Index funds · same index, head to head
Nifty Smallcap 250 index funds compared
6 index funds track the Nifty Smallcap 250 — same stocks, same weights. Yet the same ₹10,000 monthly SIP over the last 3 years (Direct plans, identical dates) ended between ₹3.90 L and ₹3.93 L: a ₹2,604 gap (0.47 percentage points of XIRR a year) from costs and tracking alone.
| Fund | Data from | 1-yr SIP XIRR | 3-yr SIP XIRR | 5-yr SIP XIRR | ₹10,000/mo for 3 yrs | vs best (3 yrs) | 1-yr return (lump sum) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edelweiss Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund | Dec 2022 | 11.16% | 6.11% | — | ₹3.93 L | best | 4.66% |
| Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund | Oct 2019 | 10.78% | 5.98% | 13.64% | ₹3.92 L | −₹684 | 4.40% |
| HDFC Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund | May 2023 | 10.46% | 5.73% | — | ₹3.91 L | −₹2,106 | 4.22% |
| SBI Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund | Nov 2022 | 10.40% | 5.70% | — | ₹3.91 L | −₹2,285 | 4.16% |
| ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund | Nov 2021 | 10.32% | 5.66% | 13.34% | ₹3.91 L | −₹2,461 | 4.15% |
| Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund | Nov 2020 | 10.67% | 5.64% | 13.28% | ₹3.90 L | −₹2,604 | 4.37% |
Direct plans, official AMFI NAVs as of 4 Oct 2026, SIP on the first business day of each month, identical dates for every fund. Ordered by 3-year SIP XIRR; funds with less history are listed last. Ordering is historical, not a recommendation — check each fund's current expense ratio. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
Questions
Which Nifty Smallcap 250 index fund has given the best SIP returns?
Over the last 3 years, on identical dates and Direct plans, Edelweiss Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund had the highest SIP XIRR (6.11%) and Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund the lowest (5.64%) among 6 Nifty Smallcap 250 index funds with 3 years of history. The gap reflects expense ratios and tracking error; it can change, so check costs before choosing.
Why do index funds on the same index give different returns?
They hold the same stocks, so the difference comes from the expense ratio (charged daily inside the NAV), tracking error (how closely the fund follows the index after cash flows, dividends and rebalancing) and cash held for redemptions. Over long periods, a lower expense ratio is the most reliable advantage.
See also: all index funds · other indices · rolling returns by index.