Imagine you have been to a famous restaurant and you want to taste the best food that they have. Buying every dish individually will be expensive but what if you can order a “Thali”, one large plate with a small portion of the best 30 dishes in the restaurant. You get full experience with multiple things in one plate.
Investing in the Indian stock market is exactly like that. Picking individual stocks can be risky and confusing for some investors. This is where the Sensex steps in as it is a collection of the top 30 largest and most financially strong companies in India. But how can an investor invest in all of these companies at once? The solution to this is the Sensex ETF.
As we settle into 2026, Sensex ETFs are becoming incredibly popular. It is because they are simple, low-cost, and perfect for anyone who believes in the Indian economy but doesn’t have the time to track daily markets. Whether you are a student or a retired professional, this sensex etf list is the perfect starting point for your investment journey.
In this blog, we will help you find the best sensex etf for your goals. We will explain how they work, compare the best sensex index fund options against ETFs, and guide you through the landscape of sensex etf india. By the end of this blog, you will have a clear answer on where to put your money.
What is a Sensex ETF?
ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund. A Sensex ETF is a fund that pools money from many investors to buy stocks. Specifically, it buys the 30 stocks that make up the BSE Sensex index. It buys them in the exact same proportion. If Reliance Industries is 10% of the Sensex, the ETF puts 10% of your money into Reliance.
How is it different from a Sensex Index Fund?
While both invest in the same companies, they trade differently:
- Trading: You can buy and sell a Sensex ETF anytime during market hours (9:15 AM to 3:30 PM), just like a regular share. An Index Fund is bought or sold only at the end of the day.
- Price: ETF prices change every second. Index Fund prices are fixed once a day.
- Cost: ETFs usually have slightly lower fees (Expense Ratio) than Index Funds.
If you want the flexibility to buy and sell instantly, a Sensex ETF is often the better choice.
10 Best Sensex ETFs in India in 2026
| ETF Name | Best For | AUM | Expense Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTI BSE Sensex ETF | Stability & Size | Rs.55,029 Cr. | 0.05% |
| Nippon India ETF BSE Sensex | High Liquidity | Rs.23,014 Cr. | 0.04% |
| ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex ETF | Low Cost | Rs.26,003 Cr. | 0.02% – 0.03% |
| HDFC S&P BSE Sensex ETF | Brand Trust | Rs.543 Cr. | 0.05% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life BSE Sensex ETF | Long-Term Consistency | Rs.295 Cr. | 0.04% |
| Nippon India ETF S&P BSE Sensex Next 50 | Higher Growth Potential | Rs.117 Cr. | 0.23 |
| Axis S&P BSE Sensex ETF | Simple Investing | Rs.139 Cr. | 0.04% |
| Kotak S&P BSE Sensex ETF | Pricing Accuracy | Rs.26 cr. | 0.18% |
| Mirae Asset S&P BSE Sensex ETF | Cost Efficiency | Rs.21 Cr. | 0.05% |
| DSP BSE Sensex ETF | Disciplined Tracking | Rs.9 Cr. | 0.08% |
Read Also: Best Index ETFs in India
Overview of Sensex ETFs in India
1. UTI BSE Sensex ETF
UTI BSE Sensex ETF is one of the oldest and largest ETFs in India. Because it manages so much money (Assets Under Management), it is very stable. For you, this means it is easy to buy and sell without worrying about price fluctuations caused by a lack of buyers. It is a classic “safe” choice for long-term investors.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 10.29% | 45.13% | 76.30% |
2. Nippon India ETF BSE Sensex
Formerly known as Reliance ETF, this fund is a leader in terms of trading volume. High volume is great because it ensures “liquidity.” This means there are always enough buyers and sellers in the market, so you can enter or exit your investment instantly at a fair price.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 9.66% | 13.19% | 12.39% |
3. ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex ETF
ICICI Prudential is a massive name in the mutual fund industry. Their Sensex ETF is known for its low cost. The fund managers are very efficient at tracking the Sensex, meaning the returns you get are almost exactly what the Sensex delivers. It is a favorite for cost-conscious investors.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 10.80% | 45.35% | 81.72% |
4. HDFC S&P BSE Sensex ETF
If you prefer sticking to trusted brands, this is a strong contender. The HDFC Sensex ETF is known for minimizing “tracking error”, the tiny difference between the fund’s return and the actual market return. It is a reliable, no-nonsense option for your portfolio.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 10.05% | 43.77% | -81.98% |
5. Aditya Birla Sun Life BSE Sensex ETF
Aditya Birla Sun Life follows a strict process to ensure their ETF mirrors the Sensex perfectly. It may not always have the highest trading volume, but it is a solid, dependable performer for anyone looking to invest for 5-10 years. In this fund you need to be a little consistent to generate profit out of it.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 9.89% | 44.20% | 78.02% |
6. Nippon India ETF S&P BSE Sensex Next 50
This one is slightly different, while the others track the top 30 companies, this ETF tracks the Next 50 largest companies. Think of these as the “future leaders” although they are slightly riskier but have the potential to grow faster than the top 30. This is great for adding a little growth boost to your portfolio.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 12.98% | 21.88% | 18.21% |
7. Axis S&P BSE Sensex ETF
Axis Mutual Fund focuses on quality and simplicity. Their ETF is designed to be straightforward. While it is smaller than the top three, it is backed by the strong processes of Axis. It is a good choice if you already have investments with Axis and want to keep everything in one place.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 9.83% | 43.59% | 78.02% |
8. Kotak S&P BSE Sensex ETF
Kotak is a heavyweight in the financial world. One big advantage of this ETF is the strong “market making.” This ensures that the price you see on your screen is very close to the actual value of the stocks held by the fund. It reduces the risk of paying too much when you buy.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 9.83% | 43.59% | 78.02% |
9. Mirae Asset S&P BSE Sensex ETF
Mirae Asset has made a name for itself by offering high-quality funds at very low costs. This ETF is newer compared to giants like UTI, but it has grown fast because it is efficient and wallet-friendly. It is a great pick if you want to save every penny on fees.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 9.80% | 43.59% | 78.02% |
10. DSP BSE Sensex ETF
DSP is known for transparency as their Sensex ETF behaves like a disciplined fund that aims to stay fully invested, ensuring you don’t miss out on any market rallies. It is ideal for investors who value a clean, process-driven approach to wealth creation.
| 1 Year Return | 3 Year Return | 5 Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| 9.26% | 43.59% | 78.02% |
Who Should Invest in Sensex ETFs?
- Beginner: If you are a beginner and have a little less knowledge about financially analysing the company or have difficulty in analysing the balance sheet of the company, you don’t have to worry as this ETF will do it for you.
- Long-term Investor: If you want to invest and build wealth over 10 or 20 years for your future goals like retirement or your child’s education, this can be one of the safest equity options to put your money in.
- You prefer SIPs: If you want to invest and don’t want to pool in money in one go rather you want to put a small amount every month then these ETFs are a perfect choice.
- Conservative Investors: If you are looking to get stock market returns but you are even concerned about the high risks of the market then Sensex (Top 30 companies) is safer than buying small, unknown stocks.
Read Also: Best Commodity ETFs in India
Risks Associated with Sensex ETFs
Even the best financial investments come with risk associated with it, let’s look at the risks associated with Sensex ETFs.
- Market Risk: Market has a direct correlation with the Sensex because, if the Sensex goes down, your ETF value goes down. You cannot avoid this, you just have to wait for the market to recover.
- Tracking Error: It can sometimes happen, the ETF returns might be slightly lower than the actual Sensex return due to fees. In good ETFs, this gap is very small.
- Liquidity Risk: If you try to sell your ETF during a market crash, you might struggle to find a buyer at the exact price you want as the liquidity is low during this time. Although this is rare for top ETFs like Nippon or UTI.
- Volatility: Since prices change every second, seeing your portfolio turn red during the day can be stressful, to grow wealth from these ETFs you need patience.
How to Invest in Sensex ETFs in India?
Investing in the world full of technology is hassle free, if you want to invest you can do the following steps:
- Open a Demat Account: To invest in ETFs you need to have a Demat account.
- Choose a Broker: For buying and selling you need a platform and for this you can rely on Pocketful (https://www.pocketful.in/) as it gives you a modern design and easy navigation throughout the platform. Pocketful also offers zero brokerage on equity delivery. Since you are likely buying these ETFs for the long term, you save money on every transaction.
- Search & Buy: Login to your trading platform, look for the ETF that you want to buy (e.g., “Nippon Sensex ETF”), and click buy.
- SIP vs Lump Sum: In Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), it is best suitable for salaried people, where you can buy 1 or 2 units every month. And in Lump Sum it is best suitable for investors who have a bonus amount to invest in and the market is also in its downturn.
Best Time to Invest: There is no right time to invest as the market stays unpredictable. The best strategy is to invest as soon as possible and stay invested for a long term.
Conclusion
A Sensex ETF is a powerful tool to make investors financially free. It is simple, transparent, and lets you own a piece of India’s biggest companies with very little money.
You don’t need to be an expert to make money here. Whether you choose the massive UTI ETF or the highly liquid Nippon ETF, the most important thing is to start. Use a reliable and low-cost platform like Pocketful to keep your costs down, stay disciplined with your investments, and let the Indian economy grow your wealth over the next decade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the minimum amount to invest?
You can buy just 1 unit and if the ETF price is Rs.800, that is all you need to start.
Do I need a Demat account?
Yes, ETFs trade on the stock exchange like shares, so a Demat account is mandatory.
Is it safe to invest in Sensex ETFs?
It is safer than picking one single stock because you are diversified across 30 companies. However, during a falling market scenario the value of the portfolio will also fall.
Can I sell my Sensex ETFs anytime in the market?
Yes, you can sell these ETFs in the market but only during the market hours (09:15 AM to 3:30 PM).
How are Sensex ETFs taxed?
If you sell after holding for more than 1 year, profits above Rs.1.25 Lakh are taxed at 12.5% (Long Term Capital Gains). If you sell within 1 year, you pay 20% tax on profits.
