first mutual fund entity. Launched US-64, the iconic scheme.

1987

SBI MF Launched

Public sector banks enter the MF industry. SBI Mutual Fund becomes the first non-UTI mutual fund.

1993

SEBI Regulates MFs

SEBI (MF) Regulations 1993 — private players like ICICI, HDFC, Birla enter the market. Industry opens up.

2009

Entry Load Abolished

SEBI removes entry load — investors no longer pay commission upfront. A landmark reform for retail investors.

2013

Direct Plans Introduced

SEBI mandates every scheme to offer Direct plan (no distributor commission) — 0.5-1.5% lower expense ratio.

2017

"Mutual Funds Sahi Hai" Campaign

AMFI's iconic campaign drives massive retail adoption. SIP flows cross ₹5,000 Cr/month for the first time.

2026

₹67L Cr AUM · 21 Cr Folios · ₹26,400 Cr Monthly SIP

India's MF industry grows 10x in a decade. Passive investing, index funds, and direct plans lead the revolution.

Official Data Sources

Mutual Fund Resources

A

AMFI India

Official NAV, AUM, folio data
VR

Value Research

Fund analysis, ratings, portfolio
M★

Morningstar India

Global fund analysis & ratings
S

SEBI

Regulatory info, circulars
MF

MFCentral

Official portal — CAS, switch, redeem
C

CAMS / KFintech

RTA — statements, CAS
Tenhash Tools

Plan Your Mutual Fund Journey

30+ financial calculators, comparators, and tools — all free, no sign-up required

Investment Calculators

📈

SIP Calculator

Plan monthly investments
⬆️

Step-up SIP

Increasing SIP amounts
💰

Lumpsum Calculator

One-time investment
💸

SWP Calculator

Systematic withdrawal
🏦

MF Returns

Fund returns calculator
🎯

Goal-Based SIP

Target corpus planning
⚖️

Lumpsum vs SIP

Which is better?
📊

CAGR Calculator

Compound growth rate
🔄

Compound Interest

Power of compounding
⏰

Cost of Delay

Why start early
🔥

Inflation Calculator

Future cost of money
🔮

What-If Simulator

Scenario planning

Tax & Income Tools

🧾

Capital Gains Tax

STCG / LTCG calculator
📝

Income Tax Calculator

Old vs New regime
🎯

Tax Optimizer

Save maximum tax
🏠

HRA Calculator

HRA tax exemption
💼

Salary Calculator

CTC breakdown
⚖️

Tax Regime Comparator

Old vs New which saves more
🧾

Rent Receipt Generator

For HRA claims

Retirement & Long-term Goals

🏖️

Retirement Calculator

Plan your retirement
🗓️

Freedom Date (FIRE)

Financial independence
📋

NPS Calculator

National Pension
🏦

PPF Calculator

Public Provident Fund
👷

EPF Calculator

Employee PF
💎

Net Worth Calculator

Track your wealth
🛟

Emergency Fund

How much to keep?
🏆

Wealth Milestones

Track your achievements

Comparators & Dashboards

📊

MF Types Comparator

Compare fund categories
⚖️

Investment Comparator

MF vs FD vs Stocks
🏖️

Retirement Comparator

NPS vs PPF vs MF
🏦

Fixed Income Comparator

FD vs RD vs Bonds
📱

Financial Dashboard

Complete overview
📝

Financial Report Card

Score your finances
❤️

Financial Health Quiz

Quick assessment
🧠

Money Personality

Know your type
📒

Budget Planner

Track spending
🇮🇳

Stock Market Live

Nifty, Sensex, FII
🔀

Decision Flowcharts

Financial choices
🗺️

Learning Paths

Guided fin. education
View All 30+ Calculators & Tools
Frequently Asked Questions

Mutual Fund FAQs

What is the minimum amount to start investing in mutual funds?
You can start a SIP with as low as ₹100 per month in many funds (e.g., SBI, Nippon). Most popular funds accept ₹500/month SIPs. For lumpsum, the minimum is typically ₹1,000-5,000. There's no maximum limit. You don't need a demat account — just complete your KYC (PAN + Aadhaar) on any platform.
What is the difference between Direct and Regular mutual fund plans?
Direct plans have a lower expense ratio (0.5-1.5% less) because there's no distributor commission. Regular plans include a trail commission for the distributor/advisor. Over 20 years, this difference can mean 15-30% more wealth with Direct plans. Always choose Direct — you can invest via platforms like Groww, Kuvera, or Zerodha Coin.
Are mutual fund returns taxable in India?
Yes. Equity funds: STCG (held < 12 months) taxed at 20%, LTCG taxed at 12.5% above ₹1.25L/year exemption. Debt funds: All gains taxed at your income tax slab rate, regardless of holding period. ELSS: Same as equity funds (after 3-year lock-in). Use our Capital Gains Tax Calculator for exact computation.
How many mutual funds should I have in my portfolio?
3-5 funds is ideal for most investors. A simple portfolio: 1 Nifty 50 Index Fund + 1 Flexi Cap + 1 Short Duration Debt Fund gives excellent diversification. Adding more than 6-7 equity funds usually leads to portfolio overlap (same stocks held across funds), diluted returns, and tracking complexity. Quality over quantity.
Should I invest via SIP or Lumpsum?
SIP is ideal for salaried investors investing from monthly income — it provides rupee-cost averaging and removes timing decisions. Lumpsum works better when you have a large amount (bonus, inheritance) and markets are undervalued. Statistically, lumpsum outperforms SIP ~65% of the time in rising markets. For most people, SIP is the practical choice. Use our Lumpsum vs SIP Calculator to compare.
Can I withdraw my mutual fund investment anytime?
Open-ended funds: Yes, redeem anytime. Money reaches your bank in 1-3 business days (equity: T+3, liquid: T+1). ELSS: 3-year lock-in. Close-ended funds: Lock-in until maturity. Most funds have no exit load after 1 year. Liquid funds have zero exit load after 7 days. Always check the exit load before investing.
What happens to my mutual fund if the AMC shuts down?
Your money is safe. Mutual fund assets are held by a custodian (not the AMC) and regulated by SEBI. If an AMC shuts down, SEBI ensures the fund is transferred to another AMC, or investors are paid the NAV. The AMC only manages the fund — they don't own your money. This is different from bank deposits (where the bank uses your money for lending).
Which is better — Index funds or actively managed funds in India?
For large-cap, index funds win — ~65% of active large-cap funds underperform Nifty 50 over 5 years. For mid and small-cap, active funds still generate meaningful alpha in India due to market inefficiency. A good strategy: Nifty 50 Index for large-cap allocation + active funds for mid/small-cap. Always choose low-cost Direct plans.

Disclaimer:

Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. Past performance is not indicative of future results. NAV data displayed on this page is sourced from AMFI India and fund house websites. Returns data is illustrative and based on historical performance — it does not guarantee future returns. Tenhash is not a SEBI-registered investment advisor. This page is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any mutual fund units. Always do your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.