What this page gives you
A live comparison of every "Other" mutual fund in India — index funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), fund of funds (FoFs), gold mutual funds, silver funds, and overseas / international funds. Each row shows the latest NAV, 1Y/2Y/3Y returns, AUM and expense ratio.
What is in the "Other" mutual fund bucket?
SEBI's "Other Schemes" classification covers passive and specialty funds that do not fit the equity / debt / hybrid / solution-oriented buckets. The four most relevant sub-categories for retail investors:
| Category | What it is | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Index Fund | Tracks an index (Nifty 50, Sensex, etc.) — passive, no manager bets | Lowest-cost equity exposure |
| ETF | Index fund traded on exchange — buy/sell intraday like a stock | Tactical equity / sector / commodity bets |
| Fund of Funds (FoF) | Invests in other mutual funds (Indian or international) | Access to international equity, multi-asset strategies |
| Gold Fund / Gold ETF | Tracks physical gold price | Portfolio diversifier, inflation hedge |
Why passive (index) investing has won
Over the last 10+ years, more than 60% of actively-managed large-cap funds in India have underperformed their benchmark Nifty 50. The percentage is even higher in the US — over 90% of US large-cap active funds underperform the S&P 500 over 15 years (SPIVA scorecard data).
Index funds and ETFs sidestep this by simply matching the index. Their advantage is structural — low cost. A typical Nifty 50 index fund has an expense ratio of 0.10–0.20% in direct plan, vs 1.0–1.5% for an active large-cap fund. That 1% per year compounds to ~10% extra wealth over a decade.
Index fund vs ETF — which to choose?
| Feature | Index Fund | ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Trades on exchange | No — buy/sell with AMC at end-of-day NAV | Yes — buy/sell intraday like a stock |
| Demat account required | No | Yes |
| SIP available | Yes, freely | Limited (some brokers offer ETF SIP) |
| Tracking error | Slightly higher (0.05–0.20%) | Lower (closer to index) |
| Liquidity | Always at NAV | Depends on bid-ask spread; can have premium/discount |
| Best for | Long-term SIP investors | Tactical / one-shot allocations, sectoral bets |
For most retail SIP investors, an index fund is the simpler choice. ETFs are better when you want intraday execution, sectoral / thematic exposure (banking ETF, IT ETF), or have a demat-only setup.
Gold mutual funds — when they help
Gold has historically been a portfolio diversifier — it tends to rise when equities fall (negative correlation in stress events) and acts as a hedge against rupee depreciation. A 5–10% gold allocation in a long-term portfolio has improved risk-adjusted returns in most rolling 10-year windows.
- Gold Mutual Fund: invests in a Gold ETF — no demat needed, accepts SIP, slightly higher expense ratio.
- Gold ETF: traded on NSE/BSE, lower expense, requires demat account, no SIP at most brokers.
- Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB): not a mutual fund — Govt. of India product paying 2.5% annual interest plus gold price appreciation. Tax-free at maturity. Best risk-adjusted gold instrument for long-term holders.
International / overseas funds
Overseas / international funds (typically structured as FoFs) give Indian investors access to US equities, global tech, and emerging market exposure without needing a foreign brokerage account. They are useful for:
- Diversification — Indian markets are ~3% of global market cap; pure India exposure is undiversified.
- Currency hedge — rupee depreciation against USD adds return for an unhedged USD fund.
- Sectoral access — Indian markets lack exposure to global mega-caps like Apple, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Tesla.
How "Other" funds are taxed
- Indian-equity index funds & ETFs (Nifty, Sensex, Banking, etc.): equity-oriented tax — STCG 20%, LTCG 12.5% above ₹1.25L.
- Gold funds, gold ETFs, international funds, debt FoFs: non-equity-oriented — taxed at slab rate post April 2023 regardless of holding period.
- Silver funds: non-equity-oriented — slab rate.
- Sovereign Gold Bonds: tax-free at maturity if held the full 8 years; taxable as capital gains if exited early.
A simple "Other" funds portfolio
20% Nasdaq 100 / S&P 500 Fund of Fund (global equity diversifier)
15% Liquid / Short-Duration Debt Fund (stability)
5% Gold Mutual Fund or SGB (inflation hedge)
Rebalance annually. Total expense: under 0.5% per year. Beats most actively-managed retail portfolios over 10+ year horizons.