ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan
Direct Plan, Growth option · Data as on 30-10-2026
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund is a Gilt fund and ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan is a Solution fund. In the 3 years to 30-10-2026, ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct) returned 6.2% a year and ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct) returned 6.3% a year. ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund charges 0.58% a year and ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan 1.22% (Direct plans). Their portfolios overlap 31.3%: they hold 4 of the same securities.
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund
Gilt
- 3 year return
- 6.2%
- Expense ratio
- 0.58%
- NAV
- ₹114.42
ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan
Solution
- 3 year return
- 6.3%
- Expense ratio
- 1.22%
- NAV
- ₹17.09
Which is better, ICICI Prudential Gilt or ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan? Key differences
It depends on what you want from the fund. These are the differences in numbers, from the data on this page.
- ICICI Prudential Gilt returned more over 5 years: 6.1% a year against 5.7%.
- ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan returned more over 3 years: 6.3% a year against 6.2%.
- ICICI Prudential Gilt costs less: 0.58% a year against 1.22% (Direct plans).
- ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan swung less over 3 years: a standard deviation of 1.3% a year against 2.4%.
- ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan fell less in its worst fall since 28-02-2019: −2.7% against −3.7%.
- ICICI Prudential Gilt is the larger fund: ₹9,118 Cr against ₹79 Cr.
- Their portfolios overlap 31.3%: 4 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 | ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Fund house | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund |
| Category | Gilt | Solution |
| AUM | ₹9,118 Cr (30-09-2026) | ₹79 Cr (30-09-2026) |
| NAV | ₹114.42 (Direct) | ₹17.09 (Direct) |
| Expense ratio (Direct) | 0.58% | 1.22% |
| Expense ratio (Regular) | 1.11% | 2.14% |
| Riskometer | Not available | Not available |
| Benchmark | Nifty All Duration G-Sec Index | Nifty Composite Debt Index |
| Launch date | 19-08-1999 | 27-02-2019 |
| Minimum investment | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Lock in | None | 5 years, or until retirement if earlier |
| Fund managers | Manish Banthia, Raunak Surana | Darshil Dedhia, Rohit Lakhotia |
| Exit load | Nil | Nil |
ICICI Prudential Gilt vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct) | −1.33% | −2.32% | +0.99% | +1.91% | +6.23% | +6.08% | +7.15% |
| ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct) | −0.51% | −0.46% | +1.67% | +3.20% | +6.26% | +5.74% | -- |
| 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.
ICICI Prudential Gilt vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: Year-wise Returns
| Year | GiltICICI Prudential Gilt | Retirement Fund Pure Debt PlanICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | +1.11% | +2.34% |
| 2025 | +7.33% | +6.73% |
| 2024 | +8.73% | +8.38% |
| 2023 | +8.83% | +7.06% |
| 2022 | +4.27% | +3.73% |
| 2021 | +4.40% | +4.62% |
ICICI Prudential Gilt vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: Rolling Returns
Every holding period of both funds
Rolling returns
Every 3-year holding period, 1,130 of them, one for each trading day from 28-02-2022 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.
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct)
to
Jul 2022Apr 2020
to
Apr 2023Feb 2021
to
Feb 2024Nov 2021
to
Nov 2024Sept 2022
to
Sept 2025Jun 2023
to
Jun 2026
How the periods spread
| Fund | Below 0% | 0-5% | 5-10% | 10-15% | 15-20% | 20-25% | Above 25% | Mean | Median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Gilt | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.3% | 7.2% | 5.3% | 9.6% |
| ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan | 0.0 | 0.8 | 99.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.7% | 6.8% | 5.0% | 9.3% |
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 28-02-2019. Past returns do not promise future returns.
ICICI Prudential Gilt vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: 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 01-02-2019 to 30-10-2026: 93 instalments, ₹9,30,000 in all.
| Investment | Invested | Value now | Gain | Return a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential GiltICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct) | ₹9,30,000 | ₹11,93,830 | ₹2,63,830 | 6.3% |
| ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt PlanICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct) | ₹9,30,000 | ₹11,83,878 | ₹2,53,878 | 6.1% |
ICICI Prudential GiltICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt PlanICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (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.
ICICI Prudential Gilt vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: Risk and Drawdowns
How much each fund swings, and the worst fall over the same days
Risk and return
| Measure | ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +1.91% | +3.20% |
| Standard deviation | 3.42% | 1.75% |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.98 | -1.17 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.32 | -1.54 |
| Maximum drawdown | −3.7% (27-10-2026) | −1.4% (23-10-2026) |
| 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 | ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.23% | +6.26% |
| Standard deviation | 2.39% | 1.32% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.09 | 0.18 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.12 | 0.25 |
| Maximum drawdown | −3.7% (27-10-2026) | −1.4% (23-10-2026) |
| 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 | ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +6.08% | +5.74% |
| Standard deviation | 2.23% | 1.34% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.12 | -0.05 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.17 | -0.06 |
| Maximum drawdown | −3.7% (27-10-2026) | −1.4% (23-10-2026) |
| 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 | ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct) | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Return (CAGR) | +8.10% | +7.22% |
| Standard deviation | 4.32% | 1.76% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.47 | 1.16 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.67 | 1.75 |
| Maximum drawdown | −12.3% (19-08-2013) | −2.7% (26-03-2020) |
| Beta | -- | -- |
| Alpha | -- | -- |
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.
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct)
| Fund | Worst fall | High before it | Bottom | Back at the high | Time to climb back | Below its high today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct) | −3.7% | 14-08-2026 | 27-10-2026 | Not yet | -- | −3.4% |
| ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct) | −2.7% | 06-03-2020 | 26-03-2020 | 23-04-2020 | 28 days | −1.1% |
From daily values since 28-02-2019, 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.
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (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.
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (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.
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (Direct)
ICICI Prudential Gilt vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: Portfolio Overlap
From each fund's latest monthly portfolio: ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund, September 2026; ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan, September 2026
Holdings in common
- Overlap
- 31.3%
- Held by both
- 4
- Only in ICICI Prudential Gilt
- 42
- Only in ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan
- 12
| Security | % of ICICI Prudential Gilt | % of ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Government Securities | 21.22% | 17.33% |
| Government Securities | 8.24% | 11.97% |
| Government Securities | 14.11% | 5.64% |
| Government Securities | 0.03% | 2.52% |
Overlap: for each holding both funds own, the smaller of its two weights, added up. 31.3% means 31.3% 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 ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Government Securities | 6.80% |
| Government Securities | 3.51% |
| State Government of Maharashtra | 3.02% |
| State Government of Maharashtra | 2.93% |
| State Government of Uttar Pradesh | 2.65% |
Largest holdings only in ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan
| Security | % of fund |
|---|---|
| Nirma Ltd. | 7.56% |
| Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. | 6.42% |
| LIC Housing Finance Ltd. | 6.39% |
| Muthoot Finance Ltd. | 6.30% |
| Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd. | 5.11% |
Asset and sector split
Share of each fund, from its latest monthly portfolio
Asset allocation
| Asset | ICICI Prudential Gilt | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Debt | 97.1% | 88.0% |
| Cash and others | 2.9% | 12.0% |
ICICI Prudential Gilt vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: Expense Ratio
What each plan charges a year, from AMFI's expense ratio file
| Charge | ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Total expense ratio (Direct) | 0.58% | 1.22% |
| Base expense ratio (Direct) | 0.49% | 1.04% |
| Total expense ratio (Regular) | 1.11% | 2.14% |
| Base expense ratio (Regular) | 0.94% | 1.84% |
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
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund vs ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund and ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan?
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund is a Gilt fund, ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan is a Solution fund, run by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. Their portfolios overlap 31.3%. ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund charges 0.58% a year and ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan 1.22%.
Which has given higher returns, ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund or ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan?
Over 1 year: ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund +1.91%, ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan +3.20%. Over 3 years: ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund +6.23% a year, ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan +6.26% a year. Over 5 years: ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund +6.08% a year, ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan +5.74% a year. As on 30-10-2026. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Which has the lower expense ratio, ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund or ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan?
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund charges less: 0.58% a year against 1.22%. These are the Direct plans' total expense ratios reported to AMFI.
How much do ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund and ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan overlap?
31.3%. They hold 4 of the same securities, the largest shared ones being Government Securities, Government Securities, Government Securities. From each fund's latest monthly portfolio.
Which is better for SIP, ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund or ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan?
Over the last 5 years, a monthly SIP of ₹10,000 from 01-10-2021 to 30-10-2026 grew to ₹7,08,531 in ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund (XIRR 5.8% a year) and ₹7,07,290 in ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan (XIRR 5.8% a year). Both received 61 instalments. Past returns do not promise future returns.
Can I invest in both ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund and ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan?
Yes. 31.3% of each fund's money sits in the same holdings, so some of the two investments would move together.
Who manages ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund and ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan?
ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund: Manish Banthia, Raunak Surana. ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund Pure Debt Plan: Darshil Dedhia, Rohit Lakhotia.
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.