Best Retirement Funds in India (2026)
Live · updated 2026-09-16 Ranked by data, refreshed from daily NAVs
This is the complete, data-ranked list of retirements we track - every Direct-Growth scheme in the category with a meaningful track record, ordered by long-term quality (King Score). This page is recomputed from NAV data every day, so it cannot go stale, and every fund on it links to a full research page with returns, risk, SIP outcomes, holdings and manager track record.
Tap any column heading to sort. Every fund name links to its full review.
| # | Fund | RS | King | 3M | 6M | 1Y | 3Y CAGR | 5Y CAGR | 10Y CAGR | Sharpe | Roll 3Y | Worst fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Hybrid Conservative | 77 | 84 | 0.9% | 3.1% | 5.3% | 9.6% | 8.6% | n/a | 0.63 | 9.8% | -10.2% |
| 2 | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Hybrid Aggressive | 85 | 79 | -0.5% | 7.6% | 6.1% | 16.4% | 14.6% | n/a | 0.69 | 20.7% | -28.7% |
| 3 | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Equity | 81 | 78 | -0.5% | 7.4% | 6.0% | 18.6% | 18.8% | n/a | 0.71 | 26.0% | -37.2% |
| 4 | Union Retirement Fund | 70 | 73 | 0.4% | 5.8% | 3.1% | 11.9% | n/a | n/a | 0.36 | 18.3% | -17.8% |
| 5 | Tata Retirement Savings Fund- Conservative | 79 | 72 | 1.1% | 4.8% | 4.0% | 7.6% | 6.6% | 8.3% | 0.24 | 9.2% | -11.0% |
| 6 | UTI Retirement Fund | 38 | 70 | 0.1% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 8.3% | 8.8% | 9.0% | 0.3 | 10.6% | -18.9% |
| 7 | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Debt | 67 | 68 | 1.1% | 2.4% | 4.5% | 6.6% | 5.9% | n/a | 0.05 | 6.7% | -2.7% |
| 8 | Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s | 99 | 67 | 2.8% | 15.8% | 11.4% | 14.9% | 11.6% | n/a | 0.57 | 14.7% | -34.2% |
| 9 | Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 40s | 51 | 67 | 0.6% | 4.3% | 1.5% | 10.5% | 8.7% | n/a | 0.34 | 12.8% | -27.3% |
| 10 | Tata Retirement Savings Fund- Moderate | 94 | 64 | 2.2% | 11.3% | 5.1% | 11.7% | 10.2% | 12.9% | 0.41 | 15.4% | -29.6% |
| 11 | SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Aggressive Hybrid | 89 | 64 | 1.6% | 7.3% | 3.2% | 8.5% | 10.6% | n/a | 0.2 | 14.5% | -14.5% |
| 12 | Axis Retirement Fund - Dynamic | 45 | 62 | 0.5% | 5.6% | -1.7% | 11.0% | 7.7% | n/a | 0.36 | 14.3% | -17.1% |
| 13 | HDFC Retirement Savings Fund - Hybrid-Debt | 36 | 62 | 0.0% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 6.5% | 7.0% | 8.2% | -0.0 | 9.3% | -7.8% |
| 14 | Tata Retirement Savings Fund- Progressive | 95 | 61 | 2.2% | 12.7% | 5.1% | 12.4% | 10.2% | 13.8% | 0.39 | 16.8% | -34.2% |
| 15 | SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Conservative Hybrid | 58 | 59 | 1.0% | 3.6% | 1.9% | 6.4% | 7.5% | n/a | 0.01 | 10.6% | -6.9% |
The category returns: 1 month to 10 years𝕏 Share this statWhatsApp
Over the last 1 year, the category averaged 1.7% - the best, Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s, returned 11.4% while the weakest managed -5.8%. That spread is why picking within the category matters. Over 10 years the average compounding rate is 10.3% a year, which turned ₹1 lakh into about ₹266,500.
| Period | Average | Median | Best fund | Weakest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -3.0% | -3.2% | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Debt (-0.5%) | -5.2% |
| 3 months | 0.5% | 0.6% | Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s (2.8%) | -1.5% |
| 6 months | 4.7% | 3.6% | Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s (15.8%) | -0.5% |
| 1 year | 1.7% | 1.5% | Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s (11.4%) | -5.8% |
| 3 years (CAGR) | 9.6% | 8.5% | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Equity (18.6%) | 6.3% |
| 5 years (CAGR) | 9.2% | 8.8% | ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Equity (18.8%) | 5.9% |
| 10 years (CAGR) | 10.3% | 10.0% | HDFC Retirement Savings Fund - Equity (15.2%) | 7.2% |
Averages across every qualifying fund, refreshed daily. Best-fund links open that fund's full review.
What ₹1 lakh became
The same returns, translated into money - at the average pace and at the best fund's pace:
| Held for | Average pace | ₹1 lakh → (average) | ₹1 lakh → (best fund) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 1.7% a year | ₹101,700 | ₹111,400 |
| 3 years | 9.6% a year | ₹131,700 | ₹166,800 |
| 5 years | 9.2% a year | ₹155,300 | ₹236,600 |
| 10 years | 10.3% a year | ₹266,500 | ₹411,600 |
Pre-tax, from historical returns. The averages smooth over a very bumpy ride - see the worst-fall column in the ranking above for what the journey involved.
The category by the numbers
| Funds that qualify | 25 |
| Combined assets | ₹29,907 Cr |
| Average 3-year return | 9.6% a year (best 18.6%, weakest 6.3%) |
| Average 5-year return | 9.2% a year |
| Average worst-ever fall | -21.1% (deepest: -44.9%) |
| Average expense ratio (Direct) | 0.95% |
| Largest fund by assets | HDFC Retirement Savings Fund - Equity (₹6,660 Cr) |
Put the risk number in rupees: at the average worst fall of -21.1%, ₹1 lakh temporarily becomes about ₹78,900. That is the stretch every ranked fund's investors had to sit through at some point - the ranking rewards the funds that made that wait worthwhile.
Momentum check: what is hot right now
As of 2026-09-16, 3 of the 25 funds here rate RS 90 or above (top-decile recent momentum versus peers). The strongest momentum belongs to Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s (RS 99/99). Average return over the last 3 months: 0.5%; over 6 months: 4.7%. Momentum is a snapshot, not a ranking criterion here - but it tells you whether this corner of the market is currently in favour.
Before you pick a retirement fund: four checks
- Open the fund's page and look at the worst-fall figure in rupees - decide whether you could genuinely sit through it without selling.
- Check the rolling-return consistency, not just the trailing return: a fund that delivered in most windows beats one lucky streak.
- Compare its expense ratio against the category average shown above - a persistent 0.5% cost gap compounds into lakhs over decades.
- If you already own funds in this category, check the portfolio overlap section on the fund page - two funds owning the same stocks is one bet, not two.
See every fund's worst-ever fall priced in rupees, its worst rolling year, and how often it recovered - the three numbers that decide whether a withdrawal plan survives.
How to read the table
RS (1-99) is recent momentum versus category peers - 99 is the hottest right now. King (0-100) is the long-term quality composite this list is ranked by. 3M/6M are recent returns; 3Y and 5Y CAGR are annualised longer records. Sharpe is return earned per unit of volatility - higher means smoother compounding. Roll 3Y is the median of every 3-year holding period in the fund's history, the fairest single return number a fund has. Worst fall is the deepest peak-to-bottom loss ever - the number that tests whether you would have stayed invested. Missing values show as n/a, usually because the fund is too young for that measurement.
The top 10, decoded𝕏 Share this statWhatsApp
- ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Hybrid Conservative (Retirement Fund) - King Score 84/100, RS 77/99 right now. 3-year return 9.6% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 10.2% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹89,800). 5-year pace 8.6% a year, median 3-year rolling return 9.8%, sharpe 0.63.
- ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Hybrid Aggressive (Retirement Fund) - King Score 79/100, RS 85/99 right now. 3-year return 16.4% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 28.7% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹71,300). 5-year pace 14.6% a year, median 3-year rolling return 20.7%, sharpe 0.69.
- ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Equity (Retirement Fund) - King Score 78/100, RS 81/99 right now. 3-year return 18.6% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 37.2% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹62,800). 5-year pace 18.8% a year, median 3-year rolling return 26.0%, sharpe 0.71.
- Union Retirement Fund (Retirement Fund) - King Score 73/100, RS 70/99 right now. 3-year return 11.9% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 17.8% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹82,200). Median 3-year rolling return 18.3%, sharpe 0.36.
- Tata Retirement Savings Fund- Conservative (Retirement Fund) - King Score 72/100, RS 79/99 right now. 3-year return 7.6% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 11.0% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹89,000). 5-year pace 6.6% a year, median 3-year rolling return 9.2%, sharpe 0.24.
- UTI Retirement Fund (Retirement Fund) - King Score 70/100, RS 38/99 right now. 3-year return 8.3% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 18.9% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹81,100). 5-year pace 8.8% a year, median 3-year rolling return 10.6%, sharpe 0.3.
- ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Debt (Retirement Fund) - King Score 68/100, RS 67/99 right now. 3-year return 6.6% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 2.7% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹97,300). 5-year pace 5.9% a year, median 3-year rolling return 6.7%, sharpe 0.05.
- Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s (Retirement Fund) - King Score 67/100, RS 99/99 right now. 3-year return 14.9% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 34.2% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹65,800). 5-year pace 11.6% a year, median 3-year rolling return 14.7%, sharpe 0.57.
- Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 40s (Retirement Fund) - King Score 67/100, RS 51/99 right now. 3-year return 10.5% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 27.3% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹72,700). 5-year pace 8.7% a year, median 3-year rolling return 12.8%, sharpe 0.34.
- Tata Retirement Savings Fund- Moderate (Retirement Fund) - King Score 64/100, RS 94/99 right now. 3-year return 11.7% a year, against a worst-ever fall of 29.6% (₹1 lakh briefly ₹70,400). 5-year pace 10.2% a year, median 3-year rolling return 15.4%, sharpe 0.41.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best retirement fund right now?
On our data-driven ranking as of 2026-09-16, ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Hybrid Conservative scores highest (King Score 84/100). That is a description of its record versus peers, not a recommendation - rankings move as NAVs update, and the right fund depends on your goals and risk tolerance.
Are retirement funds risky?
The category's numbers answer this better than adjectives: the average fund here has seen a worst-ever fall of -21.1%, and the deepest fall in the category is -44.9%. If a temporary loss of that size would make you sell, this category (or its allocation size in your portfolio) deserves a rethink. Risk here is not hypothetical - it is a matter of record.
What returns have retirement funds given historically?
Across the 25 funds we track in this category, the average 3-year return is 9.6% a year, with the best at 18.6% and the weakest at 6.3%. Over 5 years the category average is 9.2% a year. These are records, not projections - the next three years owe nothing to the last three.
What is the average 1-year return of retirement funds right now?
As of 2026-09-16, the 25 qualifying funds averaged 1.7% over the last year (median 1.5%). The best, Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s, returned 11.4%; the weakest returned -5.8%. One year is weather, not climate - check the 5 and 10 year columns before drawing conclusions.
Which retirement fund gave the highest return in the last 10 years?
HDFC Retirement Savings Fund - Equity leads with 15.2% a year over 10 years - ₹1 lakh became about ₹411,600 pre-tax. The average across funds with a 10-year record is 10.3% a year. A decade-long record says a lot about the past and nothing certain about the next decade.
How is this list ranked?
Funds are ordered by King Score - a 0-100 composite of 3-year returns, rolling consistency, worst drawdown and Sharpe, each measured against category peers. The full formulas are public - see our methodology page. No fund pays to be here and rankings cannot be bought.
Should I invest in the #1 fund on this list?
We cannot tell you that - MF Terminal is descriptive research, not investment advice. A top rank says the past record was strong versus peers. Read the fund's full page, check the drawdowns you would have to sit through, and decide against your own horizon.
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See every fund's worst-ever fall priced in rupees, its worst rolling year, and how often it recovered - the three numbers that decide whether a withdrawal plan survives.
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All figures pre-tax, from AMFI NAV history. Rankings are descriptive and change with the data. Nothing here is investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any fund. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.