Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund vs HDFC Defence Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 29-10-2026
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund is a Thematic fund and HDFC Defence Fund is a Thematic fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct) returned 6.1% a year and HDFC Defence Fund (Direct) returned 34.8% a year. Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund charges 1.06% a year and HDFC Defence Fund 0.90% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 2.7%: they hold 2 of the same securities.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund
Thematic
- 3 year return
- 6.1%
- Expense ratio
- 1.06%
- NAV
- ₹180.64
Which is better, Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India or HDFC Defence? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- HDFC Defence returned more over 3 years: 34.8% a year against 6.1%.
- HDFC Defence returned more over 1 year: 13.8% against −7.7%.
- HDFC Defence costs less: 0.90% a year against 1.06% (Direct plans).
- Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 17.5% a year against 25.6%.
- Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India fell less in its worst fall since 02-06-2023: −30.6% against −34.5%.
- Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India holds 3.5% of the fund in foreign stocks; HDFC Defence 0.0%.
- HDFC Defence is the larger fund: ₹11,493 Cr against ₹3,617 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 2.7%: 2 of the same holdings.
Past returns do not promise future returns. This page is information, not investment advice.
Key facts
From each fund's scheme summary document and AMFI
| Fact | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund | HDFC Defence Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund | HDFC Mutual Fund |
| Category | Thematic | Thematic |
| AUM | ₹3,617 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹11,493 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹180.64 (Direct) | ₹28.86 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 1.06% | 0.90% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 2.04% | 1.80% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Very High |
| Benchmark | BSE Teck TRI | Nifty India Defence TRI |
| Launch date | 15-01-2000 | 02-06-2023 |
| Minimum investment | ₹1,000 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Kunal Sangoi | Rahul Baijal, Priya Ranjan, Gopal Agrawal, Bhagyesh Kagalkar |
| Exit load | Exit load of 1% if redeemed within 30 days. | In respect of each purchase/switch-in of units, an Exit load of 1% is payable if units are redeemed/switched-out within 1 yearfrom the date of allotment. No Exit Load is payable if units are redeemed / switched-out after 1 year from the date of allotment. In respect of Systematic Transactions such as SIP, Flex SIP,STP, Flex STP, Swing STP, Exit Load, if any, prevailing on the date of registration / enrolment shall be levied. |
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India vs HDFC Defence: Returns Comparison
Returns as on 30-10-2026. Up to one year they are absolute returns. Longer periods are a rate per year.
| Fund | 1M | 3M | 6M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct) | +6.72% | +0.09% | +10.86% | −7.71% | +6.14% | +4.65% | +17.84% |
| HDFC Defence Fund (Direct) | −6.07% | −3.22% | +4.84% | +13.79% | +34.76% | -- | -- |
| Thematic average | −2.09% | −4.52% | +0.86% | −1.22% | +13.76% | -- | -- |
Category average: the average of the 235 Thematic funds, same plan type.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India vs HDFC Defence: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital IndiaAditya Birla Sun Life Digital India | HDFC DefenceHDFC Defence |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −9.52% | +19.90% |
| 2025 | −4.24% | +10.75% |
| 2024 | +19.41% | +41.88% |
| 2023 | +37.31% | -- |
| 2022 | −20.61% | -- |
| 2021 | +72.53% | -- |
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India vs HDFC Defence: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against BSE TECK TRI, the benchmark of Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 104 of them, one for each trading day from 02-06-2026 to 29-10-2026: the yearly return (CAGR) of each, plotted on the day it ended. One lucky or unlucky start day cannot flatter or hide a fund.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct)
HDFC Defence Fund (Direct)
BSE TECK TRI
to
Jun 2026Jul 2023
to
Jul 2026Aug 2023
to
Aug 2026Aug 2023
to
Aug 2026Sept 2023
to
Sept 2026Oct 2023
to
Oct 2026
How the periods spread
| Fund | Below 0% | 0-5% | 5-10% | 10-15% | 15-20% | 20-25% | Above 25% | Mean | Median | Lowest | Highest | Beat benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India | 0.0 | 32.7 | 67.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.7% | 5.8% | 3.0% | 8.4% | 96% |
| HDFC Defence | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 39.8% | 40.7% | 33.3% | 45.2% | 100% |
| BSE TECK TRI | 0.0 | 49.0 | 51.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.5% | 5.1% | 0.7% | 7.7% | -- |
The table shows the % of periods in each return band; a darker cell holds more of them. Lumpsum: the yearly rate (CAGR) from a period's first NAV to its last. SIP: the XIRR of the monthly instalments. The benchmark is BSE TECK TRI, over the same periods. "Beat benchmark" counts the periods in which the fund did better. Every fund is measured over the days all of them have, from 02-06-2023. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India vs HDFC Defence: SIP and Lumpsum Returns
What the same monthly or one-time investment would be worth in each fund today, from their own NAV history
Growth of an investment
₹10,000 on the first trading day of every month, from 01-06-2023 to 29-10-2026: 41 instalments, ₹4,10,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital IndiaAditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct) | ₹4,10,000 | ₹4,20,671 | ₹10,671 | 1.5% |
| HDFC DefenceHDFC Defence Fund (Direct) | ₹4,10,000 | ₹6,13,432 | ₹2,03,432 | 24.3% |
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital IndiaAditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct)
HDFC DefenceHDFC Defence Fund (Direct)
Amount invested
From each plan's published NAV (Growth option), over the same days. Return a year: XIRR for a SIP, CAGR for a lumpsum, shown for a year or more. It does not include exit load, stamp duty or tax. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India vs HDFC Defence: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct) | HDFC Defence Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −7.71% | +13.79% |
| Standard deviation | 18.81% | 22.90% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.69 | 0.37 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.94 | 0.52 |
| Maximum drawdown | −25.7% (30-03-2026) | −14.3% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.93 | 0.92 |
| Alpha | +0.63% | +5.40% |
From daily NAVs, 29-10-2025 to 29-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
| Measure | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct) | HDFC Defence Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.14% | +34.76% |
| Standard deviation | 17.50% | 25.64% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.01 | 1.12 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.01 | 1.54 |
| Maximum drawdown | −30.6% (30-03-2026) | −34.5% (28-02-2025) |
| Beta | 0.92 | 0.83 |
| Alpha | −0.23% | −0.18% |
From daily NAVs, 27-10-2023 to 29-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
| Measure | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct) | HDFC Defence Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +18.08% | +36.39% |
| Standard deviation | 17.69% | 24.68% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.68 | 1.23 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.96 | 1.69 |
| Maximum drawdown | −34.5% (23-03-2020) | −34.5% (28-02-2025) |
| Beta | 0.90 | 0.81 |
| Alpha | +5.11% | −1.99% |
From daily NAVs, 02-01-2013 to 29-10-2026. Standard deviation: how much the daily value swings, scaled to a year. Sharpe: return above the risk-free rate (NSE's overnight rate index) per unit of swing. Sortino: the same, counting only the falls. Beta and alpha compare each fund with its own benchmark's TRI.
Drawdowns
How far below its previous high each one was on every day: the falls an investor had to sit through. 0% means it was at a new high.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct)
HDFC Defence Fund (Direct)
BSE TECK TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct) | −30.6% | 13-12-2024 | 30-03-2026 | Not yet | -- | −18.3% |
| HDFC Defence Fund (Direct) | −34.5% | 08-07-2024 | 28-02-2025 | 27-05-2025 | 3 months | −11.4% |
| BSE TECK TRI | −31.1% | 13-12-2024 | 01-07-2026 | Not yet | -- | −19.2% |
From daily values since 02-06-2023, the first day every fund has.
Rolling standard deviation
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 1-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct)
HDFC Defence Fund (Direct)
BSE TECK TRI
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 3-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct)
HDFC Defence Fund (Direct)
BSE TECK TRI
Against BSE TECK TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Direct) | 94% | 91% | 7.19% |
| HDFC Defence Fund (Direct) | 109% | -0% | 31.63% |
From month-end values since 02-06-2023. Up capture: a fund's average month when the benchmark rose, as % of the benchmark's; above 100% it gained more. Down capture: the same for months the benchmark fell; below 100% it fell less. Tracking error: how far the monthly returns strayed from the benchmark's, a year; an index fund aims near 0.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India vs HDFC Defence: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund, September 2026; HDFC Defence Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 2.7%
- Held by both
- 2
- Only in Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India
- 33
- Only in HDFC Defence
- 22
| Security | % of Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India | % of HDFC Defence |
|---|---|---|
| Cyient DLM Ltd. | 2.38% | 3.18% |
| Sedemac Mechatronics Ltd. | 0.30% | 1.21% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 2.7% means 2.7% of each fund's money sits in positions the other also holds. Matched by ISIN. Cash and hedged positions are left out.
Largest holdings only in Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Infosys Ltd. | 9.93% |
| Tech Mahindra Ltd. | 7.85% |
| Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. | 7.20% |
| Bharti Airtel Ltd. | 7.18% |
| Eternal Ltd. | 5.93% |
Largest holdings only in HDFC Defence Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Bharat Electronics Ltd. | 14.87% |
| Bharat Forge Ltd. | 12.91% |
| Hindustan Aeronautics Limited | 12.61% |
| Solar Industries India Ltd. | 10.28% |
| Astra Microwave Products Ltd. | 6.44% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India | HDFC Defence |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 95.0% | 98.3% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 5.0% | 1.7% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India | HDFC Defence |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 46.1% | 43.5% |
| Mid Cap | 18.0% | 23.7% |
| Small Cap | 27.4% | 30.7% |
| Foreign stocks | 3.5% | 0.0% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.0% | 0.4% |
Share of the whole fund. Groups follow AMFI's latest list: Large Cap is the 100 largest companies, Mid Cap the next 150, Small Cap the rest.
Largest sectors
| Sector | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India | HDFC Defence |
|---|---|---|
| IT - Software | 57.0% | 0.0% |
| Aerospace & Defense | 2.4% | 46.1% |
| Auto Components | 0.3% | 18.2% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 0.0% | 13.1% |
| Retailing | 11.0% | 0.0% |
| Telecom - Services | 7.8% | 0.0% |
| Agricultural, Commercial & Construction Vehicles | 0.0% | 6.2% |
| IT - Services | 5.8% | 0.0% |
| Electrical Equipment | 0.5% | 5.1% |
| Automobiles | 1.0% | 4.7% |
| Commercial Services & Supplies | 4.2% | 0.0% |
| Financial Technology (Fintech) | 2.7% | 0.0% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India vs HDFC Defence: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund | HDFC Defence Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 1.06% | 0.90% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.77% | 0.72% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 2.04% | 1.80% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.62% | 1.49% |
The expense ratio comes out of the fund's assets every day, so every return on this page is already after it. Base expense ratio: the fund house's own fee. The total adds brokerage, transaction costs, and levies with GST.
More comparisons
Each fund against the others of its category
Compare Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India with
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund vs HDFC Defence Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund and HDFC Defence Fund?
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund is a Thematic fund, HDFC Defence Fund is a Thematic fund, run by Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund and HDFC Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 2.7%. Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund charges 1.06% a year and HDFC Defence Fund 0.90%.
Which has given higher returns, Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund or HDFC Defence Fund?
Over 1 year: Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund −7.71%, HDFC Defence Fund +13.79%. Over 3 years: Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund +6.14% a year, HDFC Defence Fund +34.76% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund or HDFC Defence Fund?
HDFC Defence Fund charges less: 0.90% a year against 1.06%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund and HDFC Defence Fund overlap?
2.7%. They hold 2 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being CYIENTDLM, SEDEMAC. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund or HDFC Defence Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund is rated Very High and HDFC Defence Fund Very High. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 17.50% and 25.64% a year.
Which is better for SIP, Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund or HDFC Defence Fund?
Over the last 3 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 03-10-2023 to 29-10-2026 grew to ₹3,70,238 in Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (XIRR 0.0% a year) and ₹5,06,556 in HDFC Defence Fund (XIRR 20.9% a year). Both received 37 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund and HDFC Defence Fund?
Yes. 2.7% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so the two hold mostly different investments.
Who manages Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund and HDFC Defence Fund?
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund: Kunal Sangoi. HDFC Defence Fund: Rahul Baijal, Priya Ranjan, Gopal Agrawal, Bhagyesh Kagalkar.
Sources: NAV and expense ratio from AMFI. Holdings from each fund house's monthly portfolio statement. Fund facts from each scheme summary document.
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.