Investing in the stock market can be a rewarding and long-term wealth-building strategy. But for a beginner, it is difficult to identify which stock to invest in and to regularly monitor the portfolio. For such an investor, investment in a single fund known as the “Nifty50 Index Fund” can be a better choice.
In today’s blog post, we will make you understand the concept of Nifty50 Index Funds, along with the list of the best Nifty50 index funds in India 2025.
Meaning of Nifty50 Index Fund
A Nifty50 Index Fund is a type of mutual fund that mainly buys stocks of the 50 biggest companies on the Indian Stock Exchange based on market capitalisation. They are passively managed funds, and their portfolios are made up of the same companies as the Nifty50 Index. They do not wish to do better than the index; they simply want to replicate its performance.
Best Nifty50 Index Fund
| Scheme Name | AUM (Crore) | Expense Ratio (%) | 6 Months | 1 Year | 3 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTI Nifty50 Index Fund Reg Gr | 24335.81 | 0.17 | 14.14 | 2.32 | 14.22 |
| HDFC Nifty50 Index Fund Gr | 20929.71 | 0.20 | 14.12 | 2.28 | 14.19 |
| Navi Nifty50 Index Fund Reg Gr | 3436.14 | 0.06 | 14.19 | 2.39 | 14.27 |
| Nippon India Index Fund Nifty50 Plan Growth Plan Growth Option | 2606.59 | 0.07 | 14.18 | 2.40 | 14.23 |
| Bandhan Nifty50 Index Fund Reg Gr | 1952.97 | 0.10 | 14.18 | 2.39 | 14.25 |
| Tata Nifty50 Index Fund Reg | 1296.46 | 0.20 | 14.12 | 2.21 | 14.11 |
| ABSL Nifty50 Index Gr Reg | 1121.21 | 0.20 | 14.12 | 2.30 | 14.17 |
| Kotak Nifty50 Index Fund Reg Gr | 919.74 | 0.07 | 14.18 | 2.19 | 14.08 |
| DSP Nifty50 Index Reg Gr | 824.56 | 0.18 | 14.15 | 2.33 | 14.22 |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty50 Index Reg Gr | 738.34 | 0.51 | 14.15 | 2.34 | 14.26 |
| Franklin India Index Fund NSE Nifty50 Index Fund Gr | 737.22 | 0.25 | 14.06 | 2.32 | 14.13 |
| Axis Nifty50 Index Fund Reg Gr | 735.01 | 0.10 | 14.15 | 2.38 | 14.27 |
| HSBC Nifty50 INDEX FUND Reg Gr | 344.48 | 0.18 | 14.15 | 2.28 | 14.18 |
| Edelweiss Nifty50 Index Reg Gr | 186.71 | 0.05 | 14.18 | 2.37 | 14.12 |
| Baroda BNP Paribas Nifty50 Index Reg Gr | 61.3 | 0.55 | 14.03 | 2.18 | – |
| ANGEL ONE Nifty50 INDEX FUND REG GR | 36.03 | 0.2 | – | – | – |
| Mirae Asset Nifty50 Index Fund Reg Gr | 31.92 | 0.14 | 14.09 | – | – |
| Kotak Nifty50 Equal Weight Index Fund Reg Gr | 19.90 | 0.22 | 16.65 | – | – |
| Bajaj Finserv Nifty50 Index Fund Reg Gr | 8.21 | 0.9 | – | – | – |
While most Nifty50 index funds deliver very similar returns, the real difference lies in their expense ratios and fund sizes—so it’s wise to pick one that balances low costs with strong credibility.
How does the Nifty50 Index Fund Work?
The Nifty50 Index Fund works on the principle of replication. As it is a passively managed fund, the fund manager does not actively choose the stock; instead, it decides to invest the fund accumulated from the investor into the exact stocks of the Nifty50 Index in the same weightage.
Read Also: What Is Nifty 50? How To Invest In It?
Benefits of Investing in the Nifty50 Index Fund
The key benefit of investing in the Nifty50 Index Fund is as follows:
- Diversification: An investor can easily diversify their portfolio by investing in only one fund.
- Economical: As index funds are passively managed funds, their expense ratio is comparatively much lower than any other actively managed fund.
- Low Risk: The portfolio of the Nifty50 Index Fund consists of the top 50 companies listed on the stock exchange; therefore, they are less volatile as the investments are made in fundamentally strong companies.
- Rebalancing: As the Nifty50 index is balanced periodically, this saves the time and effort of monitoring the portfolio.
Risk of Investing in the Nifty50 Index Fund
The major risks involved while investing in Nifty50 Index Funds are as follows:
- Market Risk: As the capital of investors is invested in the top 50 companies, the underperformance of the stock market can significantly impact the overall return of Nifty50 Index Funds.
- Tracking Error: The Nifty50 Index Fund’s returns may not be the same as the Nifty50 Index’s returns because of tracking error. This can happen because of the fund manager’s cash reserves, the expense ratio, and delays in reinvesting dividends.
- Limited Return: These funds post returns similar to the Nifty50 Index, as they are passively managed and do not claim to outperform the index. Therefore, it is suitable only for conservative investors.
Factors to Consider Before Investing in the Nifty50 Index Fund
The key factors which one must consider before investing in the Nifty50 Index Fund:
- Investment Horizon: The typical investment horizon for the Nifty50 Index Fund is more than five years. Hence, one should consider its investment horizon as a key parameter before investing in the Nifty50 Index Fund.
- Expense Ratio: The expense ratio is a key factor which can impact the returns of the Nifty50 Index Fund. Hence, one should opt for the fund which has the lowest expense ratio.
- Risk Appetite: As the Nifty50 Index fund invests in the shares of the top 50 companies. And they are volatile, hence they can show volatility in your portfolio. Therefore, if you can handle the fluctuation in your portfolio, then only consider investing in it.
Read Also: NIFTY Next 50 – Meaning, Types & Features
Who Should Invest in the Nifty50 Index Fund
Investment in the Nifty50 Index Fund is suitable for the following investors:
- Minimum Cost: Investment in the Nifty50 Index Fund is suitable for investors who want to pay a minimum cost for their investment. As the Nifty50 Index Fund is passively managed, and has a minimum cost.
- Risk Averse: The Nifty50 Index Fund is a good choice for an investor who wants to make more money by investing in stocks but also wants a safer option.
- Long-term investor: Investors who generally have an investment horizon of more than five years can invest in the Nifty50 Index Fund.
Difference Between Nifty50 and Nifty50 TRI
The key differences between Nifty50 and Nifty50 TRI are as follows:
| Particular | Nifty50 | Nifty50 TRI |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | It only includes the prices of the top 50 companies listed on Nifty. | Along with the prices, it also includes dividends distributed by those 50 companies. |
| Accuracy | As compared to the Nifty50 TRI Index, it is less accurate, as it does not include dividends. | It has high accuracy as it includes dividends. |
| Benchmark | It is rarely used as a benchmark by funds. | Nifty50 TRI is commonly used as a benchmark by almost all funds. |
| Dividends | It ignores the dividends distributed by companies. | It includes all the dividends distributed by the companies. |
Read Also: What is Nifty BeES ETF? Features, Benefits & How to Invest?
Conclusion
On a concluding note, A Nifty50 Index Fund is one of the easiest ways to start investing to allocate your money across India’s top 50 companies. A lot of investors like it because it’s low-cost, well-diversified, and not as volatile as funds that are actively managed. This means you should still pay attention to elements like the expense ratio and tracking error before you invest. Therefore, we suggest that you consult your investment advisor before making any investment decision in the Nifty50 Index Fund.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Nifty50 Index Fund?
A Nifty50 Index Fund is a type of mutual fund that follows the Nifty50. It puts money into the 50 biggest companies on the index (by market cap).
What makes Nifty50 different from Nifty50 TRI?
Nifty50 only shows changes in stock prices, but Nifty50 TRI (Total Return Index) also takes into account dividends paid by those companies.
What does the acronym TRI mean?
TRI stands for the Total Return Index (TRI). It includes both price changes and dividends.
What is Tracking Error in a fund?
The difference between an index fund’s return and the benchmark index is called the tracking error. It usually happens because of costs, cash flow, and other things.
Do Nifty50 Index Funds actively manage their investments or not?
These are passive funds. The fund manager doesn’t choose stocks; they just follow the index in the same way.
