Bandhan Small Cap Fund vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Bandhan Small Cap Fund is a Small Cap fund and Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund is a mutual fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 21.7% a year and Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) returned 11.5% a year. Bandhan Small Cap Fund charges 0.65% a year and Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund 0.48% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 17.2%: they hold 68 of the same securities.
Bandhan Small Cap Fund
Small Cap
- 3 year return
- 21.7%
- Expense ratio
- 0.65%
- NAV
- ₹53.23
Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund
- 3 year return
- 11.5%
- Expense ratio
- 0.48%
- NAV
- ₹33.24
Which is better, Bandhan Small Cap or Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- Bandhan Small Cap returned more over 5 years: 18.1% a year against 12.2%.
- Bandhan Small Cap returned more over 3 years: 21.7% a year against 11.5%.
- Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index costs less: 0.48% a year against 0.65% (Direct plans).
- Bandhan Small Cap swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 17.4% a year against 19.0%.
- Bandhan Small Cap fell less in its worst fall since 19-10-2020: −24.3% against −26.9%.
- Bandhan Small Cap is the larger fund: ₹34,176 Cr against ₹3,454 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 17.2%: 68 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 | Bandhan Small Cap Fund | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Bandhan Mutual Fund | Nippon India Mutual Fund |
| Category | Small Cap | Not available |
| AUM | ₹34,176 Cr (31-08-2026) | ₹3,454 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹53.23 (Direct) | ₹33.24 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.65% | 0.48% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.73% | 1.08% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Not available |
| Benchmark | BSE 250 Smallcap TRI | Not available |
| Launch date | 25-02-2020 | Not available |
| Minimum investment | ₹1,000 | Not available |
| Lock in | None | Not available |
| Fund managers | Manish Gunwani, Kirthi Jain, Ritika Behera, Gaurav Satra | Not available |
| Exit load | 1% if redeemed/switched out within 1 year from the date of allotment | Not available |
Bandhan Small Cap vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −6.09% | −4.37% | +2.04% | +0.99% | +21.67% | +18.08% | -- |
| Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | −5.79% | −6.05% | +0.35% | −3.59% | +11.49% | +12.23% | -- |
| Small Cap average | −5.86% | −3.28% | +5.03% | +3.00% | +14.03% | +14.51% | -- |
Category average: the average of the 36 Small Cap funds, same plan type.
Bandhan Small Cap vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Bandhan Small CapBandhan Small Cap | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 IndexNippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +4.61% | +0.58% |
| 2025 | +0.12% | −6.42% |
| 2024 | +45.18% | +26.22% |
| 2023 | +55.85% | +48.04% |
| 2022 | −4.58% | −3.48% |
| 2021 | +55.38% | +61.37% |
Bandhan Small Cap vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI, the benchmark of Bandhan Small Cap Fund
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 754 of them, one for each trading day from 19-10-2023 to 30-10-2026: the yearly return (CAGR) of each, plotted on the day it ended. One lucky or unlucky start day cannot flatter or hide a fund.
Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
to
Jan 2024Jul 2021
to
Jul 2024Jan 2022
to
Jan 2025Aug 2022
to
Aug 2025Feb 2023
to
Feb 2026Aug 2023
to
Aug 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan Small Cap | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.3 | 94.7 | 30.2% | 30.7% | 21.4% | 38.5% | 94% |
| Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.8 | 28.6 | 31.5 | 34.1 | 22.9% | 22.3% | 10.6% | 35.5% | 37% |
| BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 5.7 | 29.6 | 27.5 | 37.1 | 22.9% | 22.4% | 9.9% | 36.6% | -- |
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 250 SmallCap Index 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 19-10-2020. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Bandhan Small Cap vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: 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 01-10-2020 to 30-10-2026: 73 instalments, ₹7,30,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan Small CapBandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹7,30,000 | ₹13,81,316 | ₹6,51,316 | 20.9% |
| Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 IndexNippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | ₹7,30,000 | ₹11,05,355 | ₹3,75,355 | 13.5% |
Bandhan Small CapBandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 IndexNippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index 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.
Bandhan Small Cap vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +0.99% | −3.59% |
| Standard deviation | 16.37% | 18.04% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.26 | -0.49 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.36 | -0.66 |
| Maximum drawdown | −15.9% (30-03-2026) | −18.3% (23-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.88 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +4.94% | −0.44% |
From daily NAVs, 30-10-2025 to 30-10-2026. 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 | Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +21.67% | +11.49% |
| Standard deviation | 17.36% | 18.98% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.90 | 0.29 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.23 | 0.38 |
| Maximum drawdown | −22.8% (03-03-2025) | −26.1% (03-03-2025) |
| Beta | 0.91 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +11.21% | −0.86% |
From daily NAVs, 30-10-2023 to 30-10-2026. 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 | Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +18.08% | +12.23% |
| Standard deviation | 16.56% | 18.42% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.74 | 0.35 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.99 | 0.45 |
| Maximum drawdown | −23.3% (20-06-2022) | −26.9% (20-06-2022) |
| Beta | 0.89 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +6.60% | −0.86% |
From daily NAVs, 29-10-2021 to 30-10-2026. 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 | Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +28.47% | +21.97% |
| Standard deviation | 17.05% | 18.19% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.37 | 0.91 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.85 | 1.20 |
| Maximum drawdown | −24.3% (20-06-2022) | −26.9% (20-06-2022) |
| Beta | 0.81 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +11.47% | −1.03% |
From daily NAVs, 26-02-2020 to 30-10-2026. 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.
Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −24.3% | 18-10-2021 | 20-06-2022 | 14-06-2023 | 12 months | −8.4% |
| Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | −26.9% | 17-01-2022 | 20-06-2022 | 19-06-2023 | 12 months | −10.4% |
| BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI | −26.4% | 17-01-2022 | 20-06-2022 | 05-06-2023 | 11 months | −11.5% |
From daily values since 19-10-2020, 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.
Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index 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.
Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
Whether the swings have grown or calmed over time: the standard deviation of daily changes over every 5-year window, scaled to a year, plotted on the window's last day. Higher means a bumpier ride.
Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
Against BSE 250 SmallCap Index TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandhan Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 99% | 78% | 5.81% |
| Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | 100% | 100% | 1.50% |
From month-end values since 19-10-2020. 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.
Bandhan Small Cap vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Bandhan Small Cap Fund, August 2026; Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 17.2%
- Held by both
- 68
- Only in Bandhan Small Cap
- 187
- Only in Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
- 183
| Security | % of Bandhan Small Cap | % of Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| PNB Housing Finance Limited | 1.36% | 0.94% |
| The Great Eastern Shipping Company Limited | 0.77% | 0.69% |
| Angel One Limited | 0.62% | 0.80% |
| Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited | 1.63% | 0.61% |
| Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited | 0.76% | 0.60% |
| Sterlite Technologies Limited | 0.60% | 1.17% |
| Piramal Pharma Limited | 0.62% | 0.57% |
| AWL Agri Business Limited | 0.96% | 0.44% |
| Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited | 0.42% | 0.86% |
| Cyient Limited | 1.66% | 0.39% |
| Manappuram Finance Limited | 0.39% | 0.78% |
| Redington Limited | 0.39% | 1.08% |
| Aptus Value Housing Finance India Limited | 0.49% | 0.37% |
| Neuland Laboratories Limited | 0.36% | 0.82% |
| eClerx Services Limited | 1.09% | 0.33% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited | 0.35% | 0.33% |
| Cohance Lifesciences Limited | 0.41% | 0.32% |
| Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited | 0.32% | 0.41% |
| Nuvama Wealth Management Limited | 0.31% | 0.60% |
| Paradeep Phosphates Limited | 1.38% | 0.30% |
| Inox Wind Limited | 0.37% | 0.30% |
| Wockhardt Limited | 0.30% | 0.78% |
| Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited | 0.92% | 0.27% |
| Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Ltd | 0.27% | 0.41% |
| PCBL Chemical Limited | 0.61% | 0.26% |
| LT Foods Limited | 2.10% | 0.25% |
| Jubilant Ingrevia Limited | 0.64% | 0.25% |
| Sagility Limited | 0.25% | 0.44% |
| Can Fin Homes Limited | 0.25% | 0.27% |
| Sobha Limited | 2.40% | 0.24% |
| Godawari Power And Ispat limited | 0.67% | 0.24% |
| Acme Solar Holdings Ltd | 0.24% | 0.40% |
| NCC Limited | 0.27% | 0.23% |
| Onesource Specialty Pharma Limited | 0.23% | 0.54% |
| KFin Technologies Limited | 0.23% | 0.50% |
| Sansera Engineering Limited | 0.21% | 0.90% |
| Star Health And Allied Insurance Company Limited | 0.20% | 0.56% |
| Krishna Institute Of Medical Sciences Limited | 0.20% | 0.89% |
| Aegis Vopak Terminals Limited | 0.17% | 0.19% |
| Usha Martin Limited | 0.17% | 0.41% |
| JSW Cement Limited | 0.27% | 0.16% |
| The Jammu & Kashmir Bank Limited | 0.16% | 0.28% |
| KEC International Limited | 0.16% | 0.22% |
| Emami Limited | 0.16% | 0.33% |
| Computer Age Management Services Limited | 0.16% | 0.72% |
| Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited | 0.15% | 0.31% |
| Aarti Industries Limited | 0.15% | 0.44% |
| Birlasoft Limited | 0.15% | 0.20% |
| Jupiter Wagons Limited | 0.17% | 0.14% |
| SignatureGlobal (India) Limited | 0.22% | 0.13% |
| UTI Asset Management Company Limited | 0.13% | 0.17% |
| Syrma SGS Technology Limited | 0.13% | 0.62% |
| Clean Science and Technology Limited | 0.13% | 0.17% |
| Bagmane Prime Office REIT | 0.13% | 0.28% |
| The Ramco Cements Limited | 0.13% | 0.48% |
| Jindal Saw Limited | 0.12% | 0.29% |
| CESC Limited | 0.12% | 0.38% |
| RHI Magnesita India Limited | 0.41% | 0.11% |
| Pine Labs Limited | 0.11% | 0.43% |
| Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited | 0.11% | 0.36% |
| Finolex Cables Limited | 0.09% | 0.49% |
| HEG Limited | 0.35% | 0.08% |
| Bharat Coking Coal Limited | 0.10% | 0.07% |
| Five Star Business Finance Limited | 0.06% | 0.45% |
| Indiamart Intermesh Limited | 0.05% | 0.22% |
| Jyoti CNC Automation Ltd | 0.04% | 0.40% |
| Craftsman Automation Limited | 0.03% | 0.70% |
| Vedanta Power Ltd | 0.01% | 0.25% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 17.2% means 17.2% 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 Bandhan Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| REC Limited | 2.42% |
| State Bank of India | 1.88% |
| Arvind Limited | 1.56% |
| The South Indian Bank Limited | 1.48% |
| The Karnataka Bank Limited | 1.34% |
Largest holdings only in Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited | 1.67% |
| Welspun Corp Limited | 1.59% |
| Karur Vysya Bank Limited | 1.37% |
| Navin Fluorine International Limited | 1.36% |
| Ather Energy Limited | 1.21% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Bandhan Small Cap | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 86.6% | 98.7% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 13.4% | 1.3% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Bandhan Small Cap | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 6.1% | 0.0% |
| Mid Cap | 10.7% | 2.7% |
| Small Cap | 68.7% | 95.0% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 1.1% | 1.0% |
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 | Bandhan Small Cap | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | 9.8% | 7.6% |
| Banks | 8.7% | 5.1% |
| Industrial Products | 3.8% | 8.4% |
| Auto Components | 0.9% | 8.4% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 6.9% | 7.7% |
| Realty | 6.3% | 1.5% |
| Consumer Durables | 5.9% | 2.8% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 3.5% | 5.7% |
| Capital Markets | 1.8% | 5.4% |
| Agricultural Food & other Products | 4.0% | 1.4% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Bandhan Small Cap vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Bandhan Small Cap Fund | Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.65% | 0.48% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.40% | 0.30% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.73% | 1.08% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.32% | 0.81% |
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
Bandhan Small Cap Fund vs Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Bandhan Small Cap Fund and Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Bandhan Small Cap Fund is a Small Cap fund, Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund is a mutual fund, run by Bandhan Mutual Fund and Nippon India Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 17.2%. Bandhan Small Cap Fund charges 0.65% a year and Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund 0.48%.
Which has given higher returns, Bandhan Small Cap Fund or Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Over 1 year: Bandhan Small Cap Fund +0.99%, Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund −3.59%. Over 3 years: Bandhan Small Cap Fund +21.67% a year, Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund +11.49% a year. Over 5 years: Bandhan Small Cap Fund +18.08% a year, Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund +12.23% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Bandhan Small Cap Fund or Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund charges less: 0.48% a year against 0.65%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Bandhan Small Cap Fund and Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund overlap?
17.2%. They hold 68 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being PNBHOUSING, GESHIP, ANGELONE. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is better for SIP, Bandhan Small Cap Fund or Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹9,94,722 in Bandhan Small Cap Fund (XIRR 19.3% a year) and ₹8,07,553 in Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund (XIRR 11.0% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Bandhan Small Cap Fund and Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund?
Yes. 17.2% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
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.