What is a Medium to Long Duration Fund?

Medium to Long Duration Fund is a SEBI-defined mutual-fund category. Each scheme in it must follow the asset-allocation and exposure rules set out in the SEBI October-2017 categorisation circular. Debt bucket for tax purposes.

How many Medium to Long Duration Fund schemes are listed on ProfitGuruOnline?

We currently track 69 active Medium to Long Duration Fund schemes (Direct plan, Growth option). The list updates daily after AMFI publishes new NAVs and SEBI re-classifies schemes. 5 of them sit in the top quartile by 5-year CAGR.

What is the average return of Medium to Long Duration Fund schemes?

Over the last 5 years, the average Medium to Long Duration Fund (Direct plan) has returned 7.41% CAGR — that turns ₹1 lakh into roughly ₹142,953. Over the last 12 months the category averaged 3.22%. Top-quartile funds in this category typically beat the average by 3-6 percentage points per year — fund selection within a category matters more than the category choice itself.

Which is the best Medium to Long Duration Fund for 5-year returns?

Over the trailing 5-year window, the highest-returning Medium to Long Duration Fund in our database is **IL&FS Infrastructure Debt Fund Series 2A - Growth - Direct** (IL&FS) with a CAGR of 21.09%. The category average is 7.41%. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns — top-quartile funds in one window often slip in the next.

Which Medium to Long Duration Fund is hot right now (1-year return)?

The best 1-year return in the Medium to Long Duration Fund category right now is **IL&FS Infrastructure Debt Fund Series 2A - Growth - Direct** (IL&FS) at 10.44%. 1-year numbers are noisy and shouldn't be the sole basis for picking — cross-check rolling returns and 5-year CAGR before deciding.

What is the spread of Medium to Long Duration Fund returns?

Across all Medium to Long Duration Fund schemes with 5 years of history, the 5-year CAGR ranges from 5.45% (worst) to 21.09% (best), with a median of 6.41%. That spread of about 16 percentage points between top and bottom is a useful gauge of how much fund selection matters in this category.

Are most Medium to Long Duration Fund schemes Direct or Regular plans?

On ProfitGuruOnline you can browse either Medium to Long Duration Fund Direct plans (lower expense ratio, no broker commission baked in) or Regular plans (sold through distributors). Use the filter on the category page. Direct typically outperforms Regular by 0.5-1% per year in the same scheme — meaningful over 10+ years.

How is a Medium to Long Duration Fund taxed?

Medium to Long Duration Fund is a Debt scheme. For units bought on or after 1 April 2023, all gains are taxed at slab rate, no indexation. Pre-Apr-2023 holdings keep the old rules (20% LTCG with indexation if held over 36 months).

Is Medium to Long Duration Fund suitable for SIP investing?

Less critical. Debt funds have low day-to-day volatility, so lumpsum and SIP outcomes converge. SIP still works for discipline, especially if your savings flow is monthly.

What time horizon is right for a Medium to Long Duration Fund?

Medium to Long Duration Fund schemes are best held 5+ years and timed to a falling-rate cycle. NAV can fall 5-10% if rates rise sharply.

What is the risk of investing in Medium to Long Duration Fund schemes?

Lower risk than equity but not zero — credit-risk funds can lose 10-20% from a single corporate default; long-duration funds lose 5-10% if rates spike. Liquid and overnight funds are the safest debt sub-categories.

Should I pick a single Medium to Long Duration Fund or diversify?

Two or three schemes from different AMCs is usually enough for a single category. Beyond that you'd be re-creating the category average minus your selection cost. Focus on consistency (% of rolling-return windows that ended positive) over chasing top performers — top quartile rarely repeats.

How often should I review my Medium to Long Duration Fund holdings?

Quarterly is plenty for monitoring NAVs and aggregate gain; annually (or after major regulatory changes like Budget 2024) is the right cadence for re-evaluating against alternatives. Don't churn based on 1-month or even 1-year underperformance — equity funds need 3-5 year horizons to fairly judge.

How does ProfitGuruOnline rank Medium to Long Duration Fund schemes?

We rank funds within each category by point-to-point CAGR over the chosen window (1Y, 3Y, 5Y, 7Y, 10Y, since inception), then assign quartile and decile bands so any fund's standing relative to peers is one click away. Numbers are recomputed nightly after AMFI's NAV publish.

Where does the Medium to Long Duration Fund category data come from?

Daily NAVs are pulled directly from AMFI's published feed. Category classification uses SEBI's October-2017 mutual-fund categorisation circular. We compute returns, rolling-window stats, SIP backtests, drawdowns and Sharpe ratios in-house — no third-party feeds, no hidden adjustments.

SEBI sub-category

Medium to Long Duration Fund funds

Funds

Direct plans only

Category 1Y avg

+3.22%

Category 5Y CAGR

+7.41%

Direct vs Regular

Direct Regular

5-Year return distribution

How the 69 Medium to Long Duration Fund funds spread across return buckets. Taller bars = more funds in that band.

Risk vs Return — Medium to Long Duration Fund

Each dot is a fund. Up-and-left = high return for low risk (the sweet spot). Down-and-right = under-performing with high volatility. Colour = 5-year peer quartile.

Q1 (top 25%) Q2 Q3 Q4 (bottom 25%) 31 funds plotted

All Medium to Long Duration Fund funds

Sort by: 1Y 3Y 5Y 7Y 10Y

#	Scheme	NAV	1Y	3Y	5Y	7Y	10Y	Peer Q (5Y)	Sharpe	Max DD
1	IL&FS Infrastructure Debt Fund Series 2A - Growth - Direct IL&FS	1,979,043.43	+10.44%	+32.95%	+21.09%	—	—	Q1	—	—
2	IL&FS Infrastructure Debt Fund Series 2B - Growth - Direct IL&FS	2,510,326.40	+7.93%	+25.76%	+18.22%	—	—	Q1	—	—
3	IL&FS Infrastructure Debt Fund Series 2C - Growth - Direct IL&FS	2,472,409.34	+8.14%	+22.53%	+16.78%	—	—	Q1	—	—
4	BANK OF INDIA Conservative Hybrid Fund Fund-Direct Plan-Growth Bank of India	37.96	+2.88%	+7.28%	+10.33%	+10.44%	+7.66%	Q1	0.16	-4.1%
5	UTI Medium to Long Duration Fund-Growth - Direct UTI	83.20	+3.54%	+6.45%	+8.71%	+6.44%	+5.76%	Q1	-0.08	-1.6%
6	BANDHAN Fixed Term Plan Series 179 DIRECT PLAN-GROWTH (3652 days) Bandhan	18.08	+5.40%	+7.82%	+7.09%	+7.23%	—	Q2	0.58	-1.1%
7	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 1 (3668 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	17.70	+5.40%	+7.79%	+7.08%	+7.18%	—	Q2	0.62	-0.9%
8	Nippon India Fixed Maturity Plan XLI - Series 8 - Direct Plan - Growth Option Nippon India	17.73	+5.39%	+7.80%	+7.06%	+7.16%	—	Q2	0.57	-1.1%
9	ICICI Prudential Fixed Maturity Plan - Series 85 - 10 Years Plan I - Direct Plan Cumulative Option ICICI Prudential	18.02	+5.35%	+7.74%	+7.05%	+7.20%	—	Q2	0.56	-1.0%
10	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 6 (3668 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	17.22	+5.24%	+7.69%	+6.94%	+7.02%	—	Q2	0.57	-0.9%
11	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 34 (3682 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	14.86	+4.98%	+7.65%	+6.93%	—	—	Q2	0.44	-1.3%
12	ICICI Prudential Bond Fund - Direct Plan - Growth ICICI Prudential	44.89	+4.40%	+7.45%	+6.65%	+7.24%	+7.47%	Q2	0.36	-1.7%
13	Kotak Bond Fund - Growth - Direct Kotak	90.65	+4.47%	+7.33%	+6.59%	+6.97%	+7.24%	Q3	0.28	-1.8%
14	Nippon India Medium to Long Duration Fund - Direct Plan Growth Plan-Bonus Option Nippon India	30.05	+4.36%	+6.98%	+6.53%	+6.65%	+7.40%	Q3	0.13	-2.1%
15	Nippon India Medium to Long Duration Fund - Direct Plan Growth Plan - Growth Option Nippon India	105.16	+4.36%	+6.98%	+6.53%	+6.65%	+7.40%	Q3	0.13	-2.1%
16	SBI Medium to Long Duration Fund-DIRECT PLAN -Growth SBI	80.14	+4.52%	+7.12%	+6.46%	+7.32%	+7.81%	Q3	0.22	-1.3%
17	LIC MF Medium to Long Duration Fund-Direct Plan-Growth LIC	82.10	+4.50%	+7.50%	+6.41%	+6.36%	+6.75%	Q3	0.34	-1.6%
18	UTI Annual Interval Fund - I - Direct Plan - Growth Option UTI	36.71	+5.27%	+6.24%	+6.40%	+5.85%	+5.63%	Q3	—	-0.0%
19	Aditya Birla Sun Life Fixed Term Plan - Series TI (1837 days) - Direct Plan - Growth Option Aditya Birla Sun Life	13.57	+5.69%	+7.25%	+6.35%	—	—	Q3	0.95	-0.1%
20	Aditya Birla Sun Life Fixed Term Plan - Series TJ (1838 days) - Direct Plan - Growth Option Aditya Birla Sun Life	13.62	+5.79%	+7.28%	+6.34%	—	—	Q3	0.80	-0.2%
21	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) Series 45 (1840 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.53	+5.56%	+7.09%	+6.23%	—	—	Q3	0.71	-0.1%
22	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 44 (1855 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.55	+5.59%	+7.11%	+6.19%	—	—	Q3	0.70	-0.1%
23	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 46 (1850 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.55	+5.51%	+7.04%	+6.19%	—	—	Q3	0.47	-0.2%
24	Nippon India Quarterly Interval Fund - Series II - Direct Plan Growth Plan - Growth Nippon India	38.82	+5.91%	+6.65%	+6.15%	+5.62%	+6.21%	Q3	—	-0.0%
25	HDFC Income Fund - Growth Option - Direct Plan HDFC	67.48	+4.13%	+7.00%	+6.12%	+6.28%	+6.35%	Q3	0.14	-2.2%
26	Nippon India Fixed Maturity Plan - XLIII - Series 1- Direct Plan - Growth Option Nippon India	13.41	+5.64%	+7.23%	+6.06%	—	—	Q3	0.84	-0.1%
27	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 49 (1823 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.44	+5.74%	+7.25%	+6.04%	—	—	Q3	0.75	-0.2%
28	Aditya Birla Sun Life Income Fund - Growth - Direct Plan Aditya Birla Sun Life	140.79	+3.46%	+6.48%	+5.94%	+6.53%	+7.15%	Q3	-0.05	-2.0%
29	DSP FMP Series - 264 - 60M - 17D - Direct - Growth DSP	13.34	+5.85%	+7.34%	+5.93%	—	—	Q4	0.80	-0.2%
30	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 50 (1843 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.31	+5.74%	+7.24%	+5.84%	—	—	Q4	0.72	-0.2%
31	JM Medium to Long Duration Fund (Direct) - Growth Option —	72.23	+3.43%	+6.81%	+5.68%	+5.32%	+4.85%	Q4	0.07	-1.5%
32	CANARA ROBECO INCOME FUND - DIRECT PLAN - GROWTH OPTION Canara Robeco	64.66	+3.69%	+6.44%	+5.66%	+6.13%	+6.97%	Q4	-0.08	-1.4%
33	HSBC Medium to Long Duration Fund - Direct Growth HSBC	48.86	+3.37%	+6.66%	+5.61%	+5.66%	+6.26%	Q4	0.01	-1.6%
34	Bandhan Medium to Long Duration Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Bandhan	74.84	+5.39%	+6.61%	+5.45%	+5.93%	+6.95%	Q4	-0.01	-1.9%
35	Aditya Birla Sun Life Fixed Term Plan - Series TQ (1879 days) - Direct Plan - Growth Option Aditya Birla Sun Life	13.20	+5.84%	+7.45%	—	—	—	—	0.85	-0.4%
36	Axis Fixed Maturity Plan - Series 129 (108 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth Axis	10.21	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
37	Axis Fixed Maturity Plan - Series 130 (92 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth Axis	10.18	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
38	Axis Fixed Term Plan - Series 113 (1228 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth Axis	12.67	+6.24%	+7.22%	—	—	—	—	0.92	-0.2%
39	DSP FMP Series - 267 - 1172 Days - Direct - Growth DSP	13.00	+6.45%	+7.28%	—	—	—	—	0.68	-0.6%
40	DSP FMP Series - 268 - 1281 Days - Direct - Growth DSP	12.78	+5.71%	+7.03%	—	—	—	—	0.57	-0.1%
41	DSP FMP Series - 270 - 1172 Days - Direct - Growth DSP	12.75	+6.43%	+7.27%	—	—	—	—	0.67	-0.6%
42	Franklin India Medium to Long Duration Fund - Direct Growth Franklin India	11.28	+4.68%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
43	HDFC FMP 1269D March 2023 - Growth Option - Direct Plan HDFC	12.61	+5.65%	+7.17%	—	—	—	—	0.64	-0.3%
44	HDFC FMP 1359D September - Growth Option - Direct Plan HDFC	13.00	+5.58%	+7.02%	—	—	—	—	0.55	-0.2%
45	HDFC FMP 1406D August 2022 - Growth Option - Direct Plan HDFC	12.99	+5.68%	+7.18%	—	—	—	—	0.86	-0.1%
46	HDFC FMP 1861D March 2022 - Growth Option - Direct Plan HDFC	13.27	+5.99%	+7.53%	—	—	—	—	0.92	-0.3%
47	HDFC FMP 1876D March 2022 - Growth Option - Direct Plan HDFC	13.22	+5.94%	+7.52%	—	—	—	—	0.92	-0.4%
48	HDFC FMP 2638D February 2023 - Growth Option - Direct Plan HDFC	13.21	+4.95%	+7.89%	—	—	—	—	0.50	-1.8%
49	ICICI Prudential Fixed Maturity Plan - Series 88 - 1303 Days Plan S - Direct Plan - Growth ICICI Prudential	12.74	+5.85%	+7.32%	—	—	—	—	0.81	-0.2%
50	Kotak FMP Series 304-Direct Plan-Growth Option Kotak	13.30	+4.87%	+8.09%	—	—	—	—	0.48	-2.1%
51	Nippon India Fixed Maturity Plan-XLIII-Series 5- Direct Plan-Growth Option Nippon India	13.49	+5.17%	+7.70%	—	—	—	—	0.66	-0.9%
52	Nippon India Fixed Maturity Plan-XLIV-Series 1-Direct Plan-Growth Option Nippon India	13.32	+5.88%	+7.60%	—	—	—	—	0.90	-0.4%
53	Nippon India Fixed Maturity Plan-XLV-Series 5-Direct Plan-Growth Option Nippon India	13.22	+7.87%	+8.70%	—	—	—	—	3.27	-0.3%
54	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 51 (1846 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.30	+5.78%	+7.28%	—	—	—	—	0.76	-0.2%
55	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 52 (1848 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.28	+5.79%	+7.28%	—	—	—	—	0.77	-0.2%
56	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 53 (1839 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.30	+5.80%	+7.33%	—	—	—	—	0.79	-0.2%
57	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 54 (1842 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.28	+5.78%	+7.35%	—	—	—	—	0.78	-0.2%
58	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 55 (1849 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.25	+5.77%	+7.33%	—	—	—	—	0.74	-0.2%
59	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 57 (1835 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.17	+5.78%	+7.36%	—	—	—	—	0.77	-0.2%
60	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 58 (1842 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.28	+5.83%	+7.36%	—	—	—	—	0.75	-0.3%
61	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 59 (1618 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.02	+5.33%	+6.94%	—	—	—	—	0.35	-0.3%
62	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 60 (1878 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.20	+5.94%	+7.47%	—	—	—	—	0.85	-0.3%
63	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 67 (1467 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	13.12	+5.56%	+7.09%	—	—	—	—	0.56	-0.2%
64	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP) - Series 76 (1221 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth SBI	12.57	+5.55%	+6.84%	—	—	—	—	0.26	-0.2%
65	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP)- Series 61 (1927 Days)- Direct Plan- Growth option SBI	13.25	+5.83%	+7.47%	—	—	—	—	0.78	-0.4%
66	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP)-Series 74 (1243 Days)- Direct Plan- Growth SBI	12.67	+5.66%	+7.03%	—	—	—	—	0.56	-0.1%
67	SBI Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP)-Series 81 (1157 Days) Direct Plan- Growth SBI	12.48	+5.80%	+7.03%	—	—	—	—	—	-0.1%
68	TRUSTMF FIXED MATURITY PLAN -SERIES II (1196 DAYS)-DIRECT PLAN -GROWTH —	1,298.70	+6.80%	+8.37%	—	—	—	—	2.67	-1.6%
69	UTI Fixed Term Income Fund Series XXXVI - I (1574 Days) - Direct Plan - Growth Option UTI	12.95	+5.77%	+7.55%	—	—	—	—	0.85	-0.6%

Direct plans typically outperform Regular plans by around 50 basis points per year because they carry no distributor commission. The "Peer Q (5Y)" column shows the fund's quartile within this category over the 5-year window: Q1 = top 25%.

Medium to Long Duration Fund funds

5-Year return distribution

Risk vs Return — Medium to Long Duration Fund

All Medium to Long Duration Fund funds

Frequently asked questions