Nippon Small Cap Dir

NAV, or Net Asset Value, is the per-unit price of a mutual fund scheme. It is calculated as the total value of the fund's assets minus its liabilities, divided by the number of outstanding units. Fund houses declare NAV at the end of each business day based on closing prices, and AMFI publishes it. When you invest, you are allotted units at the applicable NAV.

To start a SIP you first complete your KYC, which is mandatory under SEBI rules. You then choose a scheme, decide a monthly amount — often as low as Rs 500 — and set an auto-debit mandate from your bank. On your chosen date each month, units are bought at the prevailing NAV. You can invest directly through an AMC or via a distributor platform.

The expense ratio is the annual fee a fund charges to manage your money, expressed as a percentage of assets. It covers fund management, administration and distribution costs, and is deducted from the NAV. SEBI caps expense ratios by fund size and type. A lower ratio means more of the return stays with you, which is why direct plans, with no distributor commission, cost less than regular plans.

ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme) funds qualify for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, up to Rs 1.5 lakh a year in the old tax regime. They carry the shortest lock-in among 80C options at just three years and invest mainly in equities, offering growth potential. Returns are market-linked, and gains above Rs 1.25 lakh a year are taxed as long-term capital gains.