Mutual Funds in India

  • Mutual funds in India are a fine mode of investment available to the people of India as it involves a pooling of money from a number of different investors. Which is thereafter invested in various schemes in the market.
  • This considerably makes it convenient for the people looking forward to beginning their investment ventures by offering low starting costs, accompanied by lower risk as compared to the individual investments.
  • To seek further security, investors seek out top mutual funds to ensure their investments yield returns.
  • Even mutual funds have evolved as an investment scheme, catering to the needs and requirements of the current and prospective investors, because of which multiple types of mutual funds have come to be available in the market.
  • It is important that while assessing the performance of top mutual funds, they are duly segregated on a solid classification which considerably divides their field of application.

Hence, the following lists highlight the top mutual funds in India as of now, based on proper classification.

Large-cap oriented Equity funds

Investment is made in organizations with huge market capitalization, usually with a value of more than $10bn.
Top Mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
Aditya Birla Sun Life Frontline Equity Fund 211.400 13.9 18968.99 2.11
Kotak Select Focus Fund-Regular Plan (G) 31.893 17.94 13947.12 1.97
ICICI Prudential Top 100 fund – Direct Plan (G) 324.180 12.84 2671.80 1.01
SBI Blue Chip Fund (G) 36.438 15.01 15653.68 1.97
DSP Black Rock Focus 25 fund 22.129 14.80 2865.06 2.47

Diversified Equity funds

The focus is on securing a wide range of securities and not on the size or share of the organization invested in.
The Top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
Motilal Oswal MOSt Focused Multicap 35 Fund 25.20 25.20 % 9178.99 2.09
Aditya Birla Sun Life India GenNext Fund (G) 75.540 20.2 % 663.38 2.57
Axis Focused 25 fund – Regular Plan (G) 24.810 18.36 % 1980.75 2.12
Principal Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) 105.290 24.32 % 1265.05 2.42
Tata Equity P/E Fund-Regular Plan (G) 134.318 20.67 % 1815.18 2.29

Small and Mid-cap Equity funds

Investments are made in small-cap as well as mid-cap stocks, with the possibly different ratio between the two.
The top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
L&T Emerging Business Fund – Regular Plan (G) 25.493 26.79 % 1873.35 2.22
Canara Robeco Emerging Equities (G) 88.860 22.72 % 2410.49 2.36
Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) 48.594 25.87 % 4427.79 2.41
BNP Paribas MidCap Fund (G) 34.764 20.26 % 780.70 2.38
L&T Midcap Fund (G) 138.230 24.38 % 1323.15 2.26

Thematic – Infrastructure funds

Investments made in companies dealing with infrastructure.
The top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
L&T Emerging Business Fund – Regular Plan (G) 25.493 26.79 % 1873.35 2.22
Canara Robeco Emerging Equities (G) 88.860 22.72 % 2410.49 2.36
ICICI Prudential Top 100 fund – Direct Plan (G) 48.594 25.87 % 4427.79 2.41
BNP Paribas MidCap Fund (G) 34.764 20.26 % 780.70 2.38
L&T Midcap Fund (G) 22.129 14.80 % 2865.06 2.47

Equity linked Saving Schemes (ELSS)

Tax – saving mutual funds.
The topmutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
TATA India Tax Savings Fund – Regular Plan (D) 74.585 19.56% 838.61 2.52
Kotak Tax Saver – Regular Plan (G) 40.573 16.32% 670.44 2.39
Aditya Birla Sun Life Tax Relief 96 (D) 166.850 19.06% 3961.95 2.28
L&T Tax Advantage Fund (G) 53.154 17.18% 2547.98 2.08
Principal Tax Saving Fund 200.770 16.78% 347.39 2.58

Index Funds

Objective is to track or match the market index components like the S&P 500 (Standard & Poor’s 500) Index.
The top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
Kotak Nifty ETF 100.902 9.03% 554.36 0.10
UTI Nifty Index Fund (G) 64.117 9.56% 601.05 0.20
HDFC Index Fund – Nifty Plan 89.407 9.67% 254.85 015
SBI Nifty Index Fund (G) 84.976 8.77% 196.08 0.67
ICICI Prudential Nifty iWIN ETF 102.421 9.90% 1176.78 0.05

Balanced Mutual Funds

A well balanced mutual fund comprising stocks, bonds as well as Money market components. Top mutual funds are as follows:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
HDFC Balanced Fund (G) 142.067 14.28% 15643.26 2.01
Reliance Regular Savings Fund – Balanced Option (G) 52.992 14.19% 9069.36 1.98
ICICI Prudential Balanced Fund (G) 122.240 14.21% 19600.66 2.21
L&T India Prudence Fund (G) 25.298 15.15% 7042.80 2.00
DSP BlackRock Balanced Fund (G) 141.727 15.03% 5922.21 2.47

Monthy Income Plan – Aggressive Mutual Funds

High returns based investment with higher risk. Offers monthly payment.
The top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
Birla Sun Life MIP II – Wealth 25 Plan 38.778 14.04% 2353.14 2.11
HDFC Monthly Income Plan – Long-term Plan (G) 43.116 10.14% 3785.55 1.92
Kotak Monthly Income Plan – Regular Plan (G) 29.357 10.75% 368.48 2.27
ICICI Prudential MIP 25 (G) 38.702 11.77% 1431.66 2.16
HSBC Monthly income plan – Savings Plan (G) 34.893 9.24% 305.81 2.27

Long-term Gilt Funds

Involve long-term Government securities. The Top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
Reliance Gilt Securities Fund-Retail Plan (G) 22.830 13.29% 1646.83 0.58
Aditya Birla Sun Life Gilt Plus (PF Plan) (G) 48.664 12.86% 107.76 0.89
SBI Magnum Gilt – Long-term Plan (G) 38.421 12.97% 2992.34 0.43
UTI Gilt Advantage Fund (G) 38.243 12.44% 748.09 0.63
ICICI Prudential Gilt – Investment Plan – PF Option (G) 34.785 12.35% 936.25 0.43

Long-term Income Funds

Long-term based investment in securities which offers regular returns in forms of Dividends, etc. The Top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
SBI Dynamic Bond Fund (G) 21.409 10.69% 3613.41 1.55
Canara Robeco Dynamic Bond Fund-Regular Plan (G) 19.536 10.31% 289.46 1.75
ICICI Prudential Long Term Plan (G) 21.347 11.62% 3449.46 1.26
UTI – Dynamic Bond Fund (G) 19.914 10.68% 1686.30 1.61
IDFC Dynamic Bond Fun – Regular Plan (G) 20.708 10.41% 5231.63 1.47

Debt Funds

The top mutual funds in the category of Debt funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
UTI Dynamic Bond Fund (G) 19.914 10.68% 1686.30 1.61
ICICI Prudential Long Term Plan (G) 21.347 11.62% 3449.46 1.26
SBI Dynamic Bond Fund(G) 21.409 10.69% 3613.41 1.55
Reliance Dynamic Bond Fund (G) 23.25 10.11% 3913.85 1.67
UTI Dynamic Bond Fund (G) 19.914 10.68% 1686.30 1.61

Short-term Income Funds

Short-period based investments. The top mutual funds are as follows:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
HDFC Medium-term opportunities fund (G) 18.915 9.35% 12662.42 0.36
UTI Banking & PSU Debt Fund-Regular Plan (G) 13.872 9.31% 990.52 0.22
HDFC Short-term Opportunities Fund (G) 18.697 8.74% 9076.17 0.37
IDFC Super Saver Income Fund – Medium Term(G) 28.664 8.70% 4623.63 1.38
Aditya Birla Sun Life Short Term Fund (G) 64.866 9.26% 19386.67 0.35

Credit Opportunities Funds

Open-ended mutual funds that absorb the risk and provide higher returns to the investors. The top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
Franklin India Low Duration Fund 19.330 9.61% 4957.81 0.78
Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund-Regular Plan (G) 12.589 8.81% 3854.59 1.97
ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund (G) 26.495 9.39% 7647.39 1.48
Reliance Corporate Bond Fund (G) 13.733 10.10% 7852.41 1.69
UTI Income Opportunities Fund (G) 15.451 9.36% 3729.25 1.58

Ultra – short-term Debt Funds

Investment is made in liquid income instruments with short-term maturities and higher returns. The top mutual funds are:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
LIC MF Income Plus Fund (G) 21.233 7.70% 237.86 0.48
DSP BlackRock Money Manager Fund-Regular Plan (G) 2252.223 7.41% 3668.36 1.00
IDFC Ultra Short Term Fund-Regular Plan (G) 23.908 8.43% 6127.68 0.36
UTI Treasury Advantage Fund – Institutional Plan (G) 2325.806 8.50% 11379.00 0.40
SBI Ultra Short Term Debt Fund-Regular Plan (G) 2176.235 8.12% 10784.30 0.43

Liquid Funds

Investments usually made in securities like commercial paper, treasury bills, term deposits, etc., which are characterized by a low maturity period. The top mutual funds are as follows:

Name of scheme Last NAV (Rs. Per unit) 3-year fund returns AUM (Rs. Cr) Expense Ratio
JM High Liquidity Fund (G) 45.929 7.80% 3186.69 0.26
Axis Liquid Fund-Regular Plan (G) 1860.978 7.73% 16680.35 0.10
DSP BlackRock Liquidity Fund – Institutional Plan(G) 2387.049 7.77% 16177.95 0.07
Indiabulls Liquid Fund (G) 1637.857 7.84% 5120.77 0.15
Baroda Pioneer Liquid Fund – Plan A(G) 1927.446 7.76% 3378.08 0.28


Even Top Mutual funds are known to be subject to market risks. Understanding all the basics of a mutual fund investment is essential before setting out to invest in such schemes. Finbucket assists you in this by simplifying the entire process for you and serving you the top mutual funds available in the market. So don’t delay and sign up immediately to start investing.

Related Article-

7 common Mutual Funds Investment Myths

Mutual Fund: How to calculate Net Asset Value?

Become a Mutual Fund Distributor