Compare the best ELSS tax saver funds in India — Axis, SBI, Mirae Asset, DSP and HDFC. Save up to ₹46,800 in tax under Section 80C with a 3-year lock-in. Live NAV, returns and risk from RightAdvise database.
Sorted by 5-year CAGR. Click any fund for full analysis — rolling returns, drawdown chart, NAV history and risk ratios.
If you had invested ₹1 lakh 5 years ago in each fund, here is how much it would be worth today. Calculated from 5 years of daily NAV in the RightAdvise database.
💡 What is AAUM? AAUM stands for Average Assets Under Management — the average value of all investor money a fund managed during a specific quarter. Reported to SEBI every quarter via AMFI. More reliable than a single-day AUM snapshot.
| Fund | NAV | AAUM | 1Y Return | 3Y CAGR | 5Y CAGR | 10Y CAGR | Max Drawdown | Sharpe (3Y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund | ₹458.76 2026-06-04 | ₹28.6K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 | -1.6% | +19.3 % p.a. | +17.2 % p.a. | +15.0 % p.a. | -38.2% | 1.06 |
| HDFC ELSS Tax Saver | ₹1,422.13 2026-06-04 | ₹15.1K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 | -4.7% | +16.2 % p.a. | +16.7 % p.a. | +14.2 % p.a. | -44.1% | 0.90 |
| DSP ELSS Tax Saver Fund | ₹149.58 2026-06-04 | ₹16.0K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 | -2.5% | +16.7 % p.a. | +14.3 % p.a. | +16.0 % p.a. | -37.2% | 0.85 |
| Mirae Asset ELSS Tax Saver Fund | ₹55.04 2026-06-04 | ₹25.5K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 | +2.3% | +15.2 % p.a. | +13.2 % p.a. | +17.9 % p.a. | -37.8% | 0.73 |
| Axis ELSS Tax Saver Fund | ₹103.64 2026-06-04 | ₹31.8K Cr Jan–Mar 2026 | -3.3% | +10.8 % p.a. | +7.9 % p.a. | +12.3 % p.a. | -33.5% | 0.41 |
ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme) funds must invest at least 80% of their assets in equity and equity-related instruments as per SEBI regulations. They qualify for tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act up to ₹1.5 lakh per year. ELSS funds have a mandatory 3-year lock-in period — the shortest among all 80C investment options.
ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme) funds are equity mutual funds that double as tax-saving instruments under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. They offer the dual benefit of potentially superior long-term returns through equity investing and immediate tax savings of up to ₹46,800 per year for those in the 30% tax bracket. Among all 80C options — PPF, NSC, tax-saving FDs — ELSS funds have the shortest lock-in period of just 3 years, and historically the highest return potential.
The best ELSS tax saver funds are essentially diversified equity funds with a 3-year lock-in. The lock-in is per SIP instalment — each monthly SIP matures separately after 3 years. Gains above ₹1 lakh per year are taxed at 10% as Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) — which is lower than most other tax-saving instruments. If you are comparing ELSS vs PPF: PPF gives 7.1% guaranteed but locks for 15 years; the best ELSS funds have historically delivered 12-15% CAGR over 10+ years but with equity market risk.
PPF gives 7.1% guaranteed returns with 15-year lock-in and complete tax exemption at all stages (EEE). ELSS has a 3-year lock-in but equity market risk — returns are not guaranteed. Historically, the best ELSS funds have delivered 12-15% CAGR over 10-year periods, significantly above PPF. The right answer depends on your risk tolerance: PPF for guaranteed, safe 80C savings; ELSS for higher return potential with market risk. Most financial planners suggest using both — PPF for safety, ELSS for growth.
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