Long vs Short Duration Mutual Funds in India 2026: Top 10
What Long Duration mutual funds are, who should invest, key risks, and the top 10 funds with returns and risk data.
Long duration funds are debt funds, not equity funds, and their long-maturity holdings make them react strongly to interest rate moves. Understanding how they differ from short duration funds helps you pick the right one. This guide compares them and lists the top 10 long duration funds from our data.
Key takeaways
- Long duration funds are debt funds that hold long-maturity fixed-income securities, not company shares.
- Debt funds invest at least 65% of money in fixed-income securities such as corporate bonds, government bonds, bank bonds and Treasury bills.
- They suit investors who prefer to avoid stock market volatility and want regular, stable returns toward goals such as a house or a child's education.
- Debt funds generally have no lock-in, and most are actively managed.
- The top 10 funds below are ranked by an internal score, with return and risk numbers shown.
What is the difference between long duration and short duration funds?
The key difference between debt and equity funds is where the money goes. Debt funds invest a large proportion, at least 65%, of the money collected in fixed-income securities such as corporate bonds, government bonds, bank bonds and Treasury bills. Long duration funds are a type of debt fund that holds securities with long maturities, which makes their prices more sensitive to interest rate changes than short duration funds.
Debt funds are better suited to investors who do not want to take part in stock market volatility, since these instruments are uncorrelated with stock market performance. Investors choose them for regular, stable returns or to reach a goal such as buying a house or paying for a child's education at a future date.
Are there lock-ins and manager benefits?
The absence of a lock-in period adds to the liquid nature of these funds. They also let you benefit from a fund manager's expertise, since most funds are actively managed.
When should you invest in long duration mutual funds?
It depends on your goals. If you want to lower your tax outgo compared with a fixed or recurring deposit, and potentially earn better returns, debt funds can be an option. If you do not want to invest directly in stocks, equity mutual funds are an alternative. The clearer you are about your goal and horizon, the easier the choice.
Who issues mutual funds?
Asset management companies (AMCs or fund houses) create mutual funds. All AMCs must be approved by SEBI, and every mutual fund is vetted by SEBI before it opens to the public.
What does investing in a mutual fund actually mean?
When you invest, your money is pooled with other investors' money and divided into units. The fund's value, after deducting running costs known as the expense ratio, is divided by the number of units to give the price of one unit, called the NAV.
What risks should you know about?
Like other debt funds, long duration funds face interest rate risk, since rising rates push bond prices down, and credit risk if an issuer defaults. Returns are not guaranteed.
How are Long Duration mutual funds taxed?
Gains from Long Duration funds are subject to tax on gains, with the rules depending on the type of debt fund and the date of purchase. The rates and holding-period rules depend on the fund type and can change, so check the current rules or speak to a tax advisor before you invest.
Top 10 Long Duration mutual funds ranked by an internal score
These are the top 10 Long Duration funds from our data, ranked by Invo Wealth's internal fund-quality score. The score itself is not shown, only the return and risk numbers behind it. A "--" means the fund has not completed that period or the data is unavailable.
Returns across 6 months to 5 years
Performance data as of 5 September 2026.
| Fund | 6M CAGR | 1Y CAGR | 3Y CAGR | 5Y CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Long Term Fund | 3.24% | 3.05% | 6.05% | -- |
| Nippon India Nivesh Lakshya Long Term Fund | 3.84% | 2.49% | 6.05% | 5.61% |
| SBI Long Term Fund | 2.15% | 2.24% | 5.73% | -- |
| ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund | 2.65% | 2.65% | 6.15% | 4.93% |
| HDFC Long Term Fund | 2.52% | 2.05% | 5.58% | -- |
| Axis Long Term Fund | 2.61% | 2.21% | 5.42% | -- |
| BANDHAN LONG TERM FUND | 4.18% | 3.50% | -- | -- |
| Franklin India Long Term Fund | 3.42% | 4.40% | -- | -- |
| UTI Long Term Fund | 1.00% | 1.18% | 4.61% | -- |
| Kotak Long Term Fund | 3.79% | 2.33% | -- | -- |
Risk and consistency metrics
| Fund | ISIN | Volatility | Max drawdown (3Y) | Sortino ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Long Term Fund | INF209KB14J9 | 3.71% | -3.77% | -0.36 |
| Nippon India Nivesh Lakshya Long Term Fund | INF204KB1ZB0 | 4.63% | -5.38% | -0.28 |
| SBI Long Term Fund | INF200KA13T1 | 4.56% | -4.74% | -0.39 |
| ICICI Prudential Long Term Fund | INF109K01365 | 3.84% | -4.15% | -0.31 |
| HDFC Long Term Fund | INF179KC1EW1 | 5.08% | -6.25% | -0.39 |
| Axis Long Term Fund | INF846K015L0 | 5.03% | -5.95% | -0.43 |
| BANDHAN LONG TERM FUND | INF194KB1HV8 | 4.82% | -4.67% | -1.01 |
| Franklin India Long Term Fund | INF090I01XV3 | 4.19% | -4.42% | -0.88 |
| UTI Long Term Fund | INF789F1AXS1 | 4.80% | -6.43% | -0.69 |
| Kotak Long Term Fund | INF174KA1RC2 | 5.26% | -6.35% | -1.22 |
This list is the same set of long duration funds we rank on our other long duration page; focus on the volatility and drawdown columns to judge rate sensitivity.
How to invest in Long Duration mutual funds
You can invest in these funds using the Invo Wealth app. Sign up, get complete portfolio insights and start investing in mutual funds that actually suit you.
Conclusion
Long duration funds are debt funds that react strongly to interest rates. Know the difference from short duration funds, and pick based on your goal, horizon and risk tolerance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between long and short duration funds?
Both are debt funds, but long duration funds hold longer-maturity securities, so their prices react more to interest rate changes. Short duration funds are less sensitive to rates.
Are long duration funds equity funds?
No. Long duration funds are debt funds that invest in fixed-income securities such as government securities and corporate bonds, not in company shares.
Who issues mutual funds in India?
Asset management companies create mutual funds, and all AMCs must be approved by SEBI, which vets every fund before it opens to the public.
Do debt funds have a lock-in period?
Debt funds generally do not have a lock-in period, which adds to their liquidity.
How can I invest in long duration mutual funds?
You can invest through a SIP or a lump sum. To invest in these funds, you can use the Invo Wealth app: sign up, get portfolio insights and start investing.
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks; read all scheme-related documents carefully. This article is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. Invo Wealth is an AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor (ARN-368528).