Index Fund: Best Index Mutual Funds to Invest in India

What are
Index Mutual Funds?

An index mutual fund is one wherein the portfolio mirrors the asset allocation of the benchmark index. The scheme is passively managed and aims to match the index returns.

Advantages of index mutual funds

No investment bias

Since the portfolio imitates the benchmark index, fund managers don’t pick the securities. Thus, there’s no investment bias.

Low cost

Being passively managed, index funds have a very low Total Expense Ratio allowing you to get higher returns.

Diversified portfolio

You get to invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks and securities which help in mitigating investment risks while enhancing returns.

Types of Index Funds

Funds Based On Duration

Overnight FundSecurities mature in a day

Liquid FundMaximum maturity of securities is 91 days

Ultra Short Duration Fund Bonds matures between 3 and 6 months

Money-Market FundInvestment in money market securities with an investment tenure up to 1 year

Short Duration FundMacaulay duration of the fund ranges from 1-3 years

Medium Duration FundMaturity of bonds in between 3-4 years

Medium to Long Duration FundMaturity of bonds ranges from 4-7 years

Dynamic Bond FundPortfolio invests in securities across durations

Funds Based On Market Capitalisation

Corporate Bond FundPortfolio invests primarily in corporate bonds

Credit Risk FundInvestment in securities with the second highest credit rating

Banking and PSU FundDebt instruments issued by banks and PSUs

Gilt FundInvestment in government securities

Index funds returns Calculator

Know how much your index fund investment can yield. Use the Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund (ABSLMF) calculator for quick calculations.

SIP

Invest systematically in regular amounts and build a corpus for your financial goals with steady investments.

Lump sum

Invest once with the facility of lump sum investing and save at your will. Time the market correctly and earn good returns.

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TARGETED EARNINGS

Investment Period (1 to 30 Years)

Expected Returns (8 to 20%)

MONTHLY SIP AMOUNT

Investment Period (1 to 30 Years)

Expected Returns (8 to 20%)

Monthly SIP Amount

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Total Amount Invested

₹ 0

Expected Wealth Gain

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Understanding Index Funds

Table of Contents

What are index funds?What are the features of index funds?How Index Fund works What should you know before investing in index funds?Who should invest in index funds?What is the tax implication of index funds?What are the popular indices under index funds?

What are Index Funds?

Index funds are passively managed mutual funds wherein at least 95% of the portfolio is allocated matching the allocation of the benchmark index. The weight of each security also matches the weight in the benchmark index. The fund, thus, aims to mirror the returns of the index.

What are the features of index funds?

Passively-managed mutual fund schemes.
SIP or lump sum investment.
Tracks a particular index.
Diversified portfolio of securities.
Lower expense ratio since active fund management is not involved .

How Index Fund works?

Index funds collect money from different investors and pool it in a corpus.

A benchmark index is identified and the corpus is allocated to the securities comprising the said index.

For instance, if the benchmark index is Nifty 50, the portfolio would allocate the corpus into 50 stocks which comprise Nifty 50.

The weightage of each security in the portfolio matches the weightage of the security in the chosen index.

For instance, if stock A has an allocation of 25% of the Nifty 50 index, it will have an allocation of 25% of the overall portfolio of the index fund.

The performance of the portfolio of the index fund matches the performance of the chosen index. There might be a tracking error, though.

Fund managers simply rebalance the portfolio to ensure that the weightage of each security matches that of the index.

What should you know before investing in index funds?

There is, usually, a tracking error when it comes to returns. The fund’s returns might be slightly lower than the index returns.

Tracking error happens because it is challenging to match the index at all times

If you choose equity-oriented funds, there will be volatility risk

Equity funds can deliver attractive returns on investments over long period of time

Who should invest in index funds?

Investors who don’t want to track their portfolios regularly.
Investors with a limited risk appetite looking to invest in a specific index
Investors who don’t want investment bias on the fund manager’s part.

What is the tax implication of index funds?

Index funds are treated as equity funds for the purpose of taxation.

Gains earned from index funds are subjected to long-term and short-term capital gains tax

Short term capital gain is taxed at 15%.

Long term capital gain exceeding Rs.1 lakh are taxed at 10%.

Dividend income received is taxed at your tax slab rate.

What are the popular indices under index funds?

NIFTY 50 - Investing in the top 50 stocks of Nifty.

NIFTY Midcap 150 - Investing in 150 mid-cap stocks listed on Nifty.

NIFTY Next 50 - Investing in the next 50 stocks of Nifty

NIFTY Smallcap 250 - Investing in 250 stocks in the small-cap segment

Bonds

Guaranteed returns, liquid trading

Diverse bond types
Stable portfolio returns

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ULIP

Invest and secure with ULIPs

Market-linked returns
Flexibility: withdraw, switch, top up

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FAQs On Index Funds

Index Funds are a type of mutual fund that focuses on investing in a particular index. Their main objective in managing portfolios is to mirror the performance of a specific stock market index. Key features include passive management, aiming to replicate the index's performance, and maintaining identical asset allocation for comparable returns.

Functioning as a distinctive financial vehicle, an index fund pools money from diverse investors. A benchmark index is selected and the fund manager allocates the portfolio in the securities which make up the chosen index. The weightage of each security matches the weightage in the index. Unlike actively managed funds that rely on investor expertise, index funds match the performance of their chosen index, ensuring their returns correspond with the underlying market index.

When considering mutual fund investments, the decision predominantly depends on factors like risk tolerance and individual financial objectives. In this context, index funds are suitable for individuals who have a healthy risk appetite and those who want to invest in a particular index.

Index funds represent one of the most uncomplicated paths to accumulate wealth. By aligning with the benchmark performance of financial markets over time, investors can transform their investments into significant assets.

Here are some reasons why investors find index funds advantageous:

Low fees - A key benefit of index mutual funds lies in their low fees. In contrast to actively managed funds, which often incur higher fees and deliver lower returns, index funds offer a cost-effective solution. This is because an index fund manager simply purchases the stocks or other investments in an index, eliminating the need for investors to pay additional charges.

No prior investing experience needed - Index funds do not demand any business acumen or stock-picking expertise, making them suitable for all individuals with the financial capacity to save and invest.

A diverse range of investments - Index funds provide access to various investment options. Investors can choose from stock index funds and bond index funds, two of the most favored investment strategies. Additionally, focused index funds are available, targeting specific areas within the financial market.

Simplified management- Fund managers are relieved from the need to closely monitor individual stock performances within the index, focusing primarily on periodic portfolio rebalancing.

Thus, investing in index funds provides a cost-effective, diverse, and straightforward approach to building wealth. With low fees, accessibility for all investors, and simplified management, index funds offer an attractive investment option for those seeking efficiency and long-term returns.

Index funds offer the advantage of diversification by mirroring portfolios that consist of multiple stocks. This approach has the potential to improve the risk-adjusted returns of your portfolio. If the value of a specific stock experiences a substantial drop, it represents only a minor component of a broader index, contributing to lower volatility. This positions index funds as a preferable option compared to individual stocks. Additionally, active market tracking and investment are not mandatory for index mutual funds, distinguishing them from the requirements associated with investing in individual stocks.