Gold has always been a trusted asset for Indian households — whether as jewellery, coins, or bars — but in recent years, it has also emerged as a core financial asset in investment portfolios.
Why? Because gold has proven to:
In today’s world, you don’t need to buy and store physical gold to benefit from its value. Gold Mutual Funds offer a simple, transparent, and accessible way to invest in gold without the hassles of storage or purity concerns.
Let’s explore why gold funds are popular, how taxation works, the top-performing funds in India, and whether now is the right time to invest.
Indians have a deep cultural connection with gold — weddings, festivals, and rituals reinforce this timeless demand. But the shift from physical gold to gold mutual funds is accelerating because of the following advantages:
How they work:
For small-ticket investors, this is one of the most cost-efficient and systematic ways to benefit from gold’s potential.
Gold Mutual Funds are taxed as non-Equity Funds, meaning their tax rules differ from equity mutual funds:
Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG): If redeemed within 36 months, gains are taxed as per your income tax slab.
Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG): If held for more than 36 months, gains are taxed at a flat 20% with indexation benefit (updated as per the Finance Act, 2024).
This makes gold funds particularly attractive for long-term investors, as indexation significantly reduces tax liability compared to physical gold.
Fund selection Methodology used to Select 8 Best Gold Funds
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Fund NAV Net Assets (Cr) 3 MO (%) 6 MO (%) 1 YR (%) 3 YR (%) 5 YR (%) 2024 (%) IDBI Gold Fund Growth ₹28.9513
↑ 0.31 ₹214 9.4 24.6 47.4 29.6 15.2 18.7 SBI Gold Fund Growth ₹32.5237
↑ 0.45 ₹4,740 9.5 26.6 48.2 29.5 14.7 19.6 ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund Growth ₹34.5245
↑ 0.58 ₹2,384 9.1 26.9 48.7 29.4 14.5 Nippon India Gold Savings Fund Growth ₹42.5778
↑ 0.62 ₹3,248 10.9 26.5 48.2 29.3 14.8 HDFC Gold Fund Growth ₹33.2312 ₹4,537 9.3 26.8 48.1 29.3 14.5 18.9 Axis Gold Fund Growth ₹32.4395
↑ 0.53 ₹1,180 9.2 26.7 47.8 29.3 14.8 19.2 Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund Growth ₹32.3766 ₹663 11.2 27 48.8 29.3 15.1 18.7 Kotak Gold Fund Growth ₹42.6688
↑ 0.58 ₹3,302 9.2 26.2 47.6 28.9 14.2 18.9 Note: Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR basis. as on 16 Sep 25 Research Highlights & Commentary of 8 Funds showcased
Commentary IDBI Gold Fund SBI Gold Fund ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund Nippon India Gold Savings Fund HDFC Gold Fund Axis Gold Fund Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund Kotak Gold Fund Point 1 Bottom quartile AUM (₹214 Cr). Highest AUM (₹4,740 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹2,384 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹3,248 Cr). Top quartile AUM (₹4,537 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹1,180 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹663 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹3,302 Cr). Point 2 Established history (13+ yrs). Oldest track record among peers (14 yrs). Established history (13+ yrs). Established history (14+ yrs). Established history (13+ yrs). Established history (13+ yrs). Established history (13+ yrs). Established history (14+ yrs). Point 3 Not Rated. Rating: 2★ (top quartile). Rating: 1★ (upper mid). Rating: 2★ (upper mid). Rating: 1★ (lower mid). Rating: 1★ (lower mid). Top rated. Rating: 1★ (bottom quartile). Point 4 Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Point 5 5Y return: 15.19% (top quartile). 5Y return: 14.66% (lower mid). 5Y return: 14.48% (lower mid). 5Y return: 14.83% (upper mid). 5Y return: 14.47% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 14.79% (upper mid). 5Y return: 15.10% (top quartile). 5Y return: 14.18% (bottom quartile). Point 6 3Y return: 29.56% (top quartile). 3Y return: 29.48% (top quartile). 3Y return: 29.43% (upper mid). 3Y return: 29.28% (upper mid). 3Y return: 29.27% (lower mid). 3Y return: 29.26% (lower mid). 3Y return: 29.26% (bottom quartile). 3Y return: 28.92% (bottom quartile). Point 7 1Y return: 47.39% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 48.24% (upper mid). 1Y return: 48.74% (top quartile). 1Y return: 48.16% (upper mid). 1Y return: 48.11% (lower mid). 1Y return: 47.84% (lower mid). 1Y return: 48.80% (top quartile). 1Y return: 47.63% (bottom quartile). Point 8 1M return: 9.74% (upper mid). 1M return: 9.38% (upper mid). 1M return: 9.26% (bottom quartile). 1M return: 10.94% (top quartile). 1M return: 9.33% (lower mid). 1M return: 9.34% (lower mid). 1M return: 11.15% (top quartile). 1M return: 9.19% (bottom quartile). Point 9 Alpha: 0.00 (top quartile). Alpha: 0.00 (top quartile). Alpha: 0.00 (upper mid). Alpha: 0.00 (upper mid). Alpha: 0.00 (lower mid). Alpha: 0.00 (lower mid). Alpha: 0.00 (bottom quartile). Alpha: 0.00 (bottom quartile). Point 10 Sharpe: 2.25 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: 2.53 (upper mid). Sharpe: 2.50 (upper mid). Sharpe: 2.48 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: 2.50 (lower mid). Sharpe: 2.50 (lower mid). Sharpe: 2.62 (top quartile). Sharpe: 2.55 (top quartile). IDBI Gold Fund
SBI Gold Fund
ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
Nippon India Gold Savings Fund
HDFC Gold Fund
Axis Gold Fund
Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund
Kotak Gold Fund
Gold Funds
having AUM/Net Assets > 25 Crore
ordered based on 3 year Calendar year returns.
All the funds mentioned above are ideal, we are giving you detailed analysis of 5 funds.
The investment objective of the Scheme will be to generate returns that correspond closely to the returns generated by IDBI Gold Exchange Traded Fund (IDBI GOLD ETF). Research Highlights for IDBI Gold Fund Below is the key information for IDBI Gold Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The scheme seeks to provide returns that closely correspond to returns provided by SBI - ETF Gold (Previously known as SBI GETS). Research Highlights for SBI Gold Fund Below is the key information for SBI Gold Fund Returns up to 1 year are on ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund (the Scheme) is a fund of funds scheme with the primary objective to generate returns by investing in units of ICICI Prudential Gold Exchange Traded Fund (IPru Gold ETF).
However, there can be no assurance that the investment objectives of the Scheme will be realized. Research Highlights for ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund Below is the key information for ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The investment objective of the Scheme is to seek to provide returns that closely correspond to returns provided by Reliance ETF Gold BeES. Research Highlights for Nippon India Gold Savings Fund Below is the key information for Nippon India Gold Savings Fund Returns up to 1 year are on To seek capital appreciation by investing in units of HDFC Gold Exchange Traded Fund (HGETF). Research Highlights for HDFC Gold Fund Below is the key information for HDFC Gold Fund Returns up to 1 year are on 1. IDBI Gold Fund
IDBI Gold Fund
Growth Launch Date 14 Aug 12 NAV (16 Sep 25) ₹28.9513 ↑ 0.31 (1.08 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹214 on 31 Jul 25 Category Gold - Gold AMC IDBI Asset Management Limited Rating Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.64 Sharpe Ratio 2.25 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load 0-12 Months (1%),12 Months and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Aug 20 ₹10,000 31 Aug 21 ₹9,083 31 Aug 22 ₹9,811 31 Aug 23 ₹11,188 31 Aug 24 ₹13,451 31 Aug 25 ₹18,828 Returns for IDBI Gold Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 Sep 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 9.7% 3 Month 9.4% 6 Month 24.6% 1 Year 47.4% 3 Year 29.6% 5 Year 15.2% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.4% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 18.7% 2023 14.8% 2022 12% 2021 -4% 2020 24.2% 2019 21.6% 2018 5.8% 2017 1.4% 2016 8.3% 2015 -8.7% Fund Manager information for IDBI Gold Fund
Name Since Tenure Sumit Bhatnagar 1 Jun 24 1.25 Yr. Data below for IDBI Gold Fund as on 31 Jul 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 1.2% Other 98.8% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity LIC MF Gold ETF
- | -100% ₹213 Cr 238,594
↑ 39,400 Treps
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -2% ₹5 Cr Net Receivables / (Payables)
Net Current Assets | -2% -₹4 Cr 2. SBI Gold Fund
SBI Gold Fund
Growth Launch Date 12 Sep 11 NAV (16 Sep 25) ₹32.5237 ↑ 0.45 (1.41 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹4,740 on 31 Jul 25 Category Gold - Gold AMC SBI Funds Management Private Limited Rating ☆☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.3 Sharpe Ratio 2.53 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load 0-1 Years (1%),1 Years and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Aug 20 ₹10,000 31 Aug 21 ₹9,019 31 Aug 22 ₹9,649 31 Aug 23 ₹11,136 31 Aug 24 ₹13,336 31 Aug 25 ₹18,695 Returns for SBI Gold Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 Sep 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 9.4% 3 Month 9.5% 6 Month 26.6% 1 Year 48.2% 3 Year 29.5% 5 Year 14.7% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.7% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 19.6% 2023 14.1% 2022 12.6% 2021 -5.7% 2020 27.4% 2019 22.8% 2018 6.4% 2017 3.5% 2016 10% 2015 -8.1% Fund Manager information for SBI Gold Fund
Name Since Tenure Raviprakash Sharma 12 Sep 11 13.98 Yr. Data below for SBI Gold Fund as on 31 Jul 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 1.24% Other 98.76% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity SBI Gold ETF
- | -100% ₹4,750 Cr 560,811,834
↑ 24,600,000 Net Receivable / Payable
CBLO | -1% -₹25 Cr Treps
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹14 Cr 3. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
Growth Launch Date 11 Oct 11 NAV (16 Sep 25) ₹34.5245 ↑ 0.58 (1.72 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹2,384 on 31 Jul 25 Category Gold - Gold AMC ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.38 Sharpe Ratio 2.5 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load 0-15 Months (2%),15 Months and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Aug 20 ₹10,000 31 Aug 21 ₹8,985 31 Aug 22 ₹9,647 31 Aug 23 ₹11,037 31 Aug 24 ₹13,266 31 Aug 25 ₹18,603 Returns for ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 Sep 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 9.3% 3 Month 9.1% 6 Month 26.9% 1 Year 48.7% 3 Year 29.4% 5 Year 14.5% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 9.2% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 Fund Manager information for ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
Name Since Tenure Manish Banthia 27 Sep 12 12.94 Yr. Nishit Patel 29 Dec 20 4.68 Yr. Data below for ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund as on 31 Jul 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 1.55% Other 98.45% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity ICICI Pru Gold ETF
- | -100% ₹2,379 Cr 280,401,176
↑ 5,170,060 Treps
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹8 Cr Net Current Assets
Net Current Assets | -0% -₹4 Cr 4. Nippon India Gold Savings Fund
Nippon India Gold Savings Fund
Growth Launch Date 7 Mar 11 NAV (16 Sep 25) ₹42.5778 ↑ 0.62 (1.48 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹3,248 on 31 Jul 25 Category Gold - Gold AMC Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd. Rating ☆☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.35 Sharpe Ratio 2.48 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load 0-1 Years (2%),1 Years and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Aug 20 ₹10,000 31 Aug 21 ₹8,973 31 Aug 22 ₹9,606 31 Aug 23 ₹10,980 31 Aug 24 ₹13,183 31 Aug 25 ₹18,480 Returns for Nippon India Gold Savings Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 Sep 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 10.9% 3 Month 10.9% 6 Month 26.5% 1 Year 48.2% 3 Year 29.3% 5 Year 14.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 10.5% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 Fund Manager information for Nippon India Gold Savings Fund
Name Since Tenure Himanshu Mange 23 Dec 23 1.69 Yr. Data below for Nippon India Gold Savings Fund as on 31 Jul 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 1.34% Other 98.66% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity Nippon India ETF Gold BeES
- | -100% ₹3,249 Cr 395,216,739
↑ 4,135,000 Net Current Assets
Net Current Assets | -0% -₹8 Cr Triparty Repo
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹8 Cr Cash Margin - Ccil
CBLO | -0% ₹0 Cr Cash
Net Current Assets | -0% ₹0 Cr 00 5. HDFC Gold Fund
HDFC Gold Fund
Growth Launch Date 24 Oct 11 NAV (16 Sep 25) ₹33.2312 Net Assets (Cr) ₹4,537 on 31 Jul 25 Category Gold - Gold AMC HDFC Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.49 Sharpe Ratio 2.5 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 300 Exit Load 0-6 Months (2%),6-12 Months (1%),12 Months and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Aug 20 ₹10,000 31 Aug 21 ₹8,995 31 Aug 22 ₹9,637 31 Aug 23 ₹11,044 31 Aug 24 ₹13,286 31 Aug 25 ₹18,521 Returns for HDFC Gold Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 Sep 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 9.3% 3 Month 9.3% 6 Month 26.8% 1 Year 48.1% 3 Year 29.3% 5 Year 14.5% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.9% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 18.9% 2023 14.1% 2022 12.7% 2021 -5.5% 2020 27.5% 2019 21.7% 2018 6.6% 2017 2.8% 2016 10.1% 2015 -7.3% Fund Manager information for HDFC Gold Fund
Name Since Tenure Arun Agarwal 15 Feb 23 2.54 Yr. Nandita Menezes 29 Mar 25 0.42 Yr. Data below for HDFC Gold Fund as on 31 Jul 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 1.43% Other 98.57% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity HDFC Gold ETF
- | -100% ₹4,544 Cr 535,910,445
↑ 17,341,000 Net Current Assets
Net Current Assets | -0% -₹12 Cr Treps - Tri-Party Repo
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹5 Cr
Gold maintains purchasing power when inflation rises, unlike cash or fixed deposits that lose value.
Gold funds can be redeemed quickly through Mutual Fund Houses, making them far more liquid than jewellery or coins.
Gold prices move differently from stocks and Bonds. In times of equity market stress, gold often provides stability, making it a risk-balancing tool in portfolios.
Gold has held value for centuries. While returns may not always be explosive, they are steady, making it a safe-haven asset during crises (e.g., COVID-19, 2008 Global Financial Crisis).
Gold mutual funds are ideal for:
They are not meant for overnight profits, but for long-term portfolio balance.
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Short answer: Yes — but with a strategy.
If you’re worried about market volatility, inflation, or currency risks, gold funds remain a wise allocation.
Gold mutual funds are one of the most effective ways for Indians to invest in gold without storage hassles or large capital requirements. With SIPs starting from ₹100, professional management, and long-term inflation-hedging benefits, they’re a must-have in a diversified portfolio. With global uncertainty and rising inflation, allocating a portion of your wealth to gold funds can provide safety, stability, and steady returns.
A: Compare 3-year CAGR, expense ratio, fund manager reputation, and AUM size before Investing.
A: Yes — because they are liquid, cost-efficient, and transparent. No making charges or purity concerns.
A: Financial planners recommend 5–15% of portfolio allocation to gold.
A: SBI Gold Fund and HDFC Gold Fund have strong SIP performance records.
A: They carry market risks, but as a long-term hedge, they are safer and more stable than many other asset classes.
Really a useful knowledge. for investment decision.espically for gold and global fund investments.
Very informative.
Which gold investment fund will be good for me pls suggest for 1- 1.3 years