Franklin India Small Cap Fund vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
Franklin India Small Cap Fund is a Small Cap fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund is an Index fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct) returned 9.8% a year and Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) returned 13.1% a year. Franklin India Small Cap Fund charges 1.06% a year and Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund 0.72% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 11.6%: they hold 23 of the same securities.
Franklin India Small Cap Fund
Small Cap
- 3 year return
- 9.8%
- Expense ratio
- 1.06%
- NAV
- ₹185.20
Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund
Index
- 3 year return
- 13.1%
- Expense ratio
- 0.72%
- NAV
- ₹17.37
Which is better, Franklin India Small Cap or Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 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.
- Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index returned more over 3 years: 13.1% a year against 9.8%.
- Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index returned more over 1 year: −0.7% against −5.6%.
- Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index costs less: 0.72% a year against 1.06% (Direct plans).
- Franklin India Small Cap swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 16.2% a year against 21.3%.
- Franklin India Small Cap fell less in its worst fall since 11-07-2023: −24.1% against −29.4%.
- Franklin India Small Cap is the larger fund: ₹14,257 Cr against ₹2,410 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 11.6%: 23 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 | Franklin India Small Cap Fund | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund | Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund |
| Category | Small Cap | Index |
| AUM | ₹14,257 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹2,410 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹185.20 (Direct) | ₹17.37 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 1.06% | 0.72% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.87% | 1.25% |
| Riskometer | Not available | Very High |
| Benchmark | Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | Nifty Microcap 250 TRI |
| Launch date | 13-01-2006 | 05-07-2023 |
| Minimum investment | 5000/1 | ₹500 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Janakiraman Rengaraju, Akhil Kalluri, Sandeep Manam | Swapnil Mayekar |
| Exit load | Exit load of 1% if redeemed within 1 year. | Upto 2.25% |
Franklin India Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −6.78% | −7.95% | −4.62% | −5.60% | +9.83% | +13.53% | +13.87% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | −9.04% | −4.56% | +3.52% | −0.68% | +13.05% | -- | -- |
| Small Cap average | −5.86% | −3.28% | +5.03% | +3.00% | +14.03% | +14.51% | +16.19% |
Category average: the average of the 36 Small Cap funds, same plan type.
Franklin India Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index: Year-wise Returns
| Year | Franklin India Small CapFranklin India Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 IndexMotilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | −0.91% | +5.19% |
| 2025 | −7.63% | −10.89% |
| 2024 | +24.20% | +33.42% |
| 2023 | +53.48% | -- |
| 2022 | +4.43% | -- |
| 2021 | +57.68% | -- |
Franklin India Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds, against Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI, the benchmark of Franklin India Small Cap Fund
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 75 of them, one for each trading day from 13-07-2026 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.
Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
to
Jul 2026Aug 2023
to
Aug 2026Aug 2023
to
Aug 2026Sept 2023
to
Sept 2026Oct 2023
to
Oct 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin India Small Cap | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 52.0 | 44.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.8% | 13.7% | 9.2% | 17.2% | 0% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.3 | 64.0 | 22.7 | 0.0 | 17.9% | 17.7% | 12.5% | 22.6% | 100% |
| Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 37.3 | 62.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 15.9% | 15.9% | 11.4% | 19.6% | -- |
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 Nifty Smallcap 250 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 11-07-2023. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Franklin India Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 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 03-07-2023 to 30-10-2026: 40 instalments, ₹4,00,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin India Small CapFranklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | ₹4,00,000 | ₹4,14,993 | ₹14,993 | 2.2% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 IndexMotilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | ₹4,00,000 | ₹4,43,068 | ₹43,068 | 6.1% |
Franklin India Small CapFranklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 IndexMotilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 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.
Franklin India Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | −5.60% | −0.68% |
| Standard deviation | 16.87% | 20.68% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.64 | -0.29 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.87 | -0.40 |
| Maximum drawdown | −16.0% (31-03-2026) | −21.6% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.91 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | −3.23% | −1.31% |
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 | Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +9.83% | +13.05% |
| Standard deviation | 16.22% | 21.33% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.23 | 0.33 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.31 | 0.44 |
| Maximum drawdown | −24.1% (03-03-2025) | −29.4% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | 0.82 | 1.00 |
| Alpha | −1.41% | −1.45% |
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 | Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +18.75% | +17.70% |
| Standard deviation | 15.61% | 21.06% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.81 | 0.55 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.08 | 0.73 |
| Maximum drawdown | −49.9% (24-03-2020) | −29.4% (31-03-2026) |
| Beta | -- | 1.00 |
| Alpha | -- | −1.53% |
From daily NAVs, 01-01-2013 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.
Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | −24.1% | 23-09-2024 | 03-03-2025 | Not yet | -- | −12.4% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | −29.4% | 11-12-2024 | 31-03-2026 | 23-09-2026 | 6 months | −11.4% |
| Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI | −26.0% | 23-09-2024 | 03-03-2025 | 26-08-2026 | 18 months | −9.4% |
From daily values since 11-07-2023, 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.
Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 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.
Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct)
Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct)
Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
Against Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI
| Fund | Up capture | Down capture | Tracking error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin India Small Cap Fund (Direct) | 83% | 84% | 5.40% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (Direct) | 111% | 105% | 6.85% |
From month-end values since 11-07-2023. 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.
Franklin India Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: Franklin India Small Cap Fund, September 2026; Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 11.6%
- Held by both
- 23
- Only in Franklin India Small Cap
- 66
- Only in Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index
- 230
| Security | % of Franklin India Small Cap | % of Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd | 2.32% | 0.89% |
| Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Ltd | 0.83% | 1.43% |
| Shaily Engineering Plastics Ltd | 0.78% | 0.93% |
| Eris Lifesciences Ltd | 2.00% | 0.72% |
| Metropolis Healthcare Ltd | 1.91% | 0.65% |
| DCB Bank Ltd | 1.74% | 0.61% |
| Sapphire Foods India Ltd | 1.14% | 0.56% |
| Sedemac Mechatronics Ltd | 0.93% | 0.55% |
| MedPlus Health Services Ltd | 1.09% | 0.53% |
| Lumax Auto Technologies Ltd | 0.53% | 0.70% |
| Kirloskar Pneumatic Co Ltd | 0.48% | 0.58% |
| Finolex Industries Ltd | 1.10% | 0.48% |
| Le Travenues Technology Ltd | 1.46% | 0.41% |
| SBFC Finance Ltd | 1.08% | 0.40% |
| HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd | 0.97% | 0.40% |
| Ion Exchange (India) Ltd | 0.82% | 0.39% |
| Aditya Vision Ltd | 0.39% | 0.46% |
| V-Mart Retail Ltd | 0.88% | 0.38% |
| Vedant Fashions Ltd | 0.67% | 0.37% |
| Mrs Bectors Food Specialities Ltd | 1.23% | 0.36% |
| Akums Drugs And Pharmaceuticals Ltd | 1.22% | 0.32% |
| Electronics Mart India Ltd | 1.38% | 0.31% |
| Vikram Solar Ltd | 0.22% | 0.24% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 11.6% means 11.6% 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 Franklin India Small Cap Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Pine Labs Ltd | 2.82% |
| Kajaria Ceramics Ltd | 2.43% |
| Brigade Enterprises Ltd | 2.00% |
| Angel One Ltd | 1.87% |
| Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd | 1.85% |
Largest holdings only in Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Astra Microwave Products Limited | 1.56% |
| Sundram Fasteners Limited | 1.42% |
| The South Indian Bank Limited | 1.41% |
| The Karnataka Bank Limited | 1.40% |
| Shilpa Medicare Limited | 1.37% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | Franklin India Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 96.7% | 100.0% |
| Debt | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Cash and others | 3.1% | -0.0% |
Market cap of stocks
| Market cap | Franklin India Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Large Cap | 8.4% | 0.0% |
| Mid Cap | 4.6% | 0.0% |
| Small Cap | 82.5% | 98.9% |
| Not on AMFI's list | 1.2% | 1.2% |
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 | Franklin India Small Cap | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 11.7% | 7.6% |
| Auto Components | 9.4% | 4.9% |
| Industrial Products | 6.2% | 9.1% |
| Consumer Durables | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| Aerospace & Defense | 3.7% | 5.2% |
| Chemicals & Petrochemicals | 5.0% | 4.6% |
The six largest sectors of each fund's stocks, % of the fund.
Franklin India Small Cap vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | Franklin India Small Cap Fund | Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 1.06% | 0.72% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.76% | 0.43% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.87% | 1.25% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 1.46% | 0.90% |
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
Franklin India Small Cap Fund vs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Franklin India Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund?
Franklin India Small Cap Fund is a Small Cap fund, Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund is an Index fund, run by Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund and Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 11.6%. Franklin India Small Cap Fund charges 1.06% a year and Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund 0.72%.
Which has given higher returns, Franklin India Small Cap Fund or Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund?
Over 1 year: Franklin India Small Cap Fund −5.60%, Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund −0.68%. Over 3 years: Franklin India Small Cap Fund +9.83% a year, Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund +13.05% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, Franklin India Small Cap Fund or Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund?
Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund charges less: 0.72% a year against 1.06%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do Franklin India Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund overlap?
11.6%. They hold 23 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being EQUITASBNK, UJJIVANSFB, SHAILY. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is better for SIP, Franklin India Small Cap Fund or Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund?
Over the last 3 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 03-10-2023 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹3,73,113 in Franklin India Small Cap Fund (XIRR 0.5% a year) and ₹3,95,367 in Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund (XIRR 4.2% a year). Both received 37 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both Franklin India Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund?
Yes. 11.6% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages Franklin India Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund?
Franklin India Small Cap Fund: Janakiraman Rengaraju, Akhil Kalluri, Sandeep Manam. Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund: Swapnil Mayekar.
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.