Active vs passive funds: Choose passive for core, active for satellite

Active funds can outperform, but also carry the risk of underperformance

Mutual fund (MF) houses have launched over 100 passive funds in 2025, far surpassing active fund launches. Passive funds now account for around 17 per cent of total assets under management. With Jio BlackRock MF entering the space—five of its new fund offers (NFOs) opening for subscription on Tuesday (August 5)—the passive segment is set to get a boost.

 

Active Funds Can Deliver Alpha…

 

Experienced fund managers can capitalise on market opportunities. “Fund managers can move in and out of sectors, stocks, or themes based on market opportunities,” says Abhishek Tiwari, executive director and chief business officer, PGIM India Asset Management. 

 

Active management can be useful in falling markets. “Active funds have the ability to manage downside risk. Fund managers can adjust allocations when markets are overvalued to try and reduce possible losses,” says Rajani Tandale, senior vice president – mutual fund, 1 Finance.

 

…But Often Fail to Do So

 

Active funds may not outperform their benchmarks. “There is no guarantee of outperformance vis-à-vis the index,” says Mohit Gang, co-founder and chief executive officer, Moneyfront.

 

According to the S&P Indices Versus Active (SPIVA) India 2024 year-end scorecard, 74-88 per cent of funds failed to beat their respective indices over 10 years.

 

Strategy risk is inherent in these funds: When a manager’s decisions go wrong or an established manager exits, returns can suffer.

 

Performance often fluctuates. “A fund that performs well in one cycle may drop significantly in rankings in subsequent years,” says Tandale.  ALSO READ: Choice AMC gets Sebi nod to launch mutual fund operations with ETFs

 

Higher expense ratios compared to passive funds can erode returns, while switching due to underperformance can trigger capital gains tax.

 

Some hold too many stocks. “Instead of picking winners, they dilute returns by owning dozens of average performers,” says Soumya Sarkar, co-founder, Wealth Redefine. Predicting outperformers over the next 7-10 years remains extremely difficult.

 

Passive Funds: Simple and Transparent

 

Passive investing is straightforward and transparent. “These funds track a market index, which is public,” says Gang.

 

Sarkar notes that returns depend solely on market growth, not on a manager’s skill or luck. A low-cost, index-matching strategy can work well over time. “Once you invest in them, there’s no need to worry about underperformance or manager changes. Just stay invested,” he says.

 

Globally, passive investing dominates. In the US, over 51 per cent of mutual fund and exchange-traded fund (ETF) assets are in index-based strategies. “In India, passive assets under management (AUM) have risen from 7 per cent to nearly 17 per cent of the industry in five years,” says Tandale. 

   

Beware of High Tracking Error

 

Passive funds cannot generate alpha. Tracking errors can cause deviations from the index, which may compound over time.

 

Tandale says they offer no downside protection: These funds fall in tandem with the market. “Even if a stock is overvalued and dominates the index, a passive fund has no option but to go blindly overweight on it. Investors are also stuck with flaws in the index’s composition, like over-reliance on a sector (such as tech in the case of NASDAQ),” says Sarkar.

 

What Should You Do?

 

Retail investors should make passive funds the core of their portfolio for steady, long-term growth. “The core should ideally constitute the bulk of their portfolio. They can hold active funds in the smaller, satellite portion in anticipation of generating alpha,” says Deepesh Raghaw, Sebi-registered investment advisor.

 

How to Select a Passive Fund?

 

·         Prioritise a low tracking error, ideally below 1 per cent.

 

·         Select funds with low expense ratios (0.1–0.3% ideal for index funds/ETFs).

 

·         Evaluate the reputation of the fund house in index replication.

 

·         For ETFs, review average daily trading volumes (₹5 crore or more).

 

·         Avoid thematic or sectoral indices.