Table of Contents
Top 10 Debt - Government Bond Funds
Long term debt funds are a type of Debt Mutual Funds that invest in corporate Bonds and government securities (g-secs) that have a long-term maturity period. The average maturity of these funds is in excess of 3 years, most of the times. That is why, these funds are suitable for investors who wish to make a mid to long term Investment plan i.e., typically for 3-5 years or even more. Let's understand how long term debt funds works and what are the best long term bonds funds to invest in 2025.
Long term debt funds invest their major Underlying asset in debt instruments like corporate debentures, bonds and money market instruments & government securities with a higher maturity period. Investors should invest in long term debt funds if they have an investment time frame of more than 3 years. These funds generally come with lower risk compared to equity mutual funds but carry a certain level of credit and interest rate risk. This fund is suitable for investors who are willing to take on some level of risk in their investment.
Long-term debt funds are sensitive to changes in the interest rate and are more volatile than other categories of debt funds. The performance of these funds largely depends on the Economy's interest rate cycle, with falling interest rates benefiting these funds the most. Interest rates and prices of the debt instruments have an inverse relationship, which means that they move in opposite directions. For instance, a falling interest rate is good for debt funds or bond funds. Long term Income funds usually benefit when the interest rates are moving downwards. Moreover, during interest rate falls, the bond prices go up and this boost NAVs of the Debt fund schemes.
In a falling interest rate scenario, the average maturities of such bonds can go up to around 7-10 years. When the interest rates rise, they stock up lower tenured securities and keep the Portfolio’s average maturity low.
It's important to consider economic factors, including Inflation trends and monetary policy, when determining the right time to invest in long-term debt funds. Monitoring central Bank announcements, such as interest rate cuts or hikes, can provide insights into potential Market shifts.
Mostly, it is advisable to invest in long term bond funds when the interest rates are expected to ease down because a decrease in the interest rates causes a rise in the prices of long-term securities. Investors who are comfortable with fluctuating interest rates in the market, should only prefer Investing in long term debt funds.
It’s also crucial to have a diversified portfolio. Relying heavily on long-term debt funds can expose your investment to volatility if interest rates rise unexpectedly. A balanced mix of equities, short-term debt, and long-term debt ensures you are better protected in various market conditions.
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These funds are meant to give returns in excess of bank fixed deposits. One of the significant benefits of long-term debt funds is their potential to provide inflation-adjusted returns, making them an attractive choice for investors looking to preserve purchasing power over time. Furthermore, if held for more than three years, the returns are more tax efficient. But, on the risk side, these funds can get volatile when the interest rates suddenly change direction. In a sustained rising interest rate regime, these funds give modest returns as they cannot sell long-dated bonds and switch to shorter tenured scripts.
Additionally, investors need to be aware of the credit risk associated with these funds. While many long-term debt funds invest in highly rated securities, there can still be a risk of Default if a corporate bond issuer faces financial trouble. Hence, investors should assess the credit profile of the fund before investing.
Inflation has a direct impact on the real returns of long-term debt funds. When inflation rises, the purchasing power of future cash flows from bonds decreases. This means that, even if your fund delivers nominal returns, the real returns (adjusted for inflation) could be lower. Investors should closely monitor inflation trends because a higher-than-expected inflation rate could erode the value of their long-term investments.
However, during periods of moderate inflation, long-term debt funds can still provide decent real returns, especially when paired with tax benefits from indexation.
Tax implication on debt funds is computed in the following manner-
If the holding period of a debt investment is less than 36 months, then it is classified as a short-term investment and these are taxed as per individual's tax slab.
If the holding period of debt investment is more than 36 months, then it is classified as a long-term investment and is taxed at 20% with an indexation benefit.
Capital Gains | Investment Holding Gains | Taxation |
---|---|---|
Short Term Capital Gains | Less than 36 months | As per individual's tax slab |
Long Term Capital Gains | More than 36 months | 20% with indexation benefits |
The indexation benefit is a key advantage of holding debt funds for the long term. It allows investors to adjust the cost of their investment for inflation, thereby reducing the tax burden.
Long-term debt funds are suitable for:
Interest rate cycles play a critical role in determining the performance of long-term debt funds. In a falling interest rate scenario, long-term debt funds typically perform well, as bond prices increase. Conversely, when interest rates are rising, long-term debt funds may Underperform because bond prices tend to decrease.
It is crucial for investors to understand where the economy is in the interest rate cycle before committing to long-term debt funds. For instance, during an expansion phase in the economy where central banks may hike interest rates to curb inflation, long-term debt funds could see volatility.
Investors can invest in two ways— SIP or Lump sum. For average investors, SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is the most viable option. It gives you a systematic option of investing monthly/quarterly/annually Basis. In a lump sum, investors have to invest a considerable amount as a one-time down payment in the scheme. The minimum investment amount for a lump sum is INR 5000, whereas for a SIP it is INR 500.
SIP is an excellent way to mitigate market timing risks. By investing periodically, you benefit from rupee cost averaging, which can be especially helpful in a volatile interest rate environment. Lump sum investments are ideal for those with a large amount to invest upfront and who are confident in the market outlook for long-term interest rates.
Fund NAV Net Assets (Cr) Min Investment Min SIP Investment 3 MO (%) 6 MO (%) 1 YR (%) 3 YR (%) 2024 (%) Debt Yield (YTM) Mod. Duration Eff. Maturity Axis Gilt Fund Growth ₹25.9403
↑ 0.05 ₹868 5,000 1,000 5.1 6.8 11.8 8.6 10 7% 10Y 2M 16D 25Y 1M 17D DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund Growth ₹97.6481
↑ 0.22 ₹1,566 1,000 500 5.3 6.8 11.7 8.9 10.1 7.04% 11Y 6M 29Y 2M 26D HDFC Gilt Fund Growth ₹56.1372
↑ 0.09 ₹2,907 5,000 300 4.8 6.8 11.4 8.4 8.7 6.85% 8Y 4M 13D 16Y 11M 26D SBI Magnum Gilt Fund Growth ₹67.1141
↑ 0.12 ₹11,489 5,000 500 5 6.8 11.2 9 8.9 6.97% 10Y 2M 1D 24Y 14D Invesco India Gilt Fund Growth ₹2,886.78
↑ 5.25 ₹953 5,000 100 5 6.5 11.1 8.3 10 6.96% 11Y 11D 26Y 10M 2D IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan Growth ₹35.9231
↑ 0.06 ₹3,542 5,000 1,000 4.9 6.2 11 8.6 10.6 7.24% 11Y 10M 17D 28Y 3M 18D Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund Growth ₹82.6535
↑ 0.13 ₹1,972 1,000 1,000 5 6.5 10.9 8.5 9.1 7.01% 11Y 8M 26D 29Y 11M 16D Canara Robeco Gilt Fund Growth ₹76.8522
↑ 0.12 ₹133 5,000 1,000 5 6.5 10.9 8.1 8.8 6.94% 10Y 9M 16D 26Y 3M 25D UTI Gilt Fund Growth ₹63.7253
↑ 0.11 ₹733 5,000 500 4.8 6.7 10.8 8.2 8.9 6.87% 9Y 1M 13D 20Y 2M 26D Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund Growth ₹38.6654
↑ 0.07 ₹2,060 5,000 100 4.7 6.3 10.8 8.3 8.9 7.1% 9Y 3M 22D 20Y 10M 24D Note: Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR basis. as on 16 May 25
(Erstwhile Axis Constant Maturity 10 Year Fund) To generate returns similar to that of 10 year government bonds. Axis Gilt Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 23 Jan 12. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for Axis Gilt Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The Scheme aims to generate returns through investments in Central Govt Securities. DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 30 Sep 99. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile HDFC Gilt Fund - Long Term Plan) The scheme seeks to generate credit risk - free returns through investments in sovereign securities issued by the Central Government and / or State Governments. HDFC Gilt Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 25 Jul 01. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for HDFC Gilt Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile SBI Magnum Gilt Fund - Long Term Plan) To provide the investors with returns generated through investments in government securities issued by the Central Government and / or a State Government SBI Magnum Gilt Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 30 Dec 00. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for SBI Magnum Gilt Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The objective of the Scheme is to generate optimal returns by investing in a portfolio of securities issued and guaranteed by Central and State Government. Invesco India Gilt Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 9 Feb 08. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for Invesco India Gilt Fund Returns up to 1 year are on IDFC – GSF -IP is an open ended dedicated gilt scheme with an objective to generate optimal returns with high liquidity by investing in Government Securities.However there is no assurance that the investment objective of the scheme will be realized. IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 3 Dec 08. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile Aditya Birla Sun Life Gilt Plus Fund - PF Plan) An Open - ended government securities scheme with the objective to generate income and capital appreciation through investments exclusively in Government Securities. Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 12 Oct 99. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile Canara Robeco GILT PGS) To provide risk free return (except interest rate risk) and long term capital
appreciation by investing only in Govt. Securities. However, there can be no assurance that the investment objective of the scheme will be realized. Canara Robeco Gilt Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 29 Dec 99. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for Canara Robeco Gilt Fund Returns up to 1 year are on (Erstwhile UTI Gilt Advantage Fund- LTP) To generate credit risk-free return through investment in sovereign securities issued by the Central Government and / or a State Government and / or any security unconditionally guaranteed by the Central Government and / or a State Government for repayment of principal and interest. However there can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Scheme will be achieved. UTI Gilt Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 21 Jan 02. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for UTI Gilt Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The primary investment objective of the scheme is to generate optimal credit risk-free returns by investing in a portfolio of securities issued and guaranteed by the Central Government and State Government. Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund is a Debt - Government Bond fund was launched on 22 Aug 08. It is a fund with Moderate risk and has given a Below is the key information for Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund Returns up to 1 year are on 1. Axis Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 7.4% since its launch. Ranked 16 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 10% , 2023 was 7.1% and 2022 was 2.4% . Axis Gilt Fund
Growth Launch Date 23 Jan 12 NAV (16 May 25) ₹25.9403 ↑ 0.05 (0.18 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹868 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Axis Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.79 Sharpe Ratio 0.83 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 1,000 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7% Effective Maturity 25 Years 1 Month 17 Days Modified Duration 10 Years 2 Months 16 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,596 30 Apr 22 ₹10,808 30 Apr 23 ₹11,391 30 Apr 24 ₹12,183 30 Apr 25 ₹13,738 Returns for Axis Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.4% 3 Month 5.1% 6 Month 6.8% 1 Year 11.8% 3 Year 8.6% 5 Year 6.5% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7.4% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 10% 2023 7.1% 2022 2.4% 2021 2.4% 2020 13.1% 2019 12% 2018 5.3% 2017 1.4% 2016 13.7% 2015 6.3% Fund Manager information for Axis Gilt Fund
Name Since Tenure Devang Shah 5 Nov 12 12.49 Yr. Sachin Jain 1 Feb 23 2.24 Yr. Data below for Axis Gilt Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 2.59% Debt 97.41% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 97.41% Cash Equivalent 2.59% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -40% ₹338 Cr 31,494,700
↓ -3,000,000 6.79% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -26% ₹219 Cr 21,300,000
↑ 7,800,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -19% ₹156 Cr 15,000,000
↓ -2,500,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -10% ₹80 Cr 7,500,000 6.9% Govt Stock 2065
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹10 Cr 1,000,000 7.46% Govt Stock 2073
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹5 Cr 500,000 7.39 CG Sdl 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹2 Cr 235,700 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹2 Cr 200,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2074
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹1 Cr 143,000 Net Receivables / (Payables)
CBLO | -2% ₹20 Cr 2. DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 9.3% since its launch. Ranked 9 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 10.1% , 2023 was 7.1% and 2022 was 2.7% . DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund
Growth Launch Date 30 Sep 99 NAV (16 May 25) ₹97.6481 ↑ 0.22 (0.22 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹1,566 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC DSP BlackRock Invmt Managers Pvt. Ltd. Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.1 Sharpe Ratio 0.52 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 1,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load 0-7 Days (0.1%),7 Days and above(NIL) Yield to Maturity 7.04% Effective Maturity 29 Years 2 Months 26 Days Modified Duration 11 Years 6 Months Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,639 30 Apr 22 ₹10,922 30 Apr 23 ₹11,597 30 Apr 24 ₹12,380 30 Apr 25 ₹13,964 Returns for DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.6% 3 Month 5.3% 6 Month 6.8% 1 Year 11.7% 3 Year 8.9% 5 Year 6.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 9.3% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 10.1% 2023 7.1% 2022 2.7% 2021 3.1% 2020 13.1% 2019 12.5% 2018 7.4% 2017 1.4% 2016 15.3% 2015 6.2% Fund Manager information for DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund
Name Since Tenure Sandeep Yadav 1 Aug 24 0.75 Yr. Shantanu Godambe 1 Jun 23 1.92 Yr. Data below for DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 0.98% Debt 99.02% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 99.02% Cash Equivalent 0.98% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -39% ₹614 Cr 56,000,000
↑ 3,500,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -22% ₹351 Cr 32,500,000
↓ -12,500,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -16% ₹256 Cr 24,500,000
↑ 14,500,000 India (Republic of) 6.9%
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹100 Cr 10,000,000
↑ 10,000,000 8.17% Govt Stock 2044
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹89 Cr 7,500,000
↑ 2,500,000 7.59% Govt Stock 2031
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹79 Cr 7,500,000
↑ 7,500,000 8.13% Govt Stock 2045
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹59 Cr 5,000,000
↑ 5,000,000 364 DTB 03072025
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹0 Cr 2,000 Treps / Reverse Repo Investments
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -3% ₹42 Cr Net Receivables/Payables
Net Current Assets | -2% -₹27 Cr 3. HDFC Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 7.5% since its launch. Ranked 7 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 8.7% , 2023 was 7.1% and 2022 was 1.7% . HDFC Gilt Fund
Growth Launch Date 25 Jul 01 NAV (16 May 25) ₹56.1372 ↑ 0.09 (0.17 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹2,907 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC HDFC Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.88 Sharpe Ratio 0.86 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 300 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.85% Effective Maturity 16 Years 11 Months 26 Days Modified Duration 8 Years 4 Months 13 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,500 30 Apr 22 ₹10,677 30 Apr 23 ₹11,293 30 Apr 24 ₹11,985 30 Apr 25 ₹13,419 Returns for HDFC Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.3% 3 Month 4.8% 6 Month 6.8% 1 Year 11.4% 3 Year 8.4% 5 Year 6% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7.5% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 8.7% 2023 7.1% 2022 1.7% 2021 2.2% 2020 10.7% 2019 8.6% 2018 5.4% 2017 1.8% 2016 16.6% 2015 5.9% Fund Manager information for HDFC Gilt Fund
Name Since Tenure Anil Bamboli 1 Sep 07 17.68 Yr. Dhruv Muchhal 22 Jun 23 1.86 Yr. Data below for HDFC Gilt Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 2.71% Debt 97.29% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 97.29% Cash Equivalent 2.71% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.18% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -24% ₹560 Cr 56,000,000
↑ 4,000,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -12% ₹269 Cr 27,000,000
↑ 15,000,000 7.26% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -11% ₹241 Cr 24,000,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -9% ₹206 Cr 20,500,000
↓ -26,000,000 7.17% Govt Stock 2030
Sovereign Bonds | -8% ₹180 Cr 18,000,000
↑ 9,500,000 7.26% Govt Stock 2032
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹171 Cr 17,000,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2029
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹90 Cr 9,000,000
↑ 9,000,000 6.45% Govt Stock 2029
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹82 Cr 8,500,000
↑ 8,500,000 6.79% Govt Stock 2029
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹64 Cr 6,500,000
↑ 6,500,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹60 Cr 6,000,000
↓ -13,000,000 4. SBI Magnum Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.1% since its launch. Ranked 3 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 8.9% , 2023 was 7.6% and 2022 was 4.2% . SBI Magnum Gilt Fund
Growth Launch Date 30 Dec 00 NAV (16 May 25) ₹67.1141 ↑ 0.12 (0.19 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹11,489 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC SBI Funds Management Private Limited Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.94 Sharpe Ratio 0.61 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.97% Effective Maturity 24 Years 14 Days Modified Duration 10 Years 2 Months 1 Day Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,621 30 Apr 22 ₹10,905 30 Apr 23 ₹11,719 30 Apr 24 ₹12,487 30 Apr 25 ₹13,992 Returns for SBI Magnum Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.4% 3 Month 5% 6 Month 6.8% 1 Year 11.2% 3 Year 9% 5 Year 6.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.1% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 8.9% 2023 7.6% 2022 4.2% 2021 3% 2020 11.7% 2019 13.1% 2018 5.1% 2017 3.9% 2016 16.3% 2015 7.3% Fund Manager information for SBI Magnum Gilt Fund
Name Since Tenure Rajeev Radhakrishnan 1 Nov 23 1.5 Yr. Tejas Soman 1 Dec 23 1.41 Yr. Data below for SBI Magnum Gilt Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 0.94% Debt 99.06% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 99.06% Cash Equivalent 0.94% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -39% ₹4,674 Cr 436,000,000
↑ 40,500,000 6.79% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -25% ₹3,012 Cr 292,327,500
↓ -46,000,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -9% ₹1,129 Cr 106,000,000 7.14% Maharashtra SDL 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹615 Cr 59,500,000
↓ -18,500,000 6.9% Govt Stock 2065
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹558 Cr 55,000,000
↑ 13,500,000 7.12% Maharashtra SDL 2038
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹533 Cr 51,706,900
↑ 1,000,000 8.17% Govt Stock 2044
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹466 Cr 40,000,000
↑ 40,000,000 7.17% State Government Securities
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹306 Cr 29,810,700 7.13% State Government Of Karnataka 2041
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹254 Cr 24,548,600 07.36 MH Sdl 21/02/2035
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹132 Cr 12,500,000 5. Invesco India Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 6.3% since its launch. Ranked 10 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 10% , 2023 was 6.6% and 2022 was 2.3% . Invesco India Gilt Fund
Growth Launch Date 9 Feb 08 NAV (16 May 25) ₹2,886.78 ↑ 5.25 (0.18 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹953 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Invesco Asset Management (India) Private Ltd Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.2 Sharpe Ratio 0.44 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.96% Effective Maturity 26 Years 10 Months 2 Days Modified Duration 11 Years 11 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,313 30 Apr 22 ₹10,423 30 Apr 23 ₹10,976 30 Apr 24 ₹11,734 30 Apr 25 ₹13,187 Returns for Invesco India Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.4% 3 Month 5% 6 Month 6.5% 1 Year 11.1% 3 Year 8.3% 5 Year 5.6% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 6.3% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 10% 2023 6.6% 2022 2.3% 2021 0.7% 2020 8.2% 2019 9.6% 2018 6.2% 2017 1.2% 2016 16.6% 2015 4.2% Fund Manager information for Invesco India Gilt Fund
Name Since Tenure Krishna Cheemalapati 27 Jul 21 3.76 Yr. Vikas Garg 26 Sep 20 4.6 Yr. Data below for Invesco India Gilt Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 3.07% Debt 96.93% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 96.93% Cash Equivalent 3.07% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -34% ₹237 Cr 23,000,000
↓ -10,500,000 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -33% ₹229 Cr 21,531,000
↓ -6,000,000 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -21% ₹145 Cr 14,000,000
↓ -500,000 7.14% Maharashtra SDL 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹35 Cr 3,400,000 6.79% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹21 Cr 2,012,900
↓ -7,500,000 India (Republic of) 6.9%
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹12 Cr 1,243,200
↑ 1,243,200 Net Receivables / (Payables)
Net Current Assets | -2% ₹14 Cr Triparty Repo
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -1% ₹8 Cr 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -₹0 Cr 00
↓ -1,000,000 6. IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.1% since its launch. Ranked 14 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 10.6% , 2023 was 6.8% and 2022 was 1.4% . IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan
Growth Launch Date 3 Dec 08 NAV (16 May 25) ₹35.9231 ↑ 0.06 (0.17 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹3,542 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC IDFC Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.19 Sharpe Ratio 0.39 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 1,000 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.24% Effective Maturity 28 Years 3 Months 18 Days Modified Duration 11 Years 10 Months 17 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,633 30 Apr 22 ₹10,890 30 Apr 23 ₹11,438 30 Apr 24 ₹12,171 30 Apr 25 ₹13,710 Returns for IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.4% 3 Month 4.9% 6 Month 6.2% 1 Year 11% 3 Year 8.6% 5 Year 6.3% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.1% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 10.6% 2023 6.8% 2022 1.4% 2021 2.1% 2020 13.7% 2019 13.3% 2018 7.8% 2017 3.1% 2016 13.9% 2015 6% Fund Manager information for IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan
Name Since Tenure Suyash Choudhary 15 Oct 10 14.55 Yr. Brijesh Shah 10 Jun 24 0.89 Yr. Data below for IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 1.94% Debt 98.06% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 98.06% Cash Equivalent 1.94% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -98% ₹3,473 Cr 331,400,000
↓ -8,000,000 7.17% Govt Stock 2028
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹0 Cr 6,300 Net Current Assets
Net Current Assets | -2% ₹66 Cr Triparty Repo Trp_020425
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹2 Cr Cash Margin - Ccil
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹0 Cr 7. Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.6% since its launch. Ranked 4 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 9.1% , 2023 was 7.1% and 2022 was 1.7% . Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund
Growth Launch Date 12 Oct 99 NAV (16 May 25) ₹82.6535 ↑ 0.13 (0.16 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹1,972 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co Ltd Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.05 Sharpe Ratio 0.48 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 1,000 Min SIP Investment 1,000 Exit Load 0-90 Days (0.5%),90 Days and above(NIL) Yield to Maturity 7.01% Effective Maturity 29 Years 11 Months 16 Days Modified Duration 11 Years 8 Months 26 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,546 30 Apr 22 ₹10,869 30 Apr 23 ₹11,445 30 Apr 24 ₹12,182 30 Apr 25 ₹13,635 Returns for Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.4% 3 Month 5% 6 Month 6.5% 1 Year 10.9% 3 Year 8.5% 5 Year 6.3% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.6% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 9.1% 2023 7.1% 2022 1.7% 2021 3.6% 2020 12.1% 2019 11% 2018 6.9% 2017 4.4% 2016 16.7% 2015 5.7% Fund Manager information for Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund
Name Since Tenure Bhupesh Bameta 6 Aug 20 4.74 Yr. Data below for Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 3.8% Debt 96.2% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 96.2% Cash Equivalent 3.8% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -52% ₹1,010 Cr 95,679,750 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -29% ₹568 Cr 53,512,200
↓ -1,000,000 7.25% Govt Stock 2063
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹65 Cr 6,200,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹53 Cr 5,000,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹47 Cr 4,540,000 7.26% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹44 Cr 4,205,000
↓ -8,000,000 6.76% Govt Stock 2061
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹29 Cr 3,000,000 State Government Securities (27/02/2038)
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹26 Cr 2,500,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹5 Cr 500,000
↑ 500,000 India (Republic of)
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹5 Cr 500,000
↑ 500,000 8. Canara Robeco Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.4% since its launch. Ranked 6 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 8.8% , 2023 was 6.5% and 2022 was 2.3% . Canara Robeco Gilt Fund
Growth Launch Date 29 Dec 99 NAV (16 May 25) ₹76.8522 ↑ 0.12 (0.15 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹133 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Canara Robeco Asset Management Co. Ltd. Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.24 Sharpe Ratio 0.46 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 1,000 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.94% Effective Maturity 26 Years 3 Months 25 Days Modified Duration 10 Years 9 Months 16 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,482 30 Apr 22 ₹10,691 30 Apr 23 ₹11,293 30 Apr 24 ₹11,953 30 Apr 25 ₹13,333 Returns for Canara Robeco Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.4% 3 Month 5% 6 Month 6.5% 1 Year 10.9% 3 Year 8.1% 5 Year 5.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.4% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 8.8% 2023 6.5% 2022 2.3% 2021 1.8% 2020 10.3% 2019 9.9% 2018 4.9% 2017 2.9% 2016 18% 2015 6.3% Fund Manager information for Canara Robeco Gilt Fund
Name Since Tenure Avnish Jain 1 Apr 22 3.08 Yr. Kunal Jain 18 Jul 22 2.79 Yr. Data below for Canara Robeco Gilt Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 4.98% Debt 95.02% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 95.02% Cash Equivalent 4.98% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -39% ₹56 Cr 5,250,000 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -20% ₹29 Cr 2,750,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -17% ₹25 Cr 2,350,000 7.23% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹10 Cr 900,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹7 Cr 678,600 6.79% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹5 Cr 500,000
↑ 500,000 7.38% Govt Stock 2027
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹3 Cr 250,100 7.17% Govt Stock 2030
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹2 Cr 158,900 8.13% Govt Stock 2045
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹0 Cr 10,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹0 Cr 7,950 9. UTI Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.3% since its launch. Ranked 7 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 8.9% , 2023 was 6.7% and 2022 was 2.9% . UTI Gilt Fund
Growth Launch Date 21 Jan 02 NAV (16 May 25) ₹63.7253 ↑ 0.11 (0.17 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹733 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC UTI Asset Management Company Ltd Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.92 Sharpe Ratio 0.6 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.87% Effective Maturity 20 Years 2 Months 26 Days Modified Duration 9 Years 1 Month 13 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,443 30 Apr 22 ₹10,651 30 Apr 23 ₹11,299 30 Apr 24 ₹12,010 30 Apr 25 ₹13,392 Returns for UTI Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.3% 3 Month 4.8% 6 Month 6.7% 1 Year 10.8% 3 Year 8.2% 5 Year 5.9% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.3% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 8.9% 2023 6.7% 2022 2.9% 2021 2.3% 2020 10.3% 2019 11.8% 2018 6.3% 2017 4.3% 2016 15.5% 2015 6.1% Fund Manager information for UTI Gilt Fund
Name Since Tenure Pankaj Pathak 8 Apr 25 0.06 Yr. Data below for UTI Gilt Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 4.33% Debt 95.67% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 95.67% Cash Equivalent 4.33% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.79% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -46% ₹340 Cr 3,300,000,000
↑ 250,000,000 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -17% ₹123 Cr 1,150,000,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -14% ₹104 Cr 1,000,000,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹48 Cr 450,000,000 7.46% Govt Stock 2073
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹33 Cr 300,000,000 Chhattisgarh (Government of) 7.32%
- | -4% ₹31 Cr 300,000,000 Assam (Government of) 7.34%
- | -4% ₹31 Cr 300,000,000 Net Current Assets
Net Current Assets | -4% ₹29 Cr Clearing Corporation Of India Ltd. Std - Margin
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹3 Cr 00 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -₹0 Cr 00
↓ -250,000,000 10. Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.4% since its launch. Ranked 2 in Government Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 8.9% , 2023 was 6.7% and 2022 was 2.1% . Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund
Growth Launch Date 22 Aug 08 NAV (16 May 25) ₹38.6654 ↑ 0.07 (0.18 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹2,060 on 31 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd. Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.42 Sharpe Ratio 0.57 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load 0-15 Days (0.25%),15 Days and above(NIL) Yield to Maturity 7.1% Effective Maturity 20 Years 10 Months 24 Days Modified Duration 9 Years 3 Months 22 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 30 Apr 20 ₹10,000 30 Apr 21 ₹10,479 30 Apr 22 ₹10,646 30 Apr 23 ₹11,257 30 Apr 24 ₹11,940 30 Apr 25 ₹13,328 Returns for Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 16 May 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.3% 3 Month 4.7% 6 Month 6.3% 1 Year 10.8% 3 Year 8.3% 5 Year 5.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.4% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 8.9% 2023 6.7% 2022 2.1% 2021 1.8% 2020 11.2% 2019 12.4% 2018 8% 2017 3.4% 2016 17% 2015 6.2% Fund Manager information for Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund
Name Since Tenure Pranay Sinha 31 Mar 21 4.09 Yr. Kinjal Desai 31 Oct 21 3.5 Yr. Data below for Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund as on 31 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 2.25% Debt 97.75% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 97.75% Cash Equivalent 2.25% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -16% ₹343 Cr 32,000,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -16% ₹331 Cr 31,500,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -12% ₹260 Cr 25,000,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -9% ₹197 Cr 18,500,000 7.25% Govt Stock 2063
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹148 Cr 14,000,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹122 Cr 11,465,200 7.02% Govt Stock 2031
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹83 Cr 8,000,000
↑ 6,500,000 6.79% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹77 Cr 7,500,000
↑ 2,500,000 6.8% Govt Stock 2060
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹60 Cr 6,000,000 7.04% Govt Stock 2029
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹57 Cr 5,500,000
↑ 2,500,000
It’s helpful to compare long-term debt funds with other investment options like bank fixed deposits (FDs), public provident funds (PPF), and bonds. While long-term debt funds offer better liquidity and tax Efficiency (especially after 3 years), they come with market risks, which instruments like FDs do not. PPF, on the other hand, has a Fixed Interest Rate and offers government backing but lacks liquidity, as it comes with a long lock-in period.
Corporate bonds may offer higher yields but come with credit risks, especially for lower-rated companies. Long-term debt funds, in contrast, give exposure to a diversified pool of bonds, spreading out risk.
Before investing in long-term debt funds, it is crucial to check the credit quality of the bonds within the fund's portfolio. Debt instruments are assigned credit ratings, which indicate the issuer’s ability to meet their financial obligations. Funds with a portfolio of AAA-rated bonds are considered safer but might offer slightly lower returns compared to funds with lower-rated bonds.
However, investors should avoid funds with heavy exposure to low-rated bonds, unless they have a higher risk tolerance, as defaults can erode returns significantly.
Sovereign bonds, especially government securities (G-Secs), are seen as one of the safest forms of investment as they are backed by the government. However, corporate bonds, a common component of long-term debt funds, carry credit risks. These risks arise when a corporation is unable to repay its debt obligations, which can affect the returns of the fund. Therefore, investors must assess the credit ratings of the bonds held by the debt fund and weigh their risk accordingly.
Duration is a measure of a bond fund's sensitivity to interest rate changes. Long-term debt funds tend to have higher durations because their underlying bonds have longer maturity periods. A higher duration means that the fund's NAV will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates.
Yield is another important metric, representing the income generated by the fund's underlying bonds as a percentage of the NAV. In long-term debt funds, yield tends to be lower in high-quality bonds but rises with riskier bonds.
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