Top Retirement Mutual Funds (2026)
Ranked by 3 year return, Direct plans, as on the latest NAV · AUM as on 30-09-2026
There are 29 Retirement mutual funds. Their average 3 year return is 9.5% a year, and −2.2% over the last year. The highest 3 year returns: ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Equity Plan 18.8%, ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Hybrid Aggressive Plan 16.2%, Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s Plan 15.9%.
- Total AUM
- ₹31,899 Cr
- As on 30-09-2026
- Funds
- 29
- From 13 fund houses
- Expense ratio
- 0.63% to 1.52%
- Direct plans, lowest to highest
- Average 3Y return
- 9.5%
- A year, Direct plans
All Retirement Funds
Ranked by 3 year return, highest first
Ranked by 3 year return, highest first
| Exit load | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Equity Plan | 1 | 2,106 | −2.66% | +18.82% | +17.17% | -- | -- | 0.93% | None | 16.08% |
| ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Hybrid Aggressive Plan | 2 | 1,268 | −2.68% | +16.20% | +13.13% | -- | -- | 1.21% | None | 13.75% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s Plan | 3 | 465 | +5.86% | +15.89% | +11.45% | -- | Very High | 1.33% | None | 14.17% |
| Union Retirement Fund | 4 | 207 | −2.20% | +12.05% | -- | -- | Very High | 1.36% | None | 14.27% |
| Axis Retirement Fund - Dynamic Plan | 5 | 269 | −5.38% | +11.61% | +7.14% | -- | Very High | 1.34% | None | 11.88% |
| Tata Retirement Savings Fund Progressive | 6 | 2,104 | −1.95% | +11.53% | +9.32% | +13.02% | Very High | 0.83% | 1% within 61 months | 14.52% |
| Tata Retirement Savings Fund Moderate | 7 | 2,115 | −1.37% | +11.08% | +9.31% | +12.14% | Very High | 0.84% | 1% within 61 months | 12.45% |
| Axis Retirement Fund - Aggressive Plan | 8 | 666 | −5.18% | +10.83% | +6.66% | -- | Very High | 1.26% | None | 10.95% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 40s Plan | 9 | 110 | −3.62% | +10.78% | +8.57% | -- | Very High | 1.18% | None | 10.66% |
| Nippon India Retirement Fund- Wealth Creation Scheme | 10 | 2,939 | −8.68% | +9.81% | +9.35% | +10.57% | -- | 1.27% | -- | 14.50% |
| HDFC Retirement Fund - Equity Plan | 11 | 6,645 | −9.12% | +9.31% | +11.19% | +14.67% | Very High | 0.92% | Varies | 12.19% |
| ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Hybrid Conservative Plan | 12 | 95 | +2.02% | +9.12% | +8.17% | -- | -- | 1.03% | None | 4.57% |
| Bandhan Retirement Fund | 13 | 182 | −3.52% | +9.08% | -- | -- | Very High | 1.03% | None | 8.35% |
| SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Aggressive Hybrid Plan | 14 | 1,587 | −2.71% | +8.90% | +9.64% | -- | Very High | 1.17% | None | 10.90% |
| UTI Retirement Fund | 15 | 4,578 | −1.80% | +8.43% | +8.14% | +8.70% | High | 1.16% | 1% within 1 year | 5.75% |
| SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Aggressive Plan | 16 | 3,066 | −5.24% | +8.29% | +9.65% | -- | Very High | 1.14% | None | 13.06% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 50s Plan | 17 | 27 | +1.71% | +7.79% | +6.70% | -- | Moderately High | 0.63% | None | 3.65% |
| HDFC Retirement Fund - Hybrid-Equity Plan | 18 | 1,530 | −8.32% | +7.29% | +8.64% | +12.00% | Very High | 1.12% | None | 9.45% |
| Franklin India Retirement Fund | 19 | 479 | −3.40% | +7.27% | +6.59% | +7.54% | -- | 1.52% | Varies | 5.41% |
| Tata Retirement Savings Fund Conservative | 20 | 165 | +0.92% | +7.22% | +6.23% | +7.90% | Moderately High | 1.04% | 1% within 61 months | 4.74% |
| Axis Retirement Fund - Conservative Plan | 21 | 45 | −2.72% | +7.19% | +5.76% | -- | High | 1.27% | None | 5.53% |
| SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Conservative Hybrid Plan | 22 | 248 | −0.77% | +6.71% | +7.16% | -- | -- | 1.26% | -- | 5.66% |
| HDFC Retirement Fund - Hybrid-Debt Plan | 23 | 143 | −1.14% | +6.54% | +6.74% | +7.86% | Moderately High | 1.36% | None | 3.56% |
| SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Conservative Plan | 24 | 138 | +0.86% | +6.41% | +6.64% | -- | Moderately High | 0.98% | None | 3.61% |
| Nippon India Retirement Fund- Income Generation Scheme | 25 | 138 | −1.77% | +6.39% | +5.81% | +6.84% | -- | 0.98% | -- | 4.56% |
| ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan | 26 | 79 | +3.20% | +6.26% | +5.74% | -- | -- | 1.22% | None | 1.32% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 50s Plus-Debt Plan | 27 | 14 | +2.67% | +5.65% | +4.92% | -- | Low to Moderate | 0.91% | None | 1.10% |
| Baroda BNP Paribas Retirement Fund | -- | 387 | −2.06% | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.16% | -- | -- |
| PGIM India Retirement Fund | -- | 104 | −3.67% | -- | -- | -- | Very High | 1.12% | None | -- |
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 Retirement Funds
The largest funds of the category, side by side
- HDFC Retirement Fund - Equity Plan vs UTI Retirement
- HDFC Retirement Fund - Equity Plan vs SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Aggressive Plan
- HDFC Retirement Fund - Equity Plan vs Nippon India Retirement Fund- Wealth Creation Scheme
- UTI Retirement vs SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Aggressive Plan
- UTI Retirement vs Nippon India Retirement Fund- Wealth Creation Scheme
- SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Aggressive Plan vs Nippon India Retirement Fund- Wealth Creation Scheme
How Retirement Funds Are Taxed
It depends on what each fund holds
| What the fund holds | Tax on the gain |
|---|---|
| 65% or more in Indian stocks | 20% within 1 year. After that, 12.5% of gains above ₹1.25 lakh a financial year |
| 65% or more in debt | Your slab rate, however long you hold the units |
| Any other mix | Your slab rate within 2 years. 12.5% after |
- 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 Retirement Fund?
Solution oriented funds for retirement. SEBI requires a lock-in of at least 5 years, or until retirement if that is earlier.
Other other categories: Gold · Silver · International · Target Maturity · Children's
Retirement Funds: Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the top Retirement mutual funds?
By 3 year return, the top Retirement funds are 1. ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Equity Plan (18.8% a year), 2. ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Hybrid Aggressive Plan (16.2% a year), 3. Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s Plan (15.9% a year), 4. Union Retirement Fund (12.1% a year), 5. Axis Retirement Fund - Dynamic Plan (11.6% 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 Retirement funds are there?
29 Retirement funds are open for investment, from 13 fund houses.
What is a Retirement fund?
Solution oriented funds for retirement. SEBI requires a lock-in of at least 5 years, or until retirement if that is earlier.
What is the average return of Retirement funds?
1 year: -2.2%, 3 years: 9.5% a year, 5 years: 8.4% a year. The simple average of every Retirement fund's Direct plan.
Which Retirement fund has the lowest expense ratio?
Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 50s Plan, at 0.63% a year (Direct plan), as reported to AMFI.
Which is the largest Retirement fund?
HDFC Retirement Fund - Equity Plan, with ₹6,645 Cr of investors' money on 30-09-2026.
How are Retirement funds taxed?
It depends on what each fund holds: 65% or more in Indian stocks is taxed as an equity fund, 65% or more in debt at your slab rate.
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.