Short Term funds in India
45 plans (22 Regular, 23 Direct), rated on their track record against the median fund in their category and their peers. Data as of 8 Nov 2026.
For money needed in one to three years. Rate rises cause small dips; most of the return comes from the interest earned. SEBI requires short term funds to keep the portfolio's duration at roughly one to three years.
The difference, on ₹10 lakh invested three years ago, between the strongest short term fund (7.1% a year) and the weakest (6.2% a year). Same category, same SEBI rules, same market. 9 of 20 funds beat the median fund in their category over the same period.
Regular plans, to the latest NAV. Past returns, not a forecast.
Regular plans (22)
| Fund | Rating | 3Y return | 3Y vs index | Expense ratio | AUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sundaram Short Term Fund (Formerly Known as Sundaram Short Duration Fund)Sundaram Mutual Fund · 4.8 yrs | A+ | 6.8% | +0.2% | 0.73% | ₹190 cr |
| HDFC Short Term FundHDFC Mutual Fund · 16.4 yrs | A+ | 7.0% | +0.5% | 0.67% | ₹13,966 cr |
| Axis Short Term FundAxis Mutual Fund · 16.8 yrs | A+ | 7.1% | +0.6% | 0.95% | ₹7,391 cr |
| SBI Short Term FundSBI Mutual Fund · 19.3 yrs | A | 6.7% | +0.1% | 0.87% | ₹12,964 cr |
| ICICI Prudential Short Term FundICICI Prudential Mutual Fund · 20.6 yrs | A | 7.0% | +0.4% | 1.03% | ₹18,446 cr |
| Nippon India Short Term FundNippon India Mutual Fund · 20.6 yrs | A | 6.9% | +0.4% | 0.95% | ₹6,348 cr |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Short Term FundAditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund · 20.6 yrs | A | 6.8% | +0.3% | 0.96% | ₹5,269 cr |
| TRUSTMF Short Term FundTrust Mutual Fund · 5.2 yrs | B | 6.5% | -0.1% | 0.74% | ₹64 cr |
| UTI Short Term FundUTI Mutual Fund · 19.2 yrs | B | 6.6% | 0.0% | 0.81% | ₹1,704 cr |
| Groww Short Term FundGroww Mutual Fund · 13.1 yrs | B | 6.5% | -0.1% | 1.06% | ₹94 cr |
| Canara Robeco Short Term FundCanara Robeco Mutual Fund · 15.5 yrs | B | 6.3% | -0.3% | 0.99% | ₹267 cr |
| Kotak Short Term FundKotak Mahindra Mutual Fund · 20.6 yrs | B | 6.5% | -0.1% | 1.12% | ₹13,956 cr |
| Invesco India Short Term FundInvesco Mutual Fund · 19.6 yrs | B | 6.6% | -0.0% | 1.07% | ₹505 cr |
| Bank Of India Short Term FundBank of India Mutual Fund · 17.9 yrs | B | 7.0% | +0.4% | 1.19% | ₹254 cr |
| DSP Short Term FundDSP Mutual Fund · 20.6 yrs | B | 6.4% | -0.2% | 0.96% | ₹3,212 cr |
| JM Short Term FundJM Financial Mutual Fund · 4.2 yrs | C | 6.2% | -0.3% | 1.09% | ₹78 cr |
| Mahindra Manulife Short Term FundMahindra Manulife Mutual Fund · 5.7 yrs | C | 6.6% | +0.0% | 1.24% | ₹77 cr |
| Tata Short Term FundTata Mutual Fund · 20.6 yrs | C | 6.2% | -0.4% | 1.11% | ₹2,868 cr |
| Mirae Asset Short Term FundMirae Asset Mutual Fund · 8.6 yrs | C | 6.3% | -0.2% | 1.05% | ₹501 cr |
| LIC MF Short Term FundLIC Mutual Fund · 7.8 yrs | C | 6.4% | -0.2% | 1.14% | ₹120 cr |
| Franklin India Short Term FundFranklin Templeton Mutual Fund · 0.2 yrs | – | – | – | 0.96% | ₹233 cr |
| JioBlackRock Short Term FundJio BlackRock Mutual Fund · 0.2 yrs | – | – | – | 1.01% | ₹113 cr |
Direct plans (23)
| Fund | Rating | 3Y return | 3Y vs index | Expense ratio | AUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groww Short Term FundGroww Mutual Fund · 13.1 yrs | A+ | 7.5% | +0.2% | 0.32% | ₹94 cr |
| Sundaram Short Term Fund (Formerly Known as Sundaram Short Duration Fund)Sundaram Mutual Fund · 4.8 yrs | A+ | 7.3% | +0.1% | 0.28% | ₹190 cr |
| Axis Short Term FundAxis Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | A | 7.7% | +0.4% | 0.42% | ₹7,391 cr |
| Mahindra Manulife Short Term FundMahindra Manulife Mutual Fund · 5.7 yrs | A | 7.6% | +0.4% | 0.33% | ₹77 cr |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Short Term FundAditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | A | 7.5% | +0.2% | 0.36% | ₹5,269 cr |
| Bandhan Short Term FundBandhan Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | A | 7.6% | +0.4% | 0.38% | ₹8,628 cr |
| ICICI Prudential Short Term FundICICI Prudential Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | A | 7.6% | +0.4% | 0.45% | ₹18,446 cr |
| Kotak Short Term FundKotak Mahindra Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | B | 7.3% | +0.1% | 0.38% | ₹13,956 cr |
| HDFC Short Term FundHDFC Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | B | 7.3% | +0.1% | 0.39% | ₹13,966 cr |
| Nippon India Short Term FundNippon India Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | B | 7.5% | +0.3% | 0.40% | ₹6,348 cr |
| Canara Robeco Short Term FundCanara Robeco Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | B | 7.0% | -0.3% | 0.36% | ₹267 cr |
| LIC MF Short Term FundLIC Mutual Fund · 7.8 yrs | B | 7.4% | +0.1% | 0.36% | ₹120 cr |
| Tata Short Term FundTata Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | B | 7.0% | -0.2% | 0.37% | ₹2,868 cr |
| Mirae Asset Short Term FundMirae Asset Mutual Fund · 8.6 yrs | B | 7.2% | -0.0% | 0.25% | ₹501 cr |
| TRUSTMF Short Term FundTrust Mutual Fund · 5.2 yrs | B | 7.0% | -0.2% | 0.27% | ₹64 cr |
| SBI Short Term FundSBI Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | C | 7.1% | -0.1% | 0.42% | ₹12,964 cr |
| JM Short Term FundJM Financial Mutual Fund · 4.2 yrs | C | 7.0% | -0.2% | 0.39% | ₹78 cr |
| Bank Of India Short Term FundBank of India Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | C | 7.6% | +0.3% | 0.54% | ₹254 cr |
| Invesco India Short Term FundInvesco Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | C | 7.1% | -0.1% | 0.39% | ₹505 cr |
| UTI Short Term FundUTI Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | C | 7.2% | -0.1% | 0.41% | ₹1,704 cr |
| DSP Short Term FundDSP Mutual Fund · 13.8 yrs | C | 7.0% | -0.2% | 0.37% | ₹3,212 cr |
| Franklin India Short Term FundFranklin Templeton Mutual Fund · 0.2 yrs | – | – | – | 0.34% | ₹233 cr |
| JioBlackRock Short Term FundJio BlackRock Mutual Fund · 0.8 yrs | – | – | – | 0.35% | ₹113 cr |
Common questions
What does a short term fund invest in?
SEBI requires short term funds to keep the portfolio's duration at roughly one to three years.
How many short term funds beat their index over 3 years?
9 of 20 short term funds (Regular plans with 3 years of history) beat the median fund in their category over the 3 years to 8 Nov 2026.
How are these funds rated?
Each fund is compared only with funds in its category and plan type, on its long-run return over the index, risk-adjusted return, consistency, cost and portfolio. The ratings describe the track record so far; our own backtest found they do not predict future returns.
Ratings describe past track records and are not a recommendation to buy or sell. Read the scheme documents before investing.