Top Medium Duration Mutual Funds (2026)
Ranked by 3 year return, Direct plans, as on the latest NAV · AUM as on 30-09-2026
There are 13 Medium Duration mutual funds. Their average 3 year return is 7.7% a year, and +4.7% over the last year. The highest 3 year returns: Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term Fund 10.4%, Kotak Medium Term Fund 8.6%, Nippon India Medium Term Fund 8.2%.
- Total AUM
- ₹25,023 Cr
- As on 30-09-2026
- Funds
- 13
- From 13 fund houses
- Expense ratio
- 0.32% to 1.17%
- Direct plans, lowest to highest
- Average 3Y return
- 7.7%
- A year, Direct plans
All Medium Duration Funds
Ranked by 3 year return, highest first
Ranked by 3 year return, highest first
| Exit load | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term Fund | 1 | 3,370 | +7.48% | +10.39% | +12.54% | +8.95% | Moderately High | 0.83% | 1% within 1 year | 2.30% |
| Kotak Medium Term Fund | 2 | 1,912 | +5.09% | +8.61% | +7.20% | +7.35% | Moderately High | 0.67% | None | 1.44% |
| Nippon India Medium Term Fund | 3 | 146 | +4.94% | +8.23% | +6.75% | +3.51% | Moderately High | 0.50% | 1% within 12 months | 1.73% |
| ICICI Prudential Medium Term Fund | 4 | 5,331 | +5.75% | +8.16% | +7.21% | +7.75% | -- | 0.73% | 1% within 365 days | 1.23% |
| Axis Medium Term Fund | 5 | 1,972 | +5.40% | +8.16% | +7.20% | +7.69% | Moderately High | 0.71% | None | 1.18% |
| HDFC Medium Term Fund | 6 | 3,499 | +5.43% | +7.71% | +6.68% | +7.36% | Moderately High | 0.70% | None | 1.16% |
| Bandhan Medium Term Fund | 7 | 1,244 | +5.37% | +7.50% | +6.01% | +6.83% | Low to Moderate | 0.66% | None | 1.33% |
| HSBC Medium Term Fund | 8 | 684 | +4.26% | +7.50% | -- | -- | Moderately High | 0.41% | None | 1.23% |
| SBI Medium Term Fund | 9 | 6,419 | +5.21% | +7.44% | +6.65% | +7.94% | Moderately High | 0.72% | 1% within 3 months | 1.22% |
| Invesco India Medium Term Fund | 10 | 131 | +3.63% | +6.88% | +5.88% | -- | Moderate | 0.32% | None | 1.33% |
| DSP Medium Term Fund | 11 | 249 | +2.91% | +6.69% | +5.96% | +5.84% | Moderate | 0.41% | None | 1.22% |
| UTI Medium Term Fund | 12 | 34 | +3.39% | +6.58% | +5.75% | +5.79% | Moderate | 0.94% | 1% within 365 days | 1.18% |
| Sundaram Medium Term Fund | 13 | 32 | +2.45% | +5.74% | +4.74% | +5.61% | Moderate | 1.17% | None | 1.27% |
Returns of each fund's Direct plan (its only plan where it has one), as on the latest NAV. 3, 5 and 10 year figures are a rate a year. Std dev: how much the daily returns swung over 3 years, as a yearly figure; lower is steadier. Riskometer and exit load from the fund's scheme summary document; "Varies" means the load changes with how long you hold, and the fund page has the full wording. Expense ratio: Direct plan, from AMFI. AUM at the end of the fund's last reported month. A fund younger than 3 years has no rank and is listed after the ranked ones.
Compare Medium Duration Funds
The largest funds of the category, side by side
- SBI Medium Term vs ICICI Prudential Medium Term
- SBI Medium Term vs HDFC Medium Term
- SBI Medium Term vs Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term
- ICICI Prudential Medium Term vs HDFC Medium Term
- ICICI Prudential Medium Term vs Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term
- HDFC Medium Term vs Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term
How Medium Duration Funds Are Taxed
As debt funds: 65% or more of each fund is in bonds and money market papers
| When you sell | Tax on the gain |
|---|---|
| Units bought on or after 01-04-2023 | Your slab rate, however long you hold them |
| Units bought before 01-04-2023, within 2 years | Your slab rate |
| Units bought before 01-04-2023, after 2 years | 12.5% of the gain |
- IDCW (dividend) payouts are added to your income and taxed at your slab rate.
- A stamp duty of 0.005% is deducted when you invest.
Rules in force from 23-07-2024 (Finance Act 2024). Tax depends on your own income; this is general information, not tax advice.
What Is a Medium Duration Fund?
Debt and money market papers, with a Macaulay duration of 3 to 4 years. This is the rule SEBI sets for every fund in the category, so their portfolios can be compared.
Other debt categories: Overnight · Liquid · Ultra Short · Low Duration · Money Market · Short Duration · Medium to Long Duration · Long Duration · Dynamic Bond · Corporate Bond · Credit Risk · Banking & PSU · Gilt · Floater
Medium Duration Funds: Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the top Medium Duration mutual funds?
By 3 year return, the top Medium Duration funds are 1. Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term Fund (10.4% a year), 2. Kotak Medium Term Fund (8.6% a year), 3. Nippon India Medium Term Fund (8.2% a year), 4. ICICI Prudential Medium Term Fund (8.2% a year), 5. Axis Medium Term Fund (8.2% a year). Past returns do not promise future returns, so also look at costs, risk and how long each fund has done well.
How many Medium Duration funds are there?
13 Medium Duration funds are open for investment, from 13 fund houses.
What is a Medium Duration fund?
Debt and money market papers, with a Macaulay duration of 3 to 4 years.
What is the average return of Medium Duration funds?
1 year: 4.7%, 3 years: 7.7% a year, 5 years: 6.9% a year. The simple average of every Medium Duration fund's Direct plan.
Which Medium Duration fund has the lowest expense ratio?
Invesco India Medium Term Fund, at 0.32% a year (Direct plan), as reported to AMFI.
Which is the largest Medium Duration fund?
SBI Medium Term Fund, with ₹6,419 Cr of investors' money on 30-09-2026.
How are Medium Duration funds taxed?
As debt funds: for units bought on or after 01-04-2023, the gain is added to your income and taxed at your slab rate, however long you hold them.
This page is information, not investment advice. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks; read all scheme related documents carefully. Past returns do not promise future returns. Figures come from AMFI, NSE, BSE and each fund house's own documents.