Do you have to choose Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25, Nifty 500, or Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index Fund? Discover the winner utilizing 21 years of NSE TRI information.
In my earlier article on Nifty 50 vs Nifty 500 Index Fund, the conclusion was clear — Nifty 500 is a sensible core holding for many long-term traders. However many readers (particularly Prasanna within the feedback) raised a sound follow-up query — what if I need a bit extra spice in my portfolio? Ought to I have a look at the Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 or the Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index as a substitute of plain Nifty 500?
That is the pure subsequent query after getting moved previous Nifty 50. Each Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 and Nifty LargeMidcap 250 promise greater returns by tilting extra aggressively towards mid and small caps. However do they really ship sufficient further return to compensate for the additional danger? And between the 2 of them, which one is structurally higher?
On this article, I’ve analysed precise NSE TRI information from 1st April 2005 to sixteenth June 2026 — 21.2 years, two main crashes (2008 and COVID), and 5,259 each day observations per index. I’ve checked out lump sum returns, drawdowns, rolling CAGR throughout 1, 3, 5, and 10 yr home windows, rolling volatility throughout all 4 home windows, and rolling SIP XIRR throughout all 4 home windows.
Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 vs Nifty 500: Which Is Finest?
One necessary methodology notice up entrance. I’ll present information throughout 1Y, 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y home windows for completeness — so you may see how every index behaves at each horizon. However the verdict on the finish is predicated purely on the LONGEST obtainable information: full 21.2-year lump sum efficiency and 10-year rolling home windows. Quick home windows (1Y, 3Y, even 5Y) replicate entry and exit timing luck greater than they replicate index construction. Judging an fairness index on short-window worst-case numbers tells you in regards to the dangerous market timing of the interval, not in regards to the index itself. For fairness indices, construction is revealed solely over lengthy horizons.
Understanding What These Three Indices Truly Personal
Earlier than we have a look at the info, allow us to perceive what every of those three indices really owns. The variations aren’t small — they determine every little thing that follows.
Nifty 500
The Nifty 500 covers India’s high 500 listed firms and represents roughly 92.3% of NSE’s whole free-float market capitalisation. That is the broadest benchmark of the three. Most significantly, it’s totally market-cap weighted — each inventory will get a weight equal to its precise dimension available in the market. The approximate present composition is roughly Nifty 50 giant caps at 58.6%, Nifty Subsequent 50 at 12.2%, Nifty Midcap 150 at 18.5%, and Nifty SmallCap 250 at 10.7%. This implies your mid and small cap publicity is actual, however proportional to financial weight — no compelled allocation.
Nifty LargeMidcap 250 (NLM 250)
The Nifty LargeMidcap 250 takes the Nifty 100 (the 100 largest shares) and the Nifty Midcap 150, and mandatorily allocates 50% to every phase — reset quarterly. It isn’t market-cap weighted on the phase degree. It’s a rule-based 50:50 break up between giant caps and mid caps. There is no such thing as a small cap publicity in any respect. Mid caps are structurally compelled to be 50% of the portfolio, far greater than their pure ~18% weight within the broader market.
Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25
This index goes one step additional. It allocates 50% to giant caps (high 100), 25% to mid caps (subsequent 150), and 25% to small caps (subsequent 250) — reset quarterly. So mid cap weight is roughly the identical as market-cap pure weight, however small cap weight is greater than doubled (25% vs market pure ~10–11%). The quarterly reset forces sell-high and buy-low behaviour mechanically — when small caps run up, they get trimmed; once they crash, they get purchased.
The structural distinction between these three is the complete story of this text. Nifty 500 is “personal the market as is”. NLM 250 is “drive 50% mid cap, no small cap”. Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 is “drive 50% giant + 25% mid + 25% small with quarterly rebalancing”.
Lump Sum Invested — What Did Rs.1 Lakh Grow to be?
Allow us to begin with the best query — and an important one. What if somebody invested Rs.1 lakh in every of those three indices on 1st April 2005 and held throughout to sixteenth June 2026? What’s the worth right this moment?
That is the one true “full obtainable historical past” lump sum take a look at we are able to run, as a result of that’s when the Nifty LargeMidcap 250 and Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 information begins. The window is 21.2 years and covers two of the biggest market crashes in fashionable Indian historical past.
| Index | CAGR p.a. | Rs.1L – 21.2Y | Max Drawdown | Composition |
| Nifty 500 TRI | 14.09% | Rs.16.37 L | -63.7% | Market-cap weighted |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 TRI | 15.55% | Rs.21.45 L | -67.6% | 50% giant + 50% mid |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 TRI | 15.50% | Rs.21.24 L | -66.8% | 50% giant + 25% mid + 25% small |
The total-history numbers are unambiguous. NLM 250 and Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 are statistical twins on absolute return — Rs.21.45L vs Rs.21.24L. Each beat Nifty 500 by ~Rs.5 lakh over 21 years, or roughly 1.4–1.5% further CAGR.
The associated fee is actual — max drawdown is about 4 share factors deeper (-67% vs -63.7%). And in actual index funds, the headline 1.5pp hole sometimes shrinks to ~1pp after expense ratios, monitoring error, and affect prices of quarterly rebalancing. We’ll come again as to whether that residual hole is well worth the structural complexity within the evaluation part.
Over the complete 21.2 years, NLM 250 (Rs.21.45L) and Multicap 50:25:25 (Rs.21.24L) are tied for first on backtested return.
Nifty 500 delivered Rs.16.37L — Rs.5 lakh much less on a Rs.1 lakh funding.
Headline return hole of ~1.5pp shrinks to ~1pp in actual funds after expense ratios and monitoring error. Nonetheless actual, however smaller.
Drawdown — How Deep Does the Ache Go?
The lump sum chart tells you the place you ended. The drawdown chart tells you what you needed to dwell via. Drawdown measures how far beneath its all-time excessive every index was at any time limit. That is the precise ache an actual investor felt of their portfolio in the course of the worst phases.
The 2008 World Monetary Disaster
That is the deepest crash in all three indices’ historical past.
- Nifty 500: -63.7% peak-to-trough (4 Jan 2008 ? 27 Oct 2008). Recovered to a brand new excessive on 27 March 2014 — about 5.4 years.
- Nifty LargeMidcap 250: -67.6% peak-to-trough (7 Jan 2008 ? 9 Mar 2009). Recovered on 2 April 2014 — about 5.1 years.
- Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25: -66.8% peak-to-trough (7 Jan 2008 ? 9 Mar 2009). Recovered on 13 October 2010 — simply 1.6 years.
Learn that final line once more. The Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 fell virtually as laborious as NLM 250, however recovered to a brand new excessive in 1.6 years versus 5+ years for the opposite two. That is the quarterly rebalancing of the Multicap doing actual work — when small caps crashed in 2008, the 25% small cap allocation saved shopping for them at low costs. After they bounced sharply in 2009–10, the Multicap captured the complete rebound.
The 2018–2020 Mid/Small Cap Bear + COVID Combo
The Multicap 50:25:25 entered a drawdown on 23 January 2018 — effectively earlier than COVID — due to the mid/small cap bear market that lasted until March 2020. Mixed with COVID, the entire drawdown reached -41.7% over 790 days.
For comparability, NLM 250 misplaced -37.8% in simply 59 days (COVID-only crash). Nifty 500 misplaced -38.1% in 66 days.
In 2008, Multicap 50:25:25 recovered in 1.6 years vs 5+ years for the opposite two — quarterly rebalancing pays off in V-shaped recoveries.
In 2018–2020, Multicap 50:25:25 had the worst drawdown at -41.7% as a result of small caps stayed weak for two+ years.
Nifty 500 had the shallowest absolute worst drawdown (-63.7%) — however solely by 4pp. The restoration time issues extra, and Multicap led on that depend.
Rolling CAGR Returns — Each Doable Investor’s Expertise
A single point-to-point CAGR relies on entry-date luck. The sincere method to examine indices is to compute the return for each potential holding interval within the dataset.
I’ll stroll via all 4 home windows — 1Y, 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y — so you may see the complete image. However my verdict on the finish will lean on the 10Y information, as a result of that’s the place the structural return premium turns into evident and entry-date luck is averaged out.
1 12 months Rolling Returns
| Index | Min | Median | Imply | Max | % Unfavourable | # Home windows |
| Nifty 500 | -59.2% | 12.0% | 16.7% | 118.7% | 19.3% | 5008 |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | -62.1% | 13.3% | 18.7% | 138.3% | 18.8% | 5008 |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | -61.2% | 12.1% | 18.7% | 141.9% | 21.6% | 5008 |
At 1-year holding, all three indices swing from roughly +120% to -60%. That is primarily noise — fairness over 1 yr isn’t a severe funding, it’s a market timing wager. The imply ordering (NLM 250 = Multicap > Nifty 500) is in line with the long-term story, however the worst-case numbers at this horizon shouldn’t be used to decide on between indices.
Imply 1Y CAGR — NLM 250 18.65%, Multicap 50:25:25 18.73%, Nifty 500 16.70%.
Worst-case numbers at 1Y are dominated by entry timing — they inform you about 2008/2020, not in regards to the index.
At 1 yr, fairness is the improper asset class. Use these numbers just for context.
3 Years Rolling Returns
| Index | Min | Median | Imply | Max | % Unfavourable |
| Nifty 500 | -9.0% | 13.6% | 13.0% | 38.3% | 5.8% |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | -12.0% | 15.7% | 14.6% | 37.6% | 6.6% |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | -10.7% | 15.3% | 14.5% | 38.2% | 7.8% |
At 3 years, the imply CAGR clearly favours the tilted indices — NLM 250 14.56%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.48%, Nifty 500 12.98%. The ~1.5pp hole exhibits up persistently.
The worst-case and negative-frequency numbers fluctuate, however once more, these are too brief a window to base an fairness index resolution on. The three-year minimums replicate particular bad-luck entry factors round 2008, not structural inferiority.
Imply 3Y CAGR — NLM 250 14.56%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.48%, Nifty 500 12.98%. The ~1.5pp premium for tilted indices is constant.
Median 3Y CAGR — NLM 250 15.67%, Multicap 50:25:25 15.29%, Nifty 500 13.58%. Identical sample.
3 years remains to be too brief a window to be the premise for index choice.
5 Years Rolling Returns
| Index | Min | Median | Imply | Max | % Unfavourable |
| Nifty 500 | -1.4% | 13.6% | 13.1% | 28.9% | 1.0% |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | -1.5% | 15.2% | 14.7% | 31.7% | 0.8% |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | -1.6% | 14.9% | 14.5% | 32.6% | 0.5% |
At 5 years, fairness investing lastly begins behaving like fairness investing. Unfavourable 5-year intervals have collapsed to lower than 1% for each index. The imply CAGR ordering is rock stable — NLM 250 14.69%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.53%, Nifty 500 13.08%.
Discover that Multicap 50:25:25 has the LOWEST negative-period frequency at 5 years (0.5%) — half that of Nifty 500. The compelled rebalancing smooths multi-year expertise.
Imply 5Y CAGR — NLM 250 14.69%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.53%, Nifty 500 13.08%. Tilted indices win by ~1.5pp.
Multicap 50:25:25 has the LOWEST negative-5Y frequency (0.5%) — quarterly rebalancing helps.
5 years is getting nearer to the proper horizon, however 10 years is the gold normal for index choices.
10 Years Rolling Returns — The Most Necessary Window
| Index | Min | Median | Imply | Max | % Unfavourable |
| Nifty 500 | 5.0% | 13.5% | 12.8% | 18.2% | 0% |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | 6.4% | 15.1% | 14.5% | 20.7% | 0% |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | 5.5% | 14.7% | 14.1% | 20.3% | 0% |
That is the window that issues most for selecting an fairness index. The ten-year rolling information covers 2,775 totally different home windows — each potential 10-year holding interval within the dataset. Have a look at three issues:
- Zero unfavourable intervals. Each single 10-year holding in all three indices was optimistic. Endurance all the time received.
- Imply CAGR ordering. NLM 250 14.50%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.15%, Nifty 500 12.76%. The tilted indices win by 1.3–1.7 share factors — and that is the AVERAGE end result throughout each entry level in 21 years.
- Minimal (flooring) CAGR ordering. NLM 250 6.4%, Multicap 50:25:25 5.5%, Nifty 500 5.0%. The tilted indices win BOTH on the imply AND on the ground at 10 years. NLM 250’s worst-case 10-year expertise was 1.4 share factors higher than Nifty 500’s.
That is vital. At shorter home windows (3Y, 5Y), Nifty 500 had cleaner worst-case numbers. At 10 years, that flips — NLM 250 has each the very best imply AND the very best flooring. Multicap 50:25:25 sits proper behind NLM 250 on each metrics. Nifty 500 trails on each.
Zero unfavourable 10-year intervals for any of the three indices. Affected person traders all the time received.
Imply 10Y CAGR — NLM 250 14.50%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.15%, Nifty 500 12.76%. Clear ordering.
Ground 10Y CAGR — NLM 250 6.4%, Multicap 50:25:25 5.5%, Nifty 500 5.0%. Identical ordering — tilted indices win on the ground too.
Over the proper horizon, tilted indices ship extra return AND higher worst-case. That’s the reply.
Rolling Normal Deviation — The Shock of This Evaluation
Rolling normal deviation measures precise skilled volatility — how a lot returns bounced round for every rolling holding interval. Essentially the most sincere measure of “how anxious was holding this index?”
1 12 months Rolling Normal Deviation
| Index | Common | Min | Max |
| Nifty 500 | 18.79% | 9.54% | 44.26% |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | 18.80% | 9.67% | 42.82% |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | 18.74% | 9.84% | 40.88% |
The typical 1-year rolling normal deviations of all three indices are inside 0.06 share factors of one another. Eighteen-point-eight %. For all three.
Volatility at 1Y is basically equivalent throughout all three (~18.8%).
Greater tilt does NOT imply greater volatility when quarterly rebalancing is inbuilt.
3 Years Rolling Normal Deviation
| Index | Common | Min | Max |
| Nifty 500 | 19.34% | 12.00% | 35.07% |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | 19.26% | 12.54% | 34.19% |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | 19.16% | 12.91% | 32.92% |
Identical sample at 3 years. All three inside 0.2 share factors. The tilted indices are barely LESS unstable than Nifty 500, no more.
5 Years Rolling Normal Deviation
| Index | Common | Min | Max |
| Nifty 500 | 19.10% | 13.64% | 29.74% |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | 18.98% | 14.05% | 29.24% |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | 18.91% | 14.51% | 28.27% |
Multicap 50:25:25 has the LOWEST common volatility (18.91%), NLM 250 within the center (18.98%), and Nifty 500 the HIGHEST (19.10%). Sure — the so-called “extra aggressive” Multicap 50:25:25 is the least unstable of the three at 5 years. The quarterly rebalancing offsets the upper mid/small cap weight.
10 Years Rolling Normal Deviation
| Index | Common | Min | Max |
| Nifty 500 | 18.47% | 15.01% | 23.98% |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | 18.37% | 15.12% | 23.61% |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | 18.35% | 15.31% | 23.10% |
At an important window — 10 years — Multicap 50:25:25 has the LOWEST common volatility (18.35%), then NLM 250 (18.37%), then Nifty 500 (18.47%). The hole is tiny however the ordering is constant. The tilted indices ship +1.5pp further imply CAGR over Nifty 500 with NO further volatility value.
At 10 years, the tilted indices ship extra return AND barely LESS volatility than Nifty 500.
That is the closest factor to a “free lunch” you will notice in fairness index evaluation. The structural premium is actual.
Rolling SIP XIRR — How the Actual Investor Skilled This
Lump sum evaluation assumes somebody had Rs.1 lakh sitting round in April 2005. Most Indians make investments via month-to-month SIPs. SIP XIRR is the extra related metric for the standard investor.
I’ve computed the SIP XIRR for Rs.10,000 month-to-month SIPs throughout each potential 1, 3, 5, and 10 yr window within the dataset. Once more — the decision ought to lean on the 10-year window. The shorter home windows are helpful context however not resolution standards.
1 12 months Rolling SIP XIRR
| Index | Min | Median | Imply | Max | % Unfavourable | # Home windows |
| Nifty 500 | -69.2% | 13.0% | 17.5% | 116.7% | 25.1% | 243 |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | -72.5% | 14.5% | 19.6% | 134.2% | 23.5% | 243 |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | -71.6% | 13.7% | 19.7% | 136.6% | 24.3% | 243 |
A 1-year SIP is basically playing — XIRR ranged from -72% to +137% throughout the three indices. Imply ordering is in line with longer home windows (tilted > broad), however worst-case is dominated by 2008. Don’t use 1Y SIP numbers to choose an index.
Imply 1Y SIP XIRR — Multicap 50:25:25 19.7%, NLM 250 19.6%, Nifty 500 17.5%.
1-year SIPs aren’t a severe investing technique — these numbers are context, not resolution.
3 12 months Rolling SIP XIRR
| Index | Min | Median | Imply | Max | % Unfavourable | # Home windows |
| Nifty 500 | -26.5% | 14.4% | 13.1% | 31.6% | 7.8% | 219 |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | -30.0% | 17.3% | 14.8% | 34.7% | 8.7% | 219 |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | -28.6% | 17.1% | 14.8% | 35.7% | 10.5% | 219 |
At 3 years, the tilted indices present a transparent ~1.7pp imply XIRR premium. Median is roughly 3pp greater. The worst-case losses and unfavourable frequency fluctuate barely, however once more — 3 years is simply too brief a window to make an fairness index resolution on. The dangerous 3-year SIP home windows are principally these ending in 2008–09.
Imply 3Y SIP XIRR — NLM 250 14.8%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.8%, Nifty 500 13.1%.
Median 3Y SIP XIRR — NLM 250 17.3%, Multicap 50:25:25 17.1%, Nifty 500 14.4%.
Tilted indices outperform on central tendency. Worst-case at 3 years displays 2008, not index high quality.
5 12 months Rolling SIP XIRR
| Index | Min | Median | Imply | Max | % Unfavourable | # Home windows |
| Nifty 500 | -5.8% | 14.5% | 13.5% | 26.0% | 0.5% | 195 |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | -5.9% | 17.1% | 15.3% | 29.3% | 0.5% | 195 |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | -8.3% | 16.9% | 15.2% | 29.8% | 1.5% | 195 |
At 5 years, the tilted indices give a ~1.8pp imply XIRR premium over Nifty 500. Unfavourable-period frequency is beneath 1% for 2 of the three, and only one.5% for Multicap 50:25:25. Fairness at 5 years is beginning to be secure. However 10 years is the place the construction actually exhibits.
Imply 5Y SIP XIRR — NLM 250 15.3%, Multicap 50:25:25 15.2%, Nifty 500 13.5%.
Median 5Y SIP XIRR — NLM 250 17.1%, Multicap 50:25:25 16.9%, Nifty 500 14.5%.
All three indices had lower than 2% unfavourable 5Y SIP home windows. Fairness at 5 years is usually secure.
10 12 months Rolling SIP XIRR — The Most Necessary SIP Window
| Index | Min | Median | Imply | Max | % Unfavourable | # Home windows |
| Nifty 500 | 3.9% | 13.7% | 13.4% | 18.4% | 0% | 135 |
| Nifty LargeMidcap 250 | 5.2% | 15.7% | 15.3% | 20.4% | 0% | 135 |
| Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 | 3.7% | 15.3% | 14.8% | 20.1% | 0% | 135 |
The ten-year SIP window confirms what the 10-year rolling CAGR already confirmed. Zero unfavourable intervals for any index. And NLM 250 wins on each imply AND flooring:
- Imply 10Y SIP XIRR — NLM 250 15.3%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.8%, Nifty 500 13.4%.
- Median 10Y SIP XIRR — NLM 250 15.7%, Multicap 50:25:25 15.3%, Nifty 500 13.7%.
- Ground (worst-case) 10Y SIP XIRR — NLM 250 5.2%, Nifty 500 3.9%, Multicap 50:25:25 3.7%.
NLM 250 led on imply, median, AND flooring on the 10-year SIP horizon. Multicap 50:25:25 trailed barely on the ground (slightly below Nifty 500) due to the 2018-2020 small cap bear cycle. However its imply XIRR was nonetheless 1.4pp greater than Nifty 500.
Zero unfavourable 10-year SIP home windows for any of the three indices. Affected person SIP traders all the time received.
NLM 250 led on imply (15.3%), median (15.7%), AND flooring (5.2%) at 10-year SIPs.
Multicap 50:25:25 shut second on imply and median (14.8% and 15.3%), barely trailing on flooring.
Nifty 500’s imply (13.4%) was 1.4–1.9pp behind each tilted indices.
My Evaluation — Why I Nonetheless Decide Nifty 500
After lump sum (21.2 years), rolling CAGR throughout 4 home windows, rolling volatility throughout 4 home windows, and rolling SIP XIRR throughout 4 home windows, right here is the sincere abstract of what the long-term information says — and the place I land.
To be clear about methodology — I’m basing my views on the longest obtainable information: the 21.2-year lump sum, 10-year rolling CAGR (2,775 home windows), and 10-year rolling SIP XIRR (135 home windows). Quick home windows (1Y, 3Y, even 5Y) are proven for completeness however are NOT the premise for the decision.
What the Pure Backtested Returns Say
In case you look ONLY at backtested returns over lengthy horizons, the ordering is evident:
- 21Y lump sum CAGR: NLM 250 15.55%, Multicap 50:25:25 15.50%, Nifty 500 14.09%
- 10Y rolling CAGR imply: NLM 250 14.50%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.15%, Nifty 500 12.76%
- 10Y rolling SIP XIRR imply: NLM 250 15.3%, Multicap 50:25:25 14.8%, Nifty 500 13.4%
Pure returns would inform you to choose NLM 250 first, Multicap second, Nifty 500 final. The headline hole is ~1.5pp CAGR.
However pure backtested CAGR isn’t how actual traders really expertise an index fund. Three real-world components meaningfully change this image — and they’re why my remaining ordering places Nifty 500 first.
Why Nifty 500 Is My Prime Selection
1. Implementation value — the 1.5pp hole shrinks to ~1pp in actual funds.
Backtested CAGR is gross of all real-world prices. Index funds add expense ratios, monitoring error, and affect prices on high. Nifty 500 index funds have the biggest AUM, probably the most competitors, the bottom expense ratios (~0.20%), and the bottom monitoring error as a result of their underlying shares are extremely liquid.
NLM 250 and Multicap 50:25:25 funds are newer, fewer, and cost greater expense ratios (~0.30–0.45%). Extra importantly, their quarterly rebalancing forces transactions in much less liquid mid and small cap shares each quarter, which creates actual affect prices. The dwell CAGR hole between Nifty 500 and the tilted indices might be 0.8–1.0pp, not the 1.5pp the backtested information suggests. Nonetheless actual, however smaller.
2. Behavioural sustainability — the 4pp deeper drawdown issues greater than it appears to be like.
Nifty 500’s worst drawdown was -63.7%. NLM 250 was -67.6%. Multicap 50:25:25 was -66.8%. On paper, that 4 share level distinction appears to be like small. In follow, it’s the distinction between “painful however holdable” and “I can not take any extra” for a lot of traders.
At -64%, your Rs.1 crore portfolio is price Rs.36 lakh. At -67%, it’s price Rs.33 lakh. That further Rs.3 lakh of paper loss on the absolute trough is commonly the place traders capitulate and promote. The perfect index is the one you may maintain via the worst section with out panicking. Nifty 500 is structurally the simplest to carry.
3. Structural defensibility — solely Nifty 500 has an actual funding thesis.
Nifty 500 is the one one of many three that could be a true market-cap weighted index. When an organization grows, its weight goes up. When it shrinks, its weight goes down. That is how markets are alleged to work. There is no such thing as a human-imposed allocation rule.
NLM 250 forces 50% mid cap. Multicap 50:25:25 forces 25% small cap. Why precisely 50%? Why precisely 25%? The reply is — these are arbitrary numbers chosen by the index designers. There is no such thing as a funding thesis behind “50% giant + 50% mid” or “50:25:25”. They’re intelligent guidelines, not funding rules. Nifty 500 wants no protection; the opposite two have to justify their allocation guidelines each time you clarify them.
4. Self-cleansing with out compelled churn.
Nifty 500 mechanically up-weights winners and down-weights losers via market motion. No quarterly compelled rebalancing. When a small cap doubles in worth, it simply turns into a barely larger small cap in Nifty 500 — no compelled promoting. Tilted indices drive you to trim winners and add to losers each quarter. This typically captures rebounds (2009) and typically traps you in falling segments (2018–2020 small caps).
5. The trade-off — what you might be giving up.
Let me be sincere about the fee. By selecting Nifty 500 over NLM 250, you might be possible giving up roughly 1 share level of CAGR per yr (after real-world prices). Over 25 years of a typical SIP corpus, that compounds to a significant quantity.
On a Rs.5 lakh annual SIP for 25 years, the distinction between 13.5% and 14.5% dwell CAGR is roughly Rs.65 lakh on a complete corpus of Rs.7 crore. That’s actual cash. You’re paying that worth for implementation cleanliness, behavioural consolation, and structural simplicity. Whether or not the trade-off is price it depends upon your conviction, your self-discipline, and the way a lot complexity you might be prepared to dwell with.
Why Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Is My Second Selection
If in case you have determined to transcend Nifty 500 for greater returns, NLM 250 is the higher second alternative than Multicap 50:25:25. Right here is why.
1. Wins on each long-window metric over Multicap 50:25:25.
Have a look at the head-to-head — 21Y CAGR (15.55% vs 15.50%), 10Y imply CAGR (14.50% vs 14.15%), 10Y flooring CAGR (6.4% vs 5.5%), 10Y imply SIP XIRR (15.3% vs 14.8%), 10Y flooring SIP XIRR (5.2% vs 3.7%). NLM 250 wins on each long-window metric. The hole is small however constant.
2. Extra liquid shares ? decrease real-world monitoring error.
NLM 250 holds solely the highest 250 shares (Nifty 100 + Nifty Midcap 150). These are probably the most liquid mid-cap names in India. Multicap 50:25:25’s 25% small cap allocation creates greater affect prices and monitoring points in actual index funds. NLM 250 funds will possible observe their benchmark extra cleanly in follow.
3. Prevented extended small cap ache cycles.
In 2018–2020, small caps went via a 2+ yr bear market. Multicap 50:25:25 suffered a -41.7% drawdown over 790 days due to its 25% compelled small cap weight. NLM 250’s worst non-2008 drawdown was -37.8% over 59 days (COVID solely). NLM 250’s construction naturally avoids prolonged small cap underperformance as a result of it has zero small cap weight.
4. Easier construction — just one compelled allocation rule.
NLM 250 has one rule — 50:50 between giant and mid cap. Multicap 50:25:25 has two guidelines — 50% giant, 25% mid, 25% small. Fewer guidelines means much less to defend intellectually, and barely decrease implementation friction.
Why Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 Ranks Third
Multicap 50:25:25 is basically tied with NLM 250 on returns however loses on most different metrics. Right here is why I rank it final.
1. Trailing NLM 250 on each long-window metric.
It’s shut — however persistently behind. 21Y CAGR by 5bps, 10Y imply CAGR by 35bps, 10Y flooring CAGR by 90bps, 10Y SIP XIRR imply by 50bps, 10Y SIP XIRR flooring by 150bps. None of those gaps is big, however all of them favour NLM 250.
2. The 25% small cap weight creates extended drawdown cycles.
The -41.7% drawdown over 790 days in 2018–2020 is the structural value of compelled small cap publicity throughout a multi-year small cap bear market. This isn’t a tail occasion — small caps undergo prolonged underperformance cycles commonly. Multicap 50:25:25 can not escape them structurally.
3. The 2008 restoration story is a one-time V-shape, not a repeatable sample.
Sure — Multicap 50:25:25 recovered from the 2008 GFC in 1.6 years vs 5+ years for the others. The quarterly rebalancing caught the sharp 2009-10 small cap rebound. However this was a particular V-shape restoration. The 2018–2020 cycle was the other — an extended grinding small cap bear the place the rebalancing saved you caught in falling shares. The restoration benefit isn’t a structural function you may depend on.
4. Greater implementation value than NLM 250.
The 25% small cap allocation in Multicap 50:25:25 creates probably the most monitoring error and affect value of the three indices. Small cap shares are the least liquid, and quarterly compelled rebalancing in them is the most costly transaction. Actual index fund returns will lag the backtested numbers extra right here than in both of the opposite two indices.
My Last Verdict
Three indices, 21 years of knowledge. Listed below are the three findings that matter most:
- Discovering 1 – The pure backtested return ordering is NLM 250 ? Multicap 50:25:25 > Nifty 500. Each tilted indices beat Nifty 500 by ~1.5pp CAGR over lengthy horizons on paper.
- Discovering 2 – In actual index funds (after expense ratio, monitoring error, and affect prices), the hole possible shrinks to ~1pp. Nonetheless actual, however smaller than the headline.
- Discovering 3 – All three indices delivered ZERO unfavourable 10-year rolling intervals AND zero unfavourable 10-year SIP home windows. Fairness over a decade has by no means misplaced on this dataset. Endurance issues greater than index choice.
My suggestion order, weighing returns AND implementation AND behaviour AND structural defensibility:
| Rank | Index | Why |
| 1 | Nifty 500 Index Fund | True market-cap weighted, lowest value, shallowest drawdown, best to carry |
| 2 | Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index Fund | In order for you extra aggression — beats Multicap 50:25:25 on each long-window metric |
| 3 | Nifty 500 Multicap 50:25:25 Index Fund | Provided that you particularly need compelled 25% small cap publicity |
Trustworthy disclosure about the fee. By selecting Nifty 500 over the tilted indices, you might be giving up roughly 1 share level of dwell CAGR per yr (after prices). On a Rs.5 lakh annual SIP over 25 years, that compounds to roughly Rs.65 lakh on a complete corpus of about Rs.7 crore. That’s actual cash.
So why nonetheless choose Nifty 500 first? Three causes that collectively justify the commerce.
- Implementation cleanliness. Lowest expense ratios (~0.20%), most fund alternative, lowest monitoring error, no affect value from quarterly small/mid cap rebalancing.
- Behavioural sustainability. -63.7% worst drawdown vs -67% for the tilted indices. That 4pp on the trough is commonly the distinction between holding and capitulating. The perfect index is the one you may maintain.
- Structural defensibility. Nifty 500 owns the precise Indian market — 500 shares, weighted precisely because the market values them. No arbitrary 50:50 or 50:25:25 rule. It’s the solely one of many three you may defend on first rules.
If in case you have determined you need extra fairness danger than Nifty 500, then NLM 250 over Multicap 50:25:25. NLM 250 beats Multicap on each long-window return metric (imply and flooring), has extra liquid underlying shares (solely high 250), and avoids the extended small cap ache cycles that hit Multicap in 2018–2020.
Multicap 50:25:25 is the proper index provided that you particularly need compelled 25% small cap publicity and imagine small caps might be a serious a part of India’s progress story. That could be a reputable lively view — however it’s an lively view, not a default.
The Most Necessary Lesson — Behaviour Nonetheless Beats All the things
The info exhibits that every one three indices turned Rs.1 lakh into Rs.16–21 lakhs over 21 years. The selection between them modifications the result by a number of lakhs. However the alternative to truly keep invested via each crash decides whether or not you take part in any respect.
An investor who offered in the course of the 2008 crash at -67% on NLM 250 turned a paper loss right into a everlasting one. An investor in Multicap 50:25:25 who panicked in the course of the 2018–2020 grind ended up lacking the 2020–2024 mid and small cap super-rally that adopted. The index didn’t lose them cash. Their behaviour did.
The perfect index for you isn’t the one with the very best again examined CAGR — it’s the one you’ll really HOLD in the course of the subsequent main crash with out promoting. That is the deepest motive why Nifty 500 is my high choose. Not as a result of it has the very best backtested return — it doesn’t. However as a result of it’s the best to carry when the subsequent 2008 occurs.
In case you are completely assured you may maintain via a -67% drawdown with out promoting — and also you imagine within the structural premium of tilted indices — then NLM 250 is an inexpensive alternative with ~1pp greater dwell CAGR. However truthfully assess your behavioural temperament first. Most retail traders overestimate their means to carry via extreme drawdowns.
Time in market > timing the market > index choice > every little thing else. The 21-year information spanning two main crashes is unambiguous on this.
Decide the index you may maintain. Maintain it via every little thing. The remainder takes care of itself.
