List of the Top Performing Mutual Funds in NSE for 2025
The mutual fund industry in India continues to grow, with ₹57 lakh cr AUM or Assets Under Management recorded in 2025 and more than 18 cr investor accounts. While thousands of schemes exist, only a few deliver steady, risk-adjusted returns. This article explores the top-performing mutual funds based on historical performance and market data.
Top Performing Mutual Funds in India
Top Performing Equity Mutual Funds
| Name | Sub Category | AUM (Rs. in cr.) | CAGR 3Y (%) | Expense Ratio (%) | 3Y Avg Annual Rolling Return (%) | CAGR 5Y (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quant Small Cap Fund | Small Cap Fund | 29,462.70 | 24.67 | 0.72 | 29.79 | 36.8 |
| ICICI Pru Infrastructure Fund | Sectoral Fund - Infrastructure | 7,941.20 | 28.50 | 1.14 | 34.53 | 35.5 |
| Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund | Mid Cap Fund | 33,608.53 | 28.96 | 0.69 | 35.06 | 35.0 |
| Quant Infrastructure Fund | Sectoral Fund - Infrastructure | 3,278.61 | 17.89 | 0.66 | 27.53 | 34.6 |
| Bandhan Infrastructure Fund | Sectoral Fund - Infrastructure | 1,675.88 | 27.42 | 0.84 | 34.58 | 33.9 |
| Nippon India Small Cap Fund | Small Cap Fund | 65,922.00 | 23.65 | 0.64 | 28.95 | 33.6 |
| HDFC Infrastructure Fund | Sectoral Fund - Infrastructure | 2,539.90 | 28.15 | 1.08 | 35.40 | 33.6 |
| Franklin Build India Fund | Sectoral Fund - Infrastructure | 2,950.12 | 28.08 | 0.95 | 33.50 | 33.4 |
| DSP India T.I.G.E.R Fund | Sectoral Fund - Infrastructure | 5,405.54 | 26.86 | 0.73 | 33.45 | 33.4 |
| Bandhan Small Cap Fund | Small Cap Fund | 14,062.19 | 30.06 | 0.4 | 34.21 | 32.7 |
Disclaimer: Please note that the above table is for educational purposes only, and is not recommendatory. Please do your own research or consult your financial advisor before investing. The data is derived from Tickertape Stock Screener and is subject to real-time updates.
Note: The data on the list of top performing equity funds is from 4th September 2025. It is derived from the Tickertape Mutual Funds Screener using the following filters:
- Plan: Growth
- Category: Equity
- 3Y CAGR: High
- 3Y Avg Rolling Returns: High
- 5Y CAGR: High (Sorted from Highest to Lowest)
🚀 Pro Tip: You can use Tickertape’s Mutual Fund Screener to research and evaluate funds with over 50+ pre-loaded filters and parameters.
Top Performing Debt Mutual Funds
| Name | Sub Category | AUM (Rs. in cr.) | CAGR 3Y (%) | Expense Ratio (%) | 3Y Avg Annual Rolling Return (%) | CAGR 5Y (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco India Credit Risk Fund | Credit Risk Fund | 151.63 | 10.46 | 0.28 | 9.40 | 7.76 |
| UTI Short Duration Fund | Short Duration Fund | 3,295.03 | 7.93 | 0.37 | 7.48 | 7.54 |
| Nippon India Ultra Short Duration Fund | Ultra Short Duration Fund | 11,075.99 | 7.67 | 0.38 | 7.32 | 7.47 |
| UTI Banking & PSU Fund | Banking & PSU Fund | 812.74 | 7.39 | 0.28 | 8.39 | 7.20 |
| UTI Low Duration Fund | Low Duration Fund | 3,124.79 | 7.44 | 0.34 | 7.05 | 7.15 |
| 360 ONE Dynamic Bond Fund | Dynamic Bond Fund | 648.48 | 8.10 | 0.27 | 7.65 | 7.15 |
| Nippon India Corp Bond Fund | Corporate Bond Fund | 10,041.62 | 8.19 | 0.36 | 7.69 | 7.05 |
| Aditya Birla SL Short Term Fund | Short Duration Fund | 10,648.35 | 8.07 | 0.36 | 7.61 | 7.02 |
| Nippon India Short Duration Fund | Short Duration Fund | 8,935.13 | 8.06 | 0.38 | 7.40 | 6.90 |
| Franklin India Floating Rate Fund | Floating Rate Fund | 350.64 | 8.55 | 0.25 | 7.95 | 6.87 |
Disclaimer: Please note that the above table is for educational purposes only, and is not recommendatory. Please do your own research or consult your financial advisor before investing. The data is derived from Tickertape Stock Screener and is subject to real-time updates.
Note: The data on the list of top performing debt funds is from 4th September 2025. It is derived from the Tickertape Mutual Funds Screener using the following filters:
- Plan: Growth
- Category: Debt
- Expense Ratio: Low
- 5Y CAGR: Sorted from Highest to Lowest
🚀 Pro Tip: You can use Tickertape’s Mutual Fund Screener to research and evaluate funds with over 50+ pre-loaded filters and parameters.
Top Performing Hybrid Mutual Funds
| Name | Sub Category | AUM (Rs. in cr.) | CAGR 3Y (%) | Expense Ratio (%) | CAGR 5Y (%) | 3Y Avg Annual Rolling Return (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund | Balanced Advantage Fund | 101,772.60 | 18.94 | 0.74 | 23.72 | 22.59 |
| ICICI Pru Multi-Asset Fund | Multi Asset Allocation Fund | 63,001.13 | 20.13 | 0.66 | 24.19 | 20.86 |
| ICICI Pru Equity & Debt Fund | Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 44,605.00 | 19.92 | 0.96 | 25.40 | 21.01 |
| DSP Aggressive Hybrid Fund | Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 11,436.32 | 16.24 | 0.63 | 18.05 | 17.03 |
| Kotak Aggressive Hybrid Fund | Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 7,864.24 | 16.11 | 0.47 | 20.91 | 17.53 |
| Nippon India Multi Asset Allocation Fund | Multi Asset Allocation Fund | 6,649.41 | 20.16 | 0.29 | 19.25 | 18.75 |
| UTI Aggressive Hybrid Fund | Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 6,301.59 | 16.35 | 1.24 | 20.28 | 18.45 |
| Nippon India Aggressive Hybrid Fund | Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 3,936.34 | 16.19 | 1.1 | 19.68 | 17.33 |
| Quant Multi Asset Allocation Fund | Multi Asset Allocation Fund | 3,666.25 | 20.66 | 0.61 | 27.76 | 23.50 |
| Edelweiss Aggressive Hybrid Fund | Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 2,994.48 | 18.86 | 0.4 | 21.72 | 20.31 |
Disclaimer: Please note that the above table is for educational purposes only, and is not recommendatory. Please do your own research or consult your financial advisor before investing. The data is derived from Tickertape Stock Screener and is subject to real-time updates.
Note: The data on the list of top performing hybrid funds is from 4th September 2025. It is derived from the Tickertape Mutual Funds Screener using the following filters:
- Plan: Growth
- Category: Hybrid
- 3Y CAGR: High
- 3Y Avg Rolling Returns: High
- 5Y CAGR: High (Sorted from Highest to Lowest)
🚀 Pro Tip: You can use Tickertape’s Mutual Fund Screener to research and evaluate the top performing MFs with over 50+ pre-loaded filters and parameters.
Overview of the Top Performing Mutual Funds in India
About Top Performing Equity Mutual Funds
- Quant Small Cap Fund: Quant Small Cap Fund focuses on investing in small-cap companies with high growth potential. The fund actively manages allocations across sectors and stocks, aiming to generate higher long-term returns. It carries a higher risk due to exposure to emerging and volatile businesses.
- ICICI Pru Infrastructure Fund: ICICI Pru Infrastructure Fund invests in infrastructure-related sectors such as energy, transportation, construction, and allied industries. The fund aims to capitalise on India’s expanding infrastructure ecosystem and policy-driven growth. It offers long-term capital appreciation but carries sector-specific risks.
- Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund: Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund primarily targets mid-cap companies with strong fundamentals and growth prospects. The fund focuses on businesses in their expansion phase, aiming to create wealth over the long term. It maintains a diversified portfolio but involves moderate market risk.
- Quant Infrastructure Fund: Quant Infrastructure Fund invests in companies linked to infrastructure development, including construction, power, and engineering sectors. The fund employs an active management approach to capitalise on emerging opportunities arising from India’s infrastructure push. Returns may be volatile due to exposure to cyclical sectors.
- Bandhan Infrastructure Fund: Bandhan Infrastructure Fund focuses on sectors driving infrastructure growth, including roads, power, telecom, and industrial projects. The fund seeks to capitalise on policy support and rising investments in India’s infrastructure ecosystem. Being sectoral, it involves concentrated risks alongside potential high returns.
About the Top Performing Debt Mutual Funds
- Invesco India Credit Risk Fund: Invesco India Credit Risk Fund invests primarily in corporate bonds and debt instruments with lower credit ratings to generate higher yields. The fund targets enhanced returns by taking calculated credit exposure but carries higher risk due to potential rating downgrades.
- UTI Short Duration Fund: UTI Short Duration Fund invests in debt securities and money market instruments with a portfolio duration of one to three years. It aims to provide stable returns with moderate risk, making it suitable for investors seeking short-term income with controlled volatility.
- Nippon India Ultra Short Duration Fund: Nippon India Ultra Short Duration Fund focuses on low-duration debt instruments and money market securities. Designed for short-term parking of surplus funds, it seeks consistent returns with high liquidity and relatively low interest rate risk.
- UTI Banking & PSU Fund: UTI Banking & PSU Fund invests primarily in debt instruments issued by banks, public sector undertakings, and financial institutions. It focuses on high-quality securities to provide stable returns and capital preservation, making it a relatively safer option for debt funds.
- UTI Low Duration Fund: UTI Low Duration Fund invests in debt and money market instruments with shorter maturities, balancing income generation and liquidity. It targets investors with a low to moderate risk appetite who seek steady returns over short investment horizons.
Top Performing Hybrid Mutual Funds
- HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund: HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund dynamically allocates between equity, debt, and arbitrage opportunities based on market conditions. It aims to manage risk while seeking long-term capital growth, making it suitable for investors looking for balanced exposure across asset classes.
- ICICI Pru Multi-Asset Fund: ICICI Pru Multi-Asset Fund invests across equities, debt, and commodities like gold to diversify risks and capture multiple growth opportunities. The dynamic allocation strategy helps balance portfolio volatility while aiming for consistent returns across market cycles.
- ICICI Pru Equity & Debt Fund: ICICI Pru Equity & Debt Fund follows an aggressive hybrid strategy, allocating a significant portion to equities while maintaining exposure to debt instruments. The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation, along with stable income generation, and is suitable for moderately aggressive investors.
- DSP Aggressive Hybrid Fund: DSP Aggressive Hybrid Fund primarily invests in equities while holding a smaller allocation to fixed-income securities. It aims to deliver long-term wealth creation with potential downside protection, making it suitable for investors with higher risk tolerance and longer horizons.
- Kotak Aggressive Hybrid Fund: Kotak Aggressive Hybrid Fund blends equity and debt investments, focusing on growth while offering a cushion against market volatility. With a higher equity allocation, it targets long-term capital appreciation while using debt exposure to stabilise returns.
What are the Top Performing Mutual Funds?
Top performing mutual funds are schemes that consistently deliver better risk-adjusted returns than their category benchmarks and peers over a specific period. These funds can be evaluated based on factors like historical returns, volatility, consistency, and portfolio quality. They span across equity, debt, and hybrid categories, each serving different investment objectives. While strong past performance is an indicator, it’s essential to assess the investment strategy, fund manager expertise, portfolio composition, and risk profile before making a decision.
How to Invest in the Top Performing Mutual Funds?
You can easily invest in the top performing funds by following these steps:
- To invest in the top performing MFs, you can visit an equity investment platform such as smallcase or Tickertape.
- The next step would be to research and identify the top performing mutual funds, which align with your investment thesis. You can easily select and learn more about the best hybrid funds with the help of a financial tool like the Tickertape Mutual Fund Screener. With 50+ pre-loaded filters, it helps you to create a comprehensive list by giving insights about the fund’s performance. Try it now!
- Once you have selected the funds based on different metrics and parameters, go to smallcase.com or the smallcase app, and login via your phone number. Click on ‘Discover‘ and enter the name of the specific mutual fund in the search bar and hit enter. You can click on ‘invest now’ and select whether you want to invest a lump sum amount or start a SIP and start investing!
How to Select the Top Performing Mutual Funds in India?
- Historical Returns: Analysts often review a fund’s performance across 1 yr, 3 yr, and 5 yr periods to identify consistency. Comparing returns with category benchmarks helps understand whether the fund has outperformed its peers.
- Risk-Adjusted Metrics: Measures such as the Sharpe ratio, alpha, and beta are commonly used to evaluate returns in relation to risk.
- Portfolio Composition: Reviewing the sectors, stocks, and asset mix in the portfolio helps assess the fund’s approach to diversification. A well-balanced portfolio often reflects a disciplined investment strategy.
- Fund Manager Track Record: Many investors analyse the experience and performance history of fund managers. A consistent management style and stable leadership can influence fund performance over time.
- Expense Ratio and AUM Trends: Expense ratios affect net investor returns, making them an important comparison metric. Analysts also track AUM trends to gauge investor confidence and fund scalability.
- Volatility Levels: Examining the standard deviation of returns helps assess how much a fund’s performance fluctuates. Lower volatility often signals more stable returns, especially in uncertain market conditions.
Note: These methods are commonly used to evaluate mutual funds but do not guarantee future performance. Market movements, economic factors, and shifts in fund strategies can significantly impact outcomes.
Taxation on the Top Performing Mutual Funds
Understanding the latest tax regulations on the top performing MFs is essential for making informed investment decisions. The Union Budget 2024 has introduced significant changes to the taxation of the best performing mutual funds, including the large cap mutual fund top performers, simplifying the tax structure while altering rates and benefits. Here is a detailed breakdown of the new tax rules:
Equity Funds
| Capital Gains Tax | Holding Period | Old Rate | New Rate |
| Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG) | Less than 12 months | 15% | 20% |
| Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) | More than 12 months | 10% | 12.50% |
- No Indexation Benefit: This change affects the overall tax liability, potentially increasing it for long-term investors.
Debt Funds
| Capital Gains Tax | Description |
| Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG) | If you sell your debt fund units within three years (36 months), the tax will be as per your income tax slab. |
| Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) | For debt funds held for over three years (36 months), the tax rate is now a flat 12.5% without indexation benefits. |
Hybrid Funds
| Type of Fund | Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG) | Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) | Indexation Benefit |
| Equity-Oriented Hybrid Funds | 20% for holdings less than 1 year | 12.5% for holdings over 1 year, with gains up to Rs. 1.25 lakh tax-free | Not available |
| Debt-Oriented Hybrid Funds | Taxed as per income tax slab for holdings less than 3 years | 12.5% for holdings over 3 years | Not available |
Benefits of Investing in the Top Performing Mutual Funds
- Potential for Higher Returns: Top performing mutual funds have historically delivered above-average returns compared to their benchmarks. They leverage professional management and data-driven strategies to identify growth opportunities.
- Diversification of Portfolio: These best performing mutual funds invest across multiple sectors, asset classes, and instruments, reducing the impact of individual stock or bond movements. Diversification helps manage risk while aiming for consistent performance.
- Professional Fund Management: Top performing funds, including top performing SWP mutual funds, are managed by experienced fund managers who make data-backed decisions based on market analysis. Their expertise can help optimise portfolio performance in dynamic market conditions of the highest performing mutual funds.
- Convenience and Accessibility: The best performing mutual funds, including the best performing flexi cap mutual funds, offer an easy way to access a well-researched and professionally managed portfolio. Investors benefit from structured investments without having to track individual securities.
- Compounding Advantage: Regular investments in best performing MFs can generate compounding benefits over time. Reinvested gains help accelerate wealth creation, especially when invested for longer durations.
Risks of Investing the Top Performing Mutual Funds
- Market Volatility: Mutual fund returns are influenced by overall market movements. Even the best performing MFs can experience short-term fluctuations during periods of economic or sectoral uncertainty.
- Past Performance Limitation: A fund that has performed well historically may not sustain similar results in the future. Changes in market conditions, fund strategy, or management can impact outcomes of even the best performing MFs.
- Concentration Risk: Some top performing funds have high exposure to specific sectors or asset classes. If those segments underperform, the overall fund returns can decline significantly.
- Expense Ratios: Top performing Indian mutual funds sometimes come with relatively higher management costs. Elevated expense ratios can reduce net returns, especially over longer investment horizons.
- Interest Rate and Credit Risks: For debt-oriented funds, rising interest rates can negatively impact bond prices, while exposure to lower-rated securities increases default risks.
Factors to Consider When Investing in the Top Performing Mutual Funds
- Performance Sustainability: A fund’s past success may not always continue in the future. Investors often assess whether the fund’s strategy and sector exposure can sustain returns in changing market conditions.
- Market Cycle Sensitivity: Some top performing funds, including the best performing multi asset funds, deliver strong results during specific market phases but underperform in others. Understanding how a fund behaves across bull and bear cycles can provide context for its performance.
- Category Alignment: Equity, debt, and hybrid funds and all other top performing multi cap mutual funds, each follow different risk-return profiles. Considering the fund category helps in understanding the type of exposure and potential volatility associated with it.
- Liquidity and Redemption Terms: Certain top performing Indian mutual funds may have exit loads or lock-in periods that affect flexibility. Evaluating these terms helps investors understand their access to capital.
- Taxation Impact: The tax treatment of equity, debt, and hybrid mutual funds varies based on holding periods and gains. Reviewing these rules offers a clearer view of post-tax returns.
- External Influences: Economic conditions, government policies, and global events can impact sectors where top performing funds are heavily invested. Monitoring these factors provides valuable insights into potential fluctuations in returns.
To Wrap It Up
The best performing Indian mutual funds reflect strategies and management styles that have worked well in recent years. While these funds provide useful insights for investors seeking consistency, it’s important to remember that market dynamics and policy changes can influence future outcomes.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Top Performing Mutual Funds
Equity, debt, and hybrid funds are commonly reviewed. Each category has a different risk-return profile, and performance comparisons are made within its respective segment.
Not necessarily. Some of the top performing mutual funds, including top performing small cap mutual funds, may involve high equity exposure or sector concentration, which can increase volatility. Evaluating the fund’s risk profile is as important as reviewing returns.
Yes, expense ratios directly impact net returns of even the top performing mid cap mutual funds. While top performing funds may justify higher costs, it is essential to evaluate whether the returns compensate for these expenses.
Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) are widely used to invest in mutual funds, including top performers. However, returns depend on market movements, entry timing, and investment horizon.
No, taxation varies by fund category and holding period. Equity, debt, and hybrid funds are taxed differently based on short-term and long-term capital gains rules.
