Table of Contents
Top 10 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 ₹25.2674
↑ 0.01 ₹912 5,000 1,000 2.9 3.7 9.7 7.3 10 7.11% 9Y 9M 14D 22Y 9M HDFC Gilt Fund Growth ₹54.6496
↑ 0.02 ₹2,939 5,000 300 2.8 3.7 9.3 6.8 8.7 8.48% 8Y 2M 11D 16Y 7M 9D DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund Growth ₹94.9662
↑ 0.03 ₹1,699 1,000 500 2.9 3.2 9.1 7.6 10.1 7.09% 11Y 2M 12D 28Y 11M 16D SBI Magnum Gilt Fund Growth ₹65.3284
↑ 0.02 ₹11,257 5,000 500 2.9 3.3 8.9 7.8 8.9 7.11% 9Y 11M 1D 23Y 10M 28D Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund Growth ₹37.723
↑ 0.01 ₹2,126 5,000 100 2.8 3.3 8.8 6.8 8.9 7.1% 9Y 3M 22D 20Y 10M 24D UTI Gilt Fund Growth ₹62.0701
↑ 0.02 ₹644 5,000 500 2.8 3.5 8.8 7.2 8.9 6.99% 9Y 8M 23D 22Y 9M IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan Growth ₹35.0755
↑ 0.01 ₹3,570 5,000 1,000 2.8 2.7 8.7 6.8 10.6 7.24% 11Y 10M 17D 28Y 3M 18D Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund Growth ₹80.6061
↑ 0.02 ₹1,992 1,000 1,000 2.9 3.3 8.7 6.7 9.1 7.08% 10Y 9M 25Y 11M 5D Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund Growth ₹110.625
↑ 0.06 ₹25,293 1,000 100 2.4 4 8.7 7 8.5 7.48% 3Y 9M 14D 5Y 8M 19D Invesco India Gilt Fund Growth ₹2,811.24
↑ 0.78 ₹1,220 5,000 100 2.8 2.9 8.7 7.4 10 7.15% 10Y 11M 5D 29Y 3M 22D Note: Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR basis. as on 31 Mar 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 (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 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 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 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 (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 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 Aditya Birla Sun Life Short Term Fund) An Open-ended income scheme with the objective to generate income and capital appreciation by investing 100% of the corpus in a diversified portfolio of debt and money market securities. Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund is a Debt - Corporate Bond fund was launched on 3 Mar 97. It is a fund with Moderately Low risk and has given a Below is the key information for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond 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 1. Axis Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 7.3% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹25.2674 ↑ 0.01 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹912 on 28 Feb 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Axis Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.79 Sharpe Ratio 0.36 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 1,000 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.11% Effective Maturity 22 Years 9 Months Modified Duration 9 Years 9 Months 14 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,827 31 Mar 22 ₹11,194 31 Mar 23 ₹11,592 31 Mar 24 ₹12,613 31 Mar 25 ₹13,841 Returns for Axis Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 2.7% 3 Month 2.9% 6 Month 3.7% 1 Year 9.7% 3 Year 7.3% 5 Year 6.7% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7.3% 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 12.33 Yr. Sachin Jain 1 Feb 23 2.08 Yr. Data below for Axis Gilt Fund as on 28 Feb 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 2.92% Debt 97.08% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 97.08% Cash Equivalent 2.92% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -25% ₹226 Cr 21,794,700
↑ 2,500,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -19% ₹176 Cr 17,500,000
↓ -5,000,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -17% ₹153 Cr 15,000,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -8% ₹78 Cr 7,500,000 Maharashtra (Government of) 7.13%
- | -5% ₹50 Cr 5,000,000
↑ 5,000,000 6.79% Government Of India (07/10/2034)
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹45 Cr 4,500,000
↓ -5,000,000 State Government Securities (27/02/2038)
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹45 Cr 4,500,000
↑ 2,000,000 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹42 Cr 4,200,000 Maharashtra (Government of) 7.18%
- | -3% ₹30 Cr 3,000,000
↑ 3,000,000 7.17% Rajasthan State Development Loans (27/02/2035)
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹25 Cr 2,500,000 2. HDFC Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 7.4% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹54.6496 ↑ 0.02 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹2,939 on 28 Feb 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC HDFC Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.88 Sharpe Ratio 0.35 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 300 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 8.48% Effective Maturity 16 Years 7 Months 9 Days Modified Duration 8 Years 2 Months 11 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,608 31 Mar 22 ₹10,992 31 Mar 23 ₹11,375 31 Mar 24 ₹12,246 31 Mar 25 ₹13,383 Returns for HDFC Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 2.1% 3 Month 2.8% 6 Month 3.7% 1 Year 9.3% 3 Year 6.8% 5 Year 6% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 7.4% 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 17.51 Yr. Dhruv Muchhal 22 Jun 23 1.69 Yr. Data below for HDFC Gilt Fund as on 28 Feb 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 2.45% Debt 97.55% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 97.55% Cash Equivalent 2.45% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.18% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -18% ₹534 Cr 52,000,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -16% ₹481 Cr 46,500,000 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -10% ₹300 Cr 28,870,000 6.79% Government Of India (07/10/2034)
Sovereign Bonds | -9% ₹268 Cr 26,583,400 7.26% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -8% ₹247 Cr 24,000,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹194 Cr 19,000,000 7.26% Govt Stock 2032
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹175 Cr 17,000,000 7.17% Govt Stock 2030
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹138 Cr 13,500,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹123 Cr 12,000,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹92 Cr 9,170,000 3. DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 9.2% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹94.9662 ↑ 0.03 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹1,699 on 28 Feb 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC DSP BlackRock Invmt Managers Pvt. Ltd. Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.1 Sharpe Ratio 0 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 7.09% Effective Maturity 28 Years 11 Months 16 Days Modified Duration 11 Years 2 Months 12 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,730 31 Mar 22 ₹11,166 31 Mar 23 ₹11,651 31 Mar 24 ₹12,744 31 Mar 25 ₹13,899 Returns for DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 2.9% 3 Month 2.9% 6 Month 3.2% 1 Year 9.1% 3 Year 7.6% 5 Year 6.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 9.2% 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 0.58 Yr. Shantanu Godambe 1 Jun 23 1.75 Yr. Data below for DSP BlackRock Government Securities Fund as on 28 Feb 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 3.77% Debt 96.23% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 96.23% Cash Equivalent 3.77% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -34% ₹555 Cr 52,000,000
↓ -3,500,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -29% ₹473 Cr 45,000,000
↓ -3,000,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹112 Cr 11,000,000
↓ -4,000,000 7.14% Madhya Pradesh SDL 2043
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹103 Cr 10,000,000 7.26% Maharashtra SDL 2050
Sovereign Bonds | -6% ₹101 Cr 10,000,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹90 Cr 8,500,000
↑ 8,500,000 8.17% Govt Stock 2044
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹58 Cr 5,000,000 7.14% Maharashtra SDL 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹50 Cr 5,000,000 7.85% MP Sdl 2032
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹27 Cr 2,500,000 7.22% Maharashtra SDL 2049
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹15 Cr 1,500,000 4. SBI Magnum Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹65.3284 ↑ 0.02 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹11,257 on 15 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC SBI Funds Management Private Limited Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.94 Sharpe Ratio 0.1 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.11% Effective Maturity 23 Years 10 Months 28 Days Modified Duration 9 Years 11 Months 1 Day Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,724 31 Mar 22 ₹11,112 31 Mar 23 ₹11,744 31 Mar 24 ₹12,773 31 Mar 25 ₹13,915 Returns for SBI Magnum Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 2.5% 3 Month 2.9% 6 Month 3.3% 1 Year 8.9% 3 Year 7.8% 5 Year 6.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8% 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 1.33 Yr. Tejas Soman 1 Dec 23 1.25 Yr. Data below for SBI Magnum Gilt Fund as on 15 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 10.5% Debt 89.5% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 89.5% Cash Equivalent 10.5% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -37% ₹4,219 Cr 406,500,000
↓ -7,500,000 6.79% Government Of India (07/10/2034)
Sovereign Bonds | -36% ₹4,009 Cr 398,326,400
↑ 27,000,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -10% ₹1,096 Cr 106,000,000
↓ -5,500,000 7.22% State Government Of Haryana 2038
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹402 Cr 40,000,000 7.13% State Government Of Karnataka 2041
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹249 Cr 25,048,600
↑ 4,500,000 7.16% State Government Of Madhya Pradesh 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹100 Cr 10,000,000 Treps
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -5% ₹608 Cr Net Receivable / Payable
CBLO | -5% ₹574 Cr 8.83% Govt Stock 2041
Sovereign Bonds | -₹0 Cr 00
↓ -80,000,000 7.93% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -₹0 Cr 00
↓ -6,000,000 5. Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.3% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹37.723 ↑ 0.01 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹2,126 on 28 Feb 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd. Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.42 Sharpe Ratio 0 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 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,571 31 Mar 22 ₹10,923 31 Mar 23 ₹11,331 31 Mar 24 ₹12,245 31 Mar 25 ₹13,321 Returns for Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 2.4% 3 Month 2.8% 6 Month 3.3% 1 Year 8.8% 3 Year 6.8% 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 2.1% 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 Yr. Kinjal Desai 31 Oct 21 3.42 Yr. Data below for Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund as on 28 Feb 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 3.35% Debt 96.65% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 96.65% Cash Equivalent 3.35% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -15% ₹312 Cr 30,500,000
↓ -5,000,000 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -14% ₹306 Cr 29,500,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -12% ₹252 Cr 25,000,000
↑ 2,500,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -10% ₹212 Cr 20,500,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -8% ₹174 Cr 16,965,200 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹146 Cr 14,500,000
↑ 10,000,000 7.25% Govt Stock 2063
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹143 Cr 14,000,000 6.8% Govt Stock 2060
Sovereign Bonds | -3% ₹58 Cr 6,000,000 6.79% Government Of India (07/10/2034)
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹50 Cr 5,000,000
↓ -13,500,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹46 Cr 4,500,000
↓ -9,000,000 6. UTI Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.2% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹62.0701 ↑ 0.02 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹644 on 28 Feb 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC UTI Asset Management Company Ltd Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 0.92 Sharpe Ratio 0.05 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 6.99% Effective Maturity 22 Years 9 Months Modified Duration 9 Years 8 Months 23 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,655 31 Mar 22 ₹10,944 31 Mar 23 ₹11,478 31 Mar 24 ₹12,397 31 Mar 25 ₹13,483 Returns for UTI Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 2.3% 3 Month 2.8% 6 Month 3.5% 1 Year 8.8% 3 Year 7.2% 5 Year 6.2% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.2% 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 Sudhir Agarwal 1 Dec 21 3.33 Yr. Data below for UTI Gilt Fund as on 28 Feb 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 3.36% Debt 96.64% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 96.64% Cash Equivalent 3.36% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 6.79% Government Of India (07/10/2034)
Sovereign Bonds | -37% ₹242 Cr 2,400,000,000
↓ -600,000,000 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -18% ₹119 Cr 1,150,000,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -16% ₹101 Cr 1,000,000,000 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹47 Cr 450,000,000 7.46% Govt Stock 2073
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹32 Cr 300,000,000 Chhattisgarh (Government of) 7.32%
- | -5% ₹30 Cr 300,000,000
↑ 300,000,000 Assam (Government of) 7.34%
- | -5% ₹30 Cr 300,000,000
↑ 300,000,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -4% ₹26 Cr 250,000,000 Net Current Assets
Net Current Assets | -3% ₹20 Cr Clearing Corporation Of India Ltd. Std - Margin
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹1 Cr 00 7. IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹35.0755 ↑ 0.01 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹3,570 on 15 Mar 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC IDFC Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.19 Sharpe Ratio -0.1 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 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,730 31 Mar 22 ₹11,249 31 Mar 23 ₹11,518 31 Mar 24 ₹12,597 31 Mar 25 ₹13,698 Returns for IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 3.1% 3 Month 2.8% 6 Month 2.7% 1 Year 8.7% 3 Year 6.8% 5 Year 6.5% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8% 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 14.39 Yr. Brijesh Shah 10 Jun 24 0.72 Yr. Data below for IDFC Government Securities Fund - Investment Plan as on 15 Mar 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 1.72% Debt 98.28% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 98.28% Cash Equivalent 1.72% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -98% ₹3,508 Cr 339,400,000
↓ -3,000,000 7.17% Govt Stock 2028
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹0 Cr 6,300 Net Current Assets
Net Current Assets | -2% ₹58 Cr Cblo Trp_170325
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹3 Cr Cash Margin - Ccil
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -0% ₹0 Cr 8. Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.5% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹80.6061 ↑ 0.02 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹1,992 on 28 Feb 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co Ltd Rating ☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.05 Sharpe Ratio -0.14 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 7.08% Effective Maturity 25 Years 11 Months 5 Days Modified Duration 10 Years 9 Months Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,757 31 Mar 22 ₹11,304 31 Mar 23 ₹11,632 31 Mar 24 ₹12,628 31 Mar 25 ₹13,731 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 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 2.9% 3 Month 2.9% 6 Month 3.3% 1 Year 8.7% 3 Year 6.7% 5 Year 6.5% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.5% 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 4.65 Yr. Data below for Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund as on 28 Feb 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 2.07% Debt 97.93% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 97.93% Cash Equivalent 2.07% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.3% Govt Stock 2053
Sovereign Bonds | -49% ₹989 Cr 95,679,750
↓ -2,500,000 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -29% ₹581 Cr 56,012,200
↑ 800,000 7.26% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -8% ₹165 Cr 16,025,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹98 Cr 9,500,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹46 Cr 4,540,000 6.76% Govt Stock 2061
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹29 Cr 3,000,000 7.25% Govt Stock 2063
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹26 Cr 2,500,000 State Government Securities (27/02/2038)
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹25 Cr 2,500,000
↑ 596,400 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹3 Cr 300,000
↑ 300,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2074
Sovereign Bonds | -0% ₹3 Cr 285,700 9. Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 8.9% since its launch. Ranked 1 in Corporate Bond
category. Return for 2024 was 8.5% , 2023 was 7.3% and 2022 was 4.1% . Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
Growth Launch Date 3 Mar 97 NAV (31 Mar 25) ₹110.625 ↑ 0.06 (0.05 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹25,293 on 28 Feb 25 Category Debt - Corporate Bond AMC Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co Ltd Rating ☆☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderately Low Expense Ratio 0.5 Sharpe Ratio 1.37 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 1,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.48% Effective Maturity 5 Years 8 Months 19 Days Modified Duration 3 Years 9 Months 14 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,978 31 Mar 22 ₹11,525 31 Mar 23 ₹12,062 31 Mar 24 ₹13,003 31 Mar 25 ₹14,137 Returns for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 1.3% 3 Month 2.4% 6 Month 4% 1 Year 8.7% 3 Year 7% 5 Year 7.2% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 8.9% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 8.5% 2023 7.3% 2022 4.1% 2021 4% 2020 11.9% 2019 9.6% 2018 7% 2017 6.5% 2016 10.2% 2015 8.9% Fund Manager information for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund
Name Since Tenure Kaustubh Gupta 12 Apr 21 3.89 Yr. Data below for Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund as on 28 Feb 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 3.8% Debt 95.93% Other 0.27% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Corporate 60.28% Government 35.65% Cash Equivalent 3.8% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -8% ₹2,033 Cr 198,661,700 7.18% Govt Stock 2033
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹1,751 Cr 170,500,000
↓ -33,000,000 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -5% ₹1,267 Cr 123,324,100
↓ -30,000,000 Small Industries Development Bank Of India
Debentures | -3% ₹744 Cr 74,550
↓ -2,500 Small Industries Development Bank Of India
Debentures | -2% ₹599 Cr 6,000 Bajaj Housing Finance Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹555 Cr 55,000 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹502 Cr 49,779,000
↓ -2,500,000 Bajaj Finance Limited
Debentures | -2% ₹452 Cr 45,000 National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
Debentures | -2% ₹411 Cr 41,000
↓ -2,500 6.79% Government Of India (07/10/2034)
Sovereign Bonds | -2% ₹408 Cr 40,500,000
↑ 25,500,000 10. Invesco India Gilt Fund
CAGR/Annualized
return of 6.2% 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 (31 Mar 25) ₹2,811.24 ↑ 0.78 (0.03 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹1,220 on 28 Feb 25 Category Debt - Government Bond AMC Invesco Asset Management (India) Private Ltd Rating ☆☆☆ Risk Moderate Expense Ratio 1.2 Sharpe Ratio -0.09 Information Ratio 0 Alpha Ratio 0 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load NIL Yield to Maturity 7.15% Effective Maturity 29 Years 3 Months 22 Days Modified Duration 10 Years 11 Months 5 Days Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 20 ₹10,000 31 Mar 21 ₹10,400 31 Mar 22 ₹10,544 31 Mar 23 ₹11,002 31 Mar 24 ₹12,019 31 Mar 25 ₹13,067 Returns for Invesco India Gilt Fund
absolute basis
& more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
basis. as on 31 Mar 25 Duration Returns 1 Month 2.8% 3 Month 2.8% 6 Month 2.9% 1 Year 8.7% 3 Year 7.4% 5 Year 5.5% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 6.2% 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 3.6 Yr. Vikas Garg 26 Sep 20 4.43 Yr. Data below for Invesco India Gilt Fund as on 28 Feb 25
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 5.36% Debt 94.64% Debt Sector Allocation
Sector Value Government 94.64% Cash Equivalent 5.36% Credit Quality
Rating Value AAA 100% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 7.34% Govt Stock 2064
Sovereign Bonds | -33% ₹338 Cr 32,531,000
↓ -7,500,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2054
Sovereign Bonds | -33% ₹337 Cr 33,500,000 6.79% Government Of India (07/10/2034)
Sovereign Bonds | -11% ₹116 Cr 11,512,900
↓ -4,500,000 7.09% Govt Stock 2074
Sovereign Bonds | -10% ₹106 Cr 10,500,000
↓ -500,000 6.92% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -7% ₹71 Cr 7,000,000
↑ 5,000,000 7.1% Govt Stock 2034
Sovereign Bonds | -1% ₹10 Cr 1,000,000 Triparty Repo
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -3% ₹28 Cr Net Receivables / (Payables)
CBLO | -3% ₹27 Cr 7.18% Govt Stock 2037
Sovereign Bonds | -₹0 Cr 00
↓ -4,500,000 7.23% Govt Stock 2039
Sovereign Bonds | -₹0 Cr 00
↓ -4,000,000
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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