Passive funds are a type of funds that consistently tracks a market index to allow a fund get maximum gains. It invests in a Portfolio that replicates a market index like Nifty, the Sensex, etc. All the securities along with their proportion in the portfolio will be the same as the index the fund is tracking.

In passive funds, the fund manager does not actively choose what stocks will make up the fund. This is one of the reasons passive funds are easier to invest than active funds. Investors buy passive funds when they want their returns to be in line with the market. These funds are low-cost funds as there are no costs involved in selecting stocks and researching.
Passive funds are of two types, such as -
Index Funds are an open-ended scheme where the investors buy and redeem units of the Mutual Funds at the net-asset values. In other words, the performance of an index fund is dependent on the performance of a particular index. Index funds contain shares in a similar proportion as they are in a particular index.
The units of exchange-traded funds are randomly listed on a stock exchange. Investors buy and sell units at real-time prices through Demat account.
Talk to our investment specialist
There are specific differences in the way they function and affect the investor.
The tabular differentiates between passive funds and active funds:
| Passive Funds | Active Funds |
|---|---|
| The fund manager does not actively participate in selecting funds | Fund managers commit to a lot of research and take steps accordingly to select funds in various securities based on market performance |
| Costs less | Costs more |
| Popularity because of the low-expense ratio | Costlier management makes it less popular |
In 2019, Indian investors found that passive mutual funds were trustworthy. The total assets managed by passive funds, including gold and ETFs along with other index funds were huge. It was found that it stood at Rs. 177,181 crore on November 30, 2019. The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) stated that index funds had gathered an AUM of Rs. 7717 crore on November 2019. Passive large-cap ETFs offer returns of 11.53% compared to actively managed Large cap funds that offered 10.19%.
gold ETFs stood at Rs. 5,540.40 crore as of November 2019. This comes in comparison to Rs. 4,571 crore in December 2018. The AUM of other ETFs
stood at Rs. 1,63,923.66 crore, as compared to Rs. 1,07,363 crore at the end of 2018. A large part of 2019 witnessed that large-cap schemes were at the top of return charts. Even in 2020, nine out of the top 15 large-cap schemes are passive funds.
With the current situation across the globe, the financial markets are facing issues of deep concern. While investors were willing to take a risk in the past, today’s conditions have pushed the majority of the investors to look for a safe haven. This means they are looking for an investment that will yield higher returns or at least stable returns. Several investors are now looking to invest through passive modes such as exchange-traded funds or index funds. As per AMFI, Inflow into the index funds faced an all-time high of Rs. 2076.5 crore in March 2020.
Fund Selection Methodology used to find 5 funds
With the growing popularity of passive mutual funds, the chances of gaining higher returns are higher. Here are the best passive mutual funds you can choose to invest:
Fund NAV Net Assets (Cr) 3 MO (%) 6 MO (%) 1 YR (%) 3 YR (%) 5 YR (%) 2024 (%) LIC MF Index Fund Sensex Growth ₹147.861
↑ 1.40 ₹85 -3.3 -6.3 -0.1 10.1 10.8 9.1 Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan Growth ₹40.3402
↑ 0.38 ₹849 -3.3 -6.1 0.4 10.7 11.3 9.8 IDBI Nifty Index Fund Growth ₹36.2111
↓ -0.02 ₹208 9.1 11.9 16.2 20.3 11.7 Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan Growth ₹198.27
↑ 1.70 ₹678 -2.4 -4.9 2.4 12.3 11.9 11.3 ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund Growth ₹62.2392
↑ 0.42 ₹7,604 6.1 2 8.5 22.6 15.7 2.1 Note: Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR basis. as on 21 Apr 26 Research Highlights & Commentary of 5 Funds showcased
Commentary LIC MF Index Fund Sensex Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan IDBI Nifty Index Fund Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund Point 1 Bottom quartile AUM (₹85 Cr). Upper mid AUM (₹849 Cr). Bottom quartile AUM (₹208 Cr). Lower mid AUM (₹678 Cr). Highest AUM (₹7,604 Cr). Point 2 Established history (23+ yrs). Established history (15+ yrs). Established history (15+ yrs). Oldest track record among peers (25 yrs). Established history (15+ yrs). Point 3 Rating: 1★ (lower mid). Rating: 2★ (upper mid). Rating: 1★ (bottom quartile). Rating: 1★ (bottom quartile). Top rated. Point 4 Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Risk profile: Moderately High. Point 5 5Y return: 10.81% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 11.32% (bottom quartile). 5Y return: 11.74% (lower mid). 5Y return: 11.94% (upper mid). 5Y return: 15.66% (top quartile). Point 6 3Y return: 10.07% (bottom quartile). 3Y return: 10.66% (bottom quartile). 3Y return: 20.28% (upper mid). 3Y return: 12.28% (lower mid). 3Y return: 22.56% (top quartile). Point 7 1Y return: -0.09% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 0.44% (bottom quartile). 1Y return: 16.16% (top quartile). 1Y return: 2.43% (lower mid). 1Y return: 8.50% (upper mid). Point 8 1M return: 6.38% (upper mid). 1M return: 6.31% (lower mid). 1M return: 3.68% (bottom quartile). 1M return: 6.28% (bottom quartile). 1M return: 10.95% (top quartile). Point 9 Alpha: -1.13 (bottom quartile). Alpha: -0.53 (top quartile). Alpha: -1.03 (bottom quartile). Alpha: -0.59 (upper mid). Alpha: -0.77 (lower mid). Point 10 Sharpe: -0.79 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: -0.75 (bottom quartile). Sharpe: 1.04 (top quartile). Sharpe: -0.63 (lower mid). Sharpe: -0.51 (upper mid). LIC MF Index Fund Sensex
Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan
IDBI Nifty Index Fund
Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan
ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund
*Below is the list for Index Mutual Funds having atleast 15 Crore or more in Net Assets.
The main investment objective of the fund is to generate returns commensurate with the performance of the index either Nifty / Sensex based on the plans by investing in the respective index stocks subject to tracking errors. Below is the key information for LIC MF Index Fund Sensex Returns up to 1 year are on The primary investment objective of the scheme is to replicate the composition of the Sensex, with a view to generate returns that are commensurate with the performance of the Sensex, subject to tracking errors. Research Highlights for Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan Below is the key information for Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan Returns up to 1 year are on The investment objective of the scheme is to invest in the stocks and equity related instruments comprising the S&P CNX Nifty Index in the same weights as these stocks represented in the Index with the intent to replicate the performance of the Total Returns Index of S&P CNX Nifty index. The scheme will adopt a passive investment strategy and will seek to achieve the investment objective by minimizing the tracking error between the S&P CNX Nifty index (Total Returns Index) and the scheme. Research Highlights for IDBI Nifty Index Fund Below is the key information for IDBI Nifty Index Fund Returns up to 1 year are on The Investment Objective of the Scheme is to invest in companies whose securities are included in the Nifty and subject to tracking errors, endeavouring to attain results commensurate with the Nifty 50 under NSENifty Plan Research Highlights for Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan Below is the key information for Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan Returns up to 1 year are on The fund's objective is to invest in companies whose securities are included in Nifty Junior Index and to endeavor to achieve the returns of the above index as closely as possible, though subject to tracking error. The fund intends to track only 90-95% of the Index i.e. it will always keep cash balance between 5-10% of the Net Asset to meet the redemption and other liquidity requirements. However, as and when the liquidity in the Index improves the fund intends to track up to 100% of the Index. The fund will not seek to outperform the CNX Nifty Junior. The objective is that the performance of the NAV of the fund should closely track the performance of the CNX Nifty Junior over the same period subject to tracking error. Research Highlights for ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund Below is the key information for ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund Returns up to 1 year are on 1. LIC MF Index Fund Sensex
LIC MF Index Fund Sensex
Growth Launch Date 14 Nov 02 NAV (21 Apr 26) ₹147.861 ↑ 1.40 (0.95 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹85 on 31 Mar 26 Category Others - Index Fund AMC LIC Mutual Fund Asset Mgmt Co Ltd Rating ☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.98 Sharpe Ratio -0.79 Information Ratio -10.54 Alpha Ratio -1.13 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 1,000 Exit Load 0-1 Months (1%),1 Months and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 21 ₹10,000 31 Mar 22 ₹11,818 31 Mar 23 ₹11,937 31 Mar 24 ₹14,941 31 Mar 25 ₹15,708 31 Mar 26 ₹14,615 Returns for LIC MF Index Fund Sensex
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Apr 26 Duration Returns 1 Month 6.4% 3 Month -3.3% 6 Month -6.3% 1 Year -0.1% 3 Year 10.1% 5 Year 10.8% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 12.6% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 9.1% 2023 8.2% 2022 19% 2021 4.6% 2020 21.9% 2019 15.9% 2018 14.6% 2017 5.6% 2016 27.4% 2015 1.6% Fund Manager information for LIC MF Index Fund Sensex
Name Since Tenure Nikhil Kapoor 7 Apr 26 0 Yr. Data below for LIC MF Index Fund Sensex as on 31 Mar 26
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 0.79% Equity 99.21% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity HDFC Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 09 | HDFCBANK13% ₹11 Cr 151,442
↑ 8,831 Reliance Industries Ltd (Energy)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 09 | RELIANCE11% ₹9 Cr 67,455
↑ 4,068 ICICI Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 30 Apr 09 | 53217410% ₹9 Cr 71,076
↑ 4,145 Bharti Airtel Ltd (Communication Services)
Equity, Since 30 Apr 09 | BHARTIARTL6% ₹5 Cr 27,788
↑ 1,620 Infosys Ltd (Technology)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 09 | INFY5% ₹4 Cr 35,547
↑ 2,072 Larsen & Toubro Ltd (Industrials)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 09 | LT5% ₹4 Cr 11,645
↑ 747 State Bank of India (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 09 | SBIN5% ₹4 Cr 41,369
↑ 2,633 Axis Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Dec 13 | 5322154% ₹3 Cr 28,339
↑ 1,652 ITC Ltd (Consumer Defensive)
Equity, Since 30 Sep 11 | ITC3% ₹3 Cr 95,889
↑ 6,022 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (Consumer Cyclical)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 12 | M&M3% ₹3 Cr 8,908
↑ 519 2. Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan
Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan
Growth Launch Date 28 Sep 10 NAV (21 Apr 26) ₹40.3402 ↑ 0.38 (0.96 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹849 on 31 Mar 26 Category Others - Index Fund AMC Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd. Rating ☆☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.49 Sharpe Ratio -0.75 Information Ratio -10.21 Alpha Ratio -0.53 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load 0-7 Days (0.25%),7 Days and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 21 ₹10,000 31 Mar 22 ₹11,874 31 Mar 23 ₹12,021 31 Mar 24 ₹15,110 31 Mar 25 ₹15,984 31 Mar 26 ₹14,947 Returns for Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Apr 26 Duration Returns 1 Month 6.3% 3 Month -3.3% 6 Month -6.1% 1 Year 0.4% 3 Year 10.7% 5 Year 11.3% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 9.4% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 9.8% 2023 8.9% 2022 19.5% 2021 5% 2020 22.4% 2019 16.6% 2018 14.2% 2017 6.2% 2016 27.9% 2015 2% Fund Manager information for Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan
Name Since Tenure Himanshu Mange 23 Dec 23 2.27 Yr. Data below for Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex Plan as on 31 Mar 26
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 0.11% Equity 99.89% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity HDFC Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 10 | HDFCBANK13% ₹111 Cr 1,518,640
↑ 21,521 Reliance Industries Ltd (Energy)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 10 | RELIANCE11% ₹91 Cr 674,401
↑ 8,967 ICICI Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 10 | 53217410% ₹86 Cr 713,414
↑ 10,621 Bharti Airtel Ltd (Communication Services)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 10 | BHARTIARTL6% ₹51 Cr 284,169
↑ 9,386 Infosys Ltd (Technology)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 10 | INFY5% ₹43 Cr 347,618
↓ -3,752 Larsen & Toubro Ltd (Industrials)
Equity, Since 29 Feb 12 | LT5% ₹41 Cr 116,543
↑ 1,552 State Bank of India (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 10 | SBIN5% ₹41 Cr 414,013
↑ 5,504 Axis Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Dec 13 | 5322154% ₹33 Cr 284,900
↑ 4,098 ITC Ltd (Consumer Defensive)
Equity, Since 29 Feb 12 | ITC3% ₹28 Cr 961,582
↑ 12,891 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (Consumer Cyclical)
Equity, Since 31 Oct 10 | M&M3% ₹26 Cr 89,240
↑ 1,187 3. IDBI Nifty Index Fund
IDBI Nifty Index Fund
Growth Launch Date 25 Jun 10 NAV (28 Jul 23) ₹36.2111 ↓ -0.02 (-0.06 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹208 on 30 Jun 23 Category Others - Index Fund AMC IDBI Asset Management Limited Rating ☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.9 Sharpe Ratio 1.04 Information Ratio -3.93 Alpha Ratio -1.03 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load NIL Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 21 ₹10,000 31 Mar 22 ₹11,835 31 Mar 23 ₹11,794 Returns for IDBI Nifty Index Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Apr 26 Duration Returns 1 Month 3.7% 3 Month 9.1% 6 Month 11.9% 1 Year 16.2% 3 Year 20.3% 5 Year 11.7% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 10.3% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 Fund Manager information for IDBI Nifty Index Fund
Name Since Tenure Data below for IDBI Nifty Index Fund as on 30 Jun 23
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity 4. Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan
Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan
Growth Launch Date 4 Aug 00 NAV (21 Apr 26) ₹198.27 ↑ 1.70 (0.87 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹678 on 31 Mar 26 Category Others - Index Fund AMC Franklin Templeton Asst Mgmt(IND)Pvt Ltd Rating ☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.63 Sharpe Ratio -0.63 Information Ratio -3.46 Alpha Ratio -0.59 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 500 Exit Load 0-30 Days (1%),30 Days and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 21 ₹10,000 31 Mar 22 ₹11,912 31 Mar 23 ₹11,906 31 Mar 24 ₹15,358 31 Mar 25 ₹16,283 31 Mar 26 ₹15,549 Returns for Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Apr 26 Duration Returns 1 Month 6.3% 3 Month -2.4% 6 Month -4.9% 1 Year 2.4% 3 Year 12.3% 5 Year 11.9% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 12.3% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 11.3% 2023 9.5% 2022 20.2% 2021 4.9% 2020 24.3% 2019 14.7% 2018 12% 2017 3.2% 2016 28.3% 2015 3.3% Fund Manager information for Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan
Name Since Tenure Sandeep Manam 18 Oct 21 4.45 Yr. Shyam Sriram 26 Sep 24 1.51 Yr. Data below for Franklin India Index Fund Nifty Plan as on 31 Mar 26
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 0.22% Equity 99.78% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity HDFC Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Jan 03 | HDFCBANK12% ₹90 Cr 1,016,819
↑ 6,414 ICICI Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Jan 10 | ICICIBANK9% ₹65 Cr 474,792
↑ 2,995 Reliance Industries Ltd (Energy)
Equity, Since 31 Jan 03 | RELIANCE8% ₹63 Cr 448,821
↑ 2,831 Bharti Airtel Ltd (Communication Services)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 04 | BHARTIARTL5% ₹35 Cr 185,222
↑ 1,168 Larsen & Toubro Ltd (Industrials)
Equity, Since 30 Jun 12 | LT4% ₹33 Cr 78,065
↑ 492 State Bank of India (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Jan 03 | SBIN4% ₹33 Cr 275,799
↑ 1,740 Infosys Ltd (Technology)
Equity, Since 29 Feb 12 | INFY4% ₹30 Cr 232,842
↑ 1,469 Axis Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 30 Jun 09 | AXISBANK3% ₹26 Cr 190,511
↑ 1,202 Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (Financial Services)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 12 | KOTAKBANK3% ₹20 Cr 488,789
↑ 3,083 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (Consumer Cyclical)
Equity, Since 28 Feb 07 | M&M3% ₹20 Cr 59,339
↑ 374 5. ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund
ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund
Growth Launch Date 25 Jun 10 NAV (21 Apr 26) ₹62.2392 ↑ 0.42 (0.68 %) Net Assets (Cr) ₹7,604 on 31 Mar 26 Category Others - Index Fund AMC ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited Rating ☆☆☆☆☆ Risk Moderately High Expense Ratio 0.66 Sharpe Ratio -0.51 Information Ratio -6.66 Alpha Ratio -0.77 Min Investment 5,000 Min SIP Investment 100 Exit Load 0-7 Days (0.25%),7 Days and above(NIL) Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.
Date Value 31 Mar 21 ₹10,000 31 Mar 22 ₹12,037 31 Mar 23 ₹11,065 31 Mar 24 ₹17,741 31 Mar 25 ₹18,397 31 Mar 26 ₹17,649 Returns for ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund
absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 21 Apr 26 Duration Returns 1 Month 11% 3 Month 6.1% 6 Month 2% 1 Year 8.5% 3 Year 22.6% 5 Year 15.7% 10 Year 15 Year Since launch 12.3% Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
Year Returns 2024 2.1% 2023 27.2% 2022 26.3% 2021 0.1% 2020 29.5% 2019 14.3% 2018 0.6% 2017 -8.8% 2016 45.7% 2015 7.6% Fund Manager information for ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund
Name Since Tenure Nishit Patel 18 Jan 21 5.2 Yr. Ajaykumar Solanki 1 Feb 24 2.16 Yr. Ashwini Shinde 18 Dec 24 1.28 Yr. Data below for ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund as on 31 Mar 26
Asset Allocation
Asset Class Value Cash 0.86% Equity 99.14% Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
Name Holding Value Quantity Vedanta Ltd (Basic Materials)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 21 | 5002955% ₹392 Cr 5,992,168
↓ -132,011 Tata Motors Ltd (Consumer Cyclical)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 26 | TMCV4% ₹291 Cr 7,370,232
↑ 7,370,232 TVS Motor Co Ltd (Consumer Cyclical)
Equity, Since 30 Sep 23 | 5323434% ₹279 Cr 828,186
↓ -19,412 Divi's Laboratories Ltd (Healthcare)
Equity, Since 30 Sep 24 | DIVISLAB4% ₹267 Cr 448,147
↓ -10,535 Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Ordinary Shares (Industrials)
Equity, Since 30 Sep 22 | HAL3% ₹233 Cr 669,065
↓ -15,882 Britannia Industries Ltd (Consumer Defensive)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 25 | 5008253% ₹225 Cr 415,480
↓ -10,277 Tata Power Co Ltd (Utilities)
Equity, Since 31 Aug 22 | 5004003% ₹224 Cr 5,903,688
↓ -158,524 Adani Power Ltd (Utilities)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 24 | 5330963% ₹219 Cr 14,586,133
↑ 344,570 Cummins India Ltd (Industrials)
Equity, Since 31 Mar 26 | 5004803% ₹214 Cr 476,362
↑ 476,362 Avenue Supermarts Ltd (Consumer Defensive)
Equity, Since 30 Sep 17 | 5403763% ₹205 Cr 519,204
↓ -12,360
Passive funds are definitely proving to be a ray of hope for investors, especially in the current financial crisis. Before Investing in any passive mutual fund, make sure to read all schemes related documents carefully. This will help you gain an understanding of what to expect and what to give along with a sense of security.
Research Highlights for LIC MF Index Fund Sensex