DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund is an ELSS fund and ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund is an Index fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) returned 13.0% a year and ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) returned 6.1% a year. DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund charges 0.91% a year and ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund 0.22% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 56.3%: they hold 19 of the same securities.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund
ELSS
- 3 year return
- 13.0%
- Expense ratio
- 0.91%
- NAV
- ₹147.63
ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund
Index
- 3 year return
- 6.1%
- Expense ratio
- 0.22%
- NAV
- ₹24.89
Which is better, DSP ELSS Tax Saver or ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver returned more over 5 years: 10.9% a year against 5.6%.
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver returned more over 3 years: 13.0% a year against 6.1%.
- ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index costs less: 0.22% a year against 0.91% (Direct plans).
- ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 13.2% a year against 14.0%.
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver fell less in its worst fall since 22-09-2017: −37.2% against −37.3%.
- ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index holds more in large companies: 100.0% of the fund in large caps against 76.1%.
- DSP ELSS Tax Saver is the larger fund: ₹15,569 Cr against ₹1,740 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 56.3%: 19 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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | DSP Mutual Fund | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund |
| Category | ELSS | Index |
| AUM | ₹15,569 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹1,740 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹147.63 (Direct) | ₹24.89 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.91% | 0.22% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.80% | 0.33% |
| Riskometer | Very High | Not available |
| Benchmark | Nifty 500 TRI | BSE SENSEX TRI |
| Launch date | 18-01-2007 | 21-09-2017 |
| Minimum investment | ₹500 | ₹100 |
| Lock in | 3 years | None |
| Fund managers | Rohit Singhania | Nishit Patel, Ajaykumar Solanki, Ashwini Bharucha, Venus Ahuja |
| Exit load | Nil | NIL |
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | +0.35% | −5.64% | −2.65% | −6.86% | +13.04% | +10.90% | +14.11% |
| ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) | +2.75% | −4.34% | −2.50% | −11.13% | +6.06% | +5.63% | -- |
| ELSS average | −2.34% | −5.61% | −1.63% | −5.75% | +10.92% | +10.29% | +13.05% |
Category average: the average of the 50 ELSS funds, same plan type.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index: Year-wise Returns
| Year | DSP ELSS Tax SaverDSP ELSS Tax Saver | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex IndexICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −8.80% | −11.99% |
| 2025 | +8.50% | +10.11% |
| 2024 | +25.04% | +9.21% |
| 2023 | +31.19% | +19.95% |
| 2022 | +5.51% | +5.53% |
| 2021 | +36.41% | +22.66% |
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against Nifty 500 TRI, the benchmark of DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 1,504 of them, one for each trading day from 22-09-2020 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
to
Mar 2021Apr 2019
to
Apr 2022Apr 2020
to
Apr 2023Apr 2021
to
Apr 2024May 2022
to
May 2025May 2023
to
May 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver | 0.0 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 7.4 | 33.6 | 40.6 | 12.5 | 19.8% | 20.3% | 1.9% | 34.9% | 98% |
| ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index | 0.0 | 1.6 | 11.5 | 46.3 | 29.7 | 8.2 | 2.7 | 14.5% | 14.4% | 3.6% | 31.4% | 14% |
| Nifty 500 TRI | 0.0 | 2.3 | 5.1 | 24.3 | 45.6 | 17.6 | 5.1 | 16.9% | 16.9% | 1.9% | 33.5% | -- |
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 Nifty 500 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 22-09-2017. Past returns do not promise future returns.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex 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 01-09-2017 to 30-10-2026: 110 instalments, ₹11,00,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax SaverDSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | ₹11,00,000 | ₹21,76,096 | ₹10,76,096 | 14.4% |
| ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex IndexICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) | ₹11,00,000 | ₹16,93,268 | ₹5,93,268 | 9.2% |
DSP ELSS Tax SaverDSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex IndexICICI Prudential BSE Sensex 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −6.86% | −11.13% |
| Standard deviation | 14.04% | 13.82% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.86 | -1.18 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.17 | -1.59 |
| Maximum drawdown | −14.8% (31-03-2026) | −16.1% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.95 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | −0.20% | −0.24% |
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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +13.04% | +6.06% |
| Standard deviation | 13.97% | 13.21% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.50 | 0.00 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.69 | 0.00 |
| Maximum drawdown | −16.2% (03-03-2025) | −16.1% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.96 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +3.01% | −0.26% |
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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +10.90% | +5.63% |
| Standard deviation | 13.89% | 13.72% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.37 | -0.01 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.49 | -0.02 |
| Maximum drawdown | −16.9% (20-06-2022) | −16.1% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.94 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | +2.25% | −0.29% |
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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +15.89% | +10.71% |
| Standard deviation | 15.63% | 16.42% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.63 | 0.33 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.85 | 0.45 |
| Maximum drawdown | −37.2% (23-03-2020) | −37.3% (23-03-2020) |
| Beta | 0.96 | 0.99 |
| Alpha | +3.34% | −0.26% |
From daily NAVs, 02-01-2013 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | −37.2% | 24-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 09-11-2020 | 8 months | −9.8% |
| ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) | −37.3% | 14-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 05-11-2020 | 7 months | −12.5% |
| Nifty 500 TRI | −38.1% | 17-01-2020 | 23-03-2020 | 06-11-2020 | 7 months | −8.8% |
From daily values since 22-09-2017, 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty 500 TRI
Against Nifty 500 TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (Direct) | 101% | 92% | 3.73% |
| ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (Direct) | 91% | 91% | 4.53% |
From month-end values since 22-09-2017. 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.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund, September 2026; ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 56.3%
- Held by both
- 19
- Only in DSP ELSS Tax Saver
- 39
- Only in ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index
- 11
| Security | % of DSP ELSS Tax Saver | % of ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index |
|---|---|---|
| ICICI Bank Limited | 9.69% | 11.03% |
| HDFC Bank Limited | 8.97% | 12.59% |
| State Bank of India | 5.59% | 4.64% |
| Axis Bank Limited | 7.97% | 4.08% |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited | 3.89% | 3.57% |
| Bharti Airtel Limited | 3.37% | 6.38% |
| Reliance Industries Limited | 2.84% | 9.15% |
| Mahindra & Mahindra Limited | 2.43% | 3.07% |
| Infosys Limited | 2.28% | 4.08% |
| NTPC Limited | 1.86% | 1.78% |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | 1.68% | 2.28% |
| Hindustan Unilever Limited | 1.61% | 1.95% |
| Larsen & Toubro Limited | 1.52% | 5.10% |
| Tata Consultancy Services Limited | 1.51% | 2.41% |
| Eternal Limited | 1.47% | 2.69% |
| ITC Limited | 1.38% | 2.96% |
| Asian Paints Limited | 1.21% | 1.26% |
| Maruti Suzuki India Limited | 1.19% | 1.79% |
| Ultratech Cement Limited | 1.06% | 1.50% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 56.3% means 56.3% 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 DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Max Financial Services Limited | 2.06% |
| Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited | 1.95% |
| Cipla Limited | 1.93% |
| Samvardhana Motherson International Limited | 1.61% |
| Coforge Limited | 1.60% |
Largest holdings only in ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Bajaj Finance Ltd. | 2.99% |
| Titan Company Ltd. | 2.18% |
| Tata Steel Ltd. | 1.77% |
| Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. | 1.63% |
| Bharat Electronics Ltd. | 1.62% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | DSP ELSS Tax Saver | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 98.8% | 100.0% |
| Debt | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 1.2% | 0.0% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | DSP ELSS Tax Saver | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 76.1% | 100.0% |
| Mid Cap | 15.2% | 0.0% |
| Small Cap | 7.5% | 0.0% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 0.1% | 0.0% |
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 | DSP ELSS Tax Saver | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 37.1% | 35.9% |
| Petroleum Products | 5.8% | 9.2% |
| It - Software | 0.0% | 9.1% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 6.9% | 2.3% |
| Telecom - Services | 4.9% | 6.4% |
| IT - Software | 5.4% | 0.0% |
| Construction | 2.2% | 5.1% |
| Diversified Fmcg | 0.0% | 4.9% |
| Finance | 4.9% | 4.1% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
DSP ELSS Tax Saver vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund | ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.91% | 0.22% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.68% | 0.17% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.80% | 0.33% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.45% | 0.26% |
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
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund vs ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund and ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund?
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund is an ELSS fund, ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund is an Index fund, run by DSP Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 56.3%. DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund charges 0.91% a year and ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund 0.22%.
Which has given higher returns, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund or ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund?
Over 1 year: DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund −6.86%, ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund −11.13%. Over 3 years: DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund +13.04% a year, ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund +6.06% a year. Over 5 years: DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund +10.90% a year, ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund +5.63% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund or ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund?
ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund charges less: 0.22% a year against 0.91%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund and ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund overlap?
56.3%. They hold 19 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being ICICIBANK, HDFCBANK, SBIN. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is better for SIP, DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund or ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,81,832 in DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund (XIRR 9.7% a year) and ₹6,75,153 in ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund (XIRR 4.0% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund and ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund?
Yes. 56.3% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so a large part of the two investments would move together.
Who manages DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund and ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund?
DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund: Rohit Singhania. ICICI Prudential BSE Sensex Index Fund: Nishit Patel, Ajaykumar Solanki, Ashwini Bharucha, Venus Ahuja.
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.