Short Duration Funds

Short-duration mutual funds, a.k.a. short-term funds, are debt funds that invest in debt and money market securities with a portfolio duration of one to three years. These funds offer a great alternative to traditional investment options for investors.

Best Short Duration Mutual Funds

List of the top-performing short duration mutual funds sorted by returns with their AUM and Expense Ratio.

Sort by

24 Mutual Funds
5Y return

What is a Short-Duration Fund?

As the name suggests, short-term mutual funds invest in short-term debt securities. According to the regulatory guidelines set by SEBI for mutual fund schemes, short-duration funds are required to allocate their investments in debt and money market instruments so that the portfolio's Macaulay duration falls within a one to three-year range.

The Macaulay duration is an indicator of how sensitive the investment portfolio is to fluctuations in interest rates, which can affect the value of debt securities as market rates shift.

These funds primarily invest in short-term debt instruments like certificates of deposit (CDs), commercial papers (short-term corporate IOUs), and government treasury bills. These instruments offer regular interest payments and return your principal investment upon maturity.

The shorter maturity of the underlying securities in short-term funds indicates lower risk compared to long-duration debt funds. Since short-term securities are less sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, the potential for price swings in the fund is also minimised.

Compared to equity funds, short-term funds generally offer lower potential returns. However, they typically provide steadier and more predictable returns than other debt funds with longer maturities.

Key Features of a Short-Duration Fund

  • Moderate Risk: Lower risk compared to long-duration funds but higher risk than liquid or ultra-short-term funds,
  • Income Generation: Regular income through interest payments,
  • Liquidity: Generally offers higher liquidity than long-duration funds;
  • Suitable Investment Horizon: Ideal for investors with an investment horizon of one to three years.

Please Note: While short-duration funds aim to provide stability, it's essential to remember that the value of fund units can fluctuate based on market conditions. Investors should carefully consider their risk tolerance and financial goals before investing.

Benefits vs Risks of Investing in Short-Duration Mutual Funds

BenefitsRisks
Relatively stable incomeLower potential returns than long-duration funds
Moderate risk profileCredit risk (risk of issuer default)
High liquidityInterest rate risk (though lower than long-duration funds)

Bandhan Bond Fund - Short Term Plan Direct Plan Growth Leads AUM Growth in the Short Term Category

In the past six months, the Bandhan Bond Fund - Short Term Plan Direct Plan Growth has emerged as the leader in AUM growth, witnessing an impressive addition of ₹756.08 crore. This positions it as one of the top-performing Short Term mutual funds in terms of investor interest and fund growth.

Financial Services Sector tops in Short Term Funds

Over the last 6 months, Short Term category has seen increased allocation towards Industrial, Basic Materials, Financial Services sectors and allocation in Securitize, Energy, Consumer Cyclical sectors has decreased

Sectoral allocation of Short Term Funds
As of 02 Apr 2025
Sector
AUM
Financial Services
Financial Services

Increased by 2.10%, in last 6M

60.8K Cr
Industrial
Industrial

Increased by 6.96%, in last 6M

2.9K Cr
Utilities
Utilities

Decreased by 0.78%, in last 6M

2.32K Cr
Energy
Energy

Decreased by 7.55%, in last 6M

1.28K Cr
Consumer Cyclical
Consumer Cyclical

Decreased by 7.08%, in last 6M

306.24 Cr
Basic Materials
Basic Materials

Increased by 5.64%, in last 6M

95.63 Cr
Health
Health

Decreased by 4.75%, in last 6M

37.03 Cr
Securitize
Securitize

Decreased by 100.00%, in last 6M

0 Cr