NAVs as of: 5 November 2026
- 3 years: ₹10,000 a month (₹3,60,000 in all) became ₹3,78,864 at the median, 3.34% a year
- 3 years: ₹3,60,000 invested at once became ₹4,67,669 at the median, 9.11% a year
- 3 years: every fund ended with more as a lumpsum than as a SIP
- 5 years: ₹10,000 a month (₹6,00,000 in all) became ₹7,22,767 at the median, 7.37% a year
- 5 years: ₹6,00,000 invested at once became ₹8,52,906 at the median, 7.30% a year
- 5 years: every fund ended with more as a lumpsum than as a SIP
SIP vs lumpsum in Nifty Index funds over 5 years yielded a median value of ₹7,22,767 from a total investment of ₹6,00,000. The median lumpsum value for the same 5-year period reached ₹8,52,906. Over the 3-year window, the median SIP value was ₹3,78,864 on an investment of ₹3,60,000. The median lumpsum value for this 3-year period was ₹4,67,669.
How the comparison was made
Both ways of investing use the same funds: the Direct Growth plans of Nifty Index funds that have the whole period’s NAV history. The SIP puts in ₹10,000 on the first trading day of each month. The lumpsum puts in the same total, ₹6,00,000 for the 5-year window, on the first day. Both are valued at the NAV on 5 November 2026. The figures are the median across funds; the table also gives the lowest and highest fund. They describe what happened in these periods and say nothing about the next one.
SIP vs lumpsum in Nifty Index funds: the results
| Way of investing | Invested | Median value | Median annualised return | Lowest to highest fund |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years: SIP (36 × ₹10,000) | ₹3,60,000 | ₹3,78,864 | 3.34% | 2.65% to 3.46% |
| 3 years: lumpsum (₹3,60,000 on day one) | ₹3,60,000 | ₹4,67,669 | 9.11% | 8.34% to 9.18% |
| 5 years: SIP (60 × ₹10,000) | ₹6,00,000 | ₹7,22,767 | 7.37% | 6.63% to 7.45% |
| 5 years: lumpsum (₹6,00,000 on day one) | ₹6,00,000 | ₹8,52,906 | 7.30% | 6.62% to 7.41% |
The median SIP value is lower than the median lumpsum value across both the 3-year and 5-year periods. Over 3 years, the median lumpsum value of ₹4,67,669 compares to the median SIP value of ₹3,78,864. Every fund ended with more as a lumpsum than as a SIP in both periods. These results belong to the periods ending 5 November 2026.
| Window | Funds with the full history | Lumpsum ended with more | SIP ended with more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years to 5 November 2026 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 5 years to 5 November 2026 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
FAQs
What is the difference between a SIP and a lumpsum?
A SIP invests a fixed amount at regular intervals, here on the first trading day of every month. A lumpsum invests the whole amount at once, here on the first day of the period.
How much did a ₹10,000 monthly SIP in Nifty Index funds become over 5 years?
Across 17 Direct Growth plans with the full history, ₹6,00,000 invested over 60 months became ₹7,22,767 at the median, a return of 7.37% a year. The funds ranged from ₹7,09,387 to ₹7,24,192.
Did a SIP or a lumpsum end with more in Nifty Index funds?
Over the 5 years to 5 November 2026, the median value of the SIP was lower than the median value of the lumpsum, and every fund ended with more as a lumpsum than as a SIP. The result belongs to this period; another period can differ.
Why is the SIP return not compared directly with the lumpsum return?
SIP money goes in over time, so each instalment is invested for a different length of time. The SIP return is the annualised rate that matches those dated cash flows; the lumpsum return is the annual rate over the whole period.
NAV data: Accord Fintech. Calculations: ThePip. For information only; not investment advice.