HDFC Gilt Fund vs LIC MF Gilt Fund
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
HDFC Gilt Fund and LIC MF Gilt Fund are both Gilt funds. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct) returned 6.1% a year and LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct) returned 5.4% a year. HDFC Gilt Fund charges 0.46% a year and LIC MF Gilt Fund 0.70% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 18.3%: they hold 3 of the same securities.
Which is better, HDFC Gilt or LIC MF Gilt? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- HDFC Gilt returned more over 5 years: 5.3% a year against 4.9%.
- HDFC Gilt returned more over 3 years: 6.1% a year against 5.4%.
- HDFC Gilt costs less: 0.46% a year against 0.70% (Direct plans).
- HDFC Gilt swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 2.7% a year against 3.5%.
- LIC MF Gilt fell less in its worst fall since 02-01-2013: −7.4% against −11.9%.
- HDFC Gilt is the larger fund: ₹1,885 Cr against ₹44 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 18.3%: 3 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 | HDFC Gilt Fund | LIC MF Gilt Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | HDFC Mutual Fund | LIC Mutual Fund |
| Category | Gilt | Gilt |
| AUM | ₹1,885 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹44 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹59.78 (Direct) | ₹66.47 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.46% | 0.70% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 0.82% | 1.10% |
| Riskometer | Moderate | Low to Moderate |
| Benchmark | Nifty All Duration G-Sec Index | Nifty All Duration G-Sec Index |
| Launch date | 25-07-2001 | 10-12-1999 |
| Minimum investment | ₹100 | ₹10,000 |
| Lock in | None | None |
| Fund managers | Anil Bamboli, Gopal Agrawal | Pratik Harish Shroff, Rahul Singh |
| Exit load | NIL | 0.25% if exit within 30 days from date of allotment of units |
HDFC Gilt vs LIC MF Gilt: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct) | −0.57% | −1.32% | +1.63% | +1.97% | +6.10% | +5.27% | +5.77% |
| LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct) | −0.55% | −0.43% | +2.56% | +2.20% | +5.41% | +4.86% | +6.26% |
| Gilt average | −0.69% | −1.34% | +1.62% | +2.12% | +6.19% | +5.46% | +6.64% |
Category average: the average of the 28 Gilt funds, same plan type.
HDFC Gilt vs LIC MF Gilt: Year-wise Returns
| Year | HDFCHDFC Gilt | LIC MFLIC MF Gilt |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +1.42% | +1.52% |
| 2025 | +5.58% | +3.53% |
| 2024 | +9.22% | +9.32% |
| 2023 | +7.57% | +7.00% |
| 2022 | +2.16% | +2.56% |
| 2021 | +2.66% | +2.49% |
HDFC Gilt vs LIC MF Gilt: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 2,619 of them, one for each trading day from 04-01-2016 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.
HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct)
LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct)
to
Nov 2016Sept 2015
to
Sept 2018Jul 2017
to
Jul 2020May 2019
to
May 2022Mar 2021
to
Mar 2024Dec 2022
to
Dec 2025
How the periods spread
| Fund | Below 0% | 0-5% | 5-10% | 10-15% | 15-20% | 20-25% | Above 25% | Mean | Median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Gilt | 0.0 | 10.8 | 76.7 | 11.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.6% | 7.3% | 3.7% | 16.0% |
| LIC MF Gilt | 0.0 | 10.4 | 69.6 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.7% | 7.4% | 3.6% | 13.4% |
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. Every fund is measured over the days all of them have, from 02-01-2013. Past returns do not promise future returns.
HDFC Gilt vs LIC MF Gilt: 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 01-01-2013 to 30-10-2026: 166 instalments, ₹16,60,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC GiltHDFC Gilt Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹26,42,138 | ₹9,82,138 | 6.4% |
| LIC MF GiltLIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct) | ₹16,60,000 | ₹26,45,819 | ₹9,85,819 | 6.5% |
HDFC GiltHDFC Gilt Fund (Direct)
LIC MF GiltLIC MF Gilt 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.
HDFC Gilt vs LIC MF Gilt: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct) | LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +1.97% | +2.20% |
| Standard deviation | 3.15% | 4.27% |
| Sharpe ratio | -1.04 | -0.71 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.41 | -1.00 |
| Maximum drawdown | −2.8% (02-04-2026) | −4.1% (02-04-2026) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
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 | HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct) | LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.10% | +5.41% |
| Standard deviation | 2.66% | 3.47% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.03 | -0.18 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.04 | -0.25 |
| Maximum drawdown | −3.0% (26-08-2025) | −5.6% (02-04-2026) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
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 | HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct) | LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +5.27% | +4.86% |
| Standard deviation | 2.45% | 2.85% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.22 | -0.33 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.30 | -0.46 |
| Maximum drawdown | −3.0% (26-08-2025) | −5.6% (02-04-2026) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
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 | HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct) | LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +7.16% | +6.98% |
| Standard deviation | 3.71% | 3.49% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.30 | 0.27 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.42 | 0.38 |
| Maximum drawdown | −11.9% (19-08-2013) | −7.4% (19-08-2013) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
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.
HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct)
LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct) | −11.9% | 27-05-2013 | 19-08-2013 | 05-06-2014 | 10 months | −2.5% |
| LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct) | −7.4% | 04-06-2013 | 19-08-2013 | 03-06-2014 | 9 months | −1.7% |
From daily values since 02-01-2013, 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.
HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct)
LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct)
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.
HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct)
LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct)
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.
HDFC Gilt Fund (Direct)
LIC MF Gilt Fund (Direct)
HDFC Gilt vs LIC MF Gilt: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: HDFC Gilt Fund, September 2026; LIC MF Gilt Fund, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 18.3%
- Held by both
- 3
- Only in HDFC Gilt
- 33
- Only in LIC MF Gilt
- 2
| Security | % of HDFC Gilt | % of LIC MF Gilt |
|---|---|---|
| 7.34% GOI MAT 220464 | 10.61% | 11.17% |
| 7.3% GOI MAT 190653 | 6.37% | 33.43% |
| 182 Days TBILL MAT 171226 | 1.31% | 11.23% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 18.3% means 18.3% 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 HDFC Gilt Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| 6.9% GOI MAT 150465 | 16.42% |
| 6.94% GOI MAT 110536 | 7.83% |
| 7.18% GOI MAT 140833 | 6.39% |
| 6.97% Karnataka SDL Mat 260228 | 5.77% |
| 7.27% Gujarat SDL ISD 171225 MAT 171234 | 4.12% |
Largest holdings only in LIC MF Gilt Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| 91 DAYS TBILL RED 10-12-2026 | 22.49% |
| 364 DAYS TBILL RED 10-12-2026 | 17.99% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | HDFC Gilt | LIC MF Gilt |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Debt | 84.2% | 96.3% |
| Cash and others | 15.8% | 3.7% |
HDFC Gilt vs LIC MF Gilt: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | HDFC Gilt Fund | LIC MF Gilt Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.46% | 0.70% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.39% | 0.59% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 0.82% | 1.10% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 0.70% | 0.97% |
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 HDFC Gilt with
HDFC Gilt Fund vs LIC MF Gilt Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HDFC Gilt Fund and LIC MF Gilt Fund?
Both are Gilt funds, run by HDFC Mutual Fund and LIC Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 18.3%. HDFC Gilt Fund charges 0.46% a year and LIC MF Gilt Fund 0.70%.
Which has given higher returns, HDFC Gilt Fund or LIC MF Gilt Fund?
Over 1 year: HDFC Gilt Fund +1.97%, LIC MF Gilt Fund +2.20%. Over 3 years: HDFC Gilt Fund +6.10% a year, LIC MF Gilt Fund +5.41% a year. Over 5 years: HDFC Gilt Fund +5.27% a year, LIC MF Gilt Fund +4.86% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, HDFC Gilt Fund or LIC MF Gilt Fund?
HDFC Gilt Fund charges less: 0.46% a year against 0.70%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do HDFC Gilt Fund and LIC MF Gilt Fund overlap?
18.3%. They hold 3 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being 7.34% GOI MAT 220464, 7.3% GOI MAT 190653, 182 Days TBILL MAT 171226. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is riskier, HDFC Gilt Fund or LIC MF Gilt Fund?
On SEBI's riskometer, HDFC Gilt Fund is rated Moderate and LIC MF Gilt Fund Low to Moderate. Over 3 years, the standard deviation of daily returns was 2.66% and 3.47% a year.
Which is better for SIP, HDFC Gilt Fund or LIC MF Gilt Fund?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹6,97,984 in HDFC Gilt Fund (XIRR 5.3% a year) and ₹6,86,636 in LIC MF Gilt Fund (XIRR 4.6% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both HDFC Gilt Fund and LIC MF Gilt Fund?
Yes. 18.3% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages HDFC Gilt Fund and LIC MF Gilt Fund?
HDFC Gilt Fund: Anil Bamboli, Gopal Agrawal. LIC MF Gilt Fund: Pratik Harish Shroff, Rahul Singh.
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.