Quant Mutual Fund: Top Funds, Returns And Everything You Need To Know (2026)

1 August 2025 marked a new beginning in the Indian investment landscape, as several outlets announced the entry of a new investment medium. Through its X handle, Quant Mutual Fund confirmed that they have received the SEBI approval to launch the inaugural long-short fund, marking the beginning of the Specialised Investment Funds (SIF) category in India.

An SIF aims to bridge the gap between Portfolio Management Services (PMS) or Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and Mutual Funds (MFs). While SIFs offer greater control or flexibility over portfolio construction than regular MFs, they also have higher regulatory control and lower entry barriers, like lower minimum investment, than PMS or AIFs. 

The concept of SIF was first introduced by SEBI in March 2024¹.

Subsequently, the Quant Mutual Fund SIF launch is the inauguration of SIFs in India. 

This blog unpacks every aspect of this new investment medium by the Quant Mutual Fund.

Overview Of Quant Mutual Fund Schemes

As one of the most dynamic and performance-oriented asset management firms in India, Quant Mutual Fund is well-known for its highly quantitative, data-driven investment style. Quant AMC comes with sophisticated algorithms combined with extensive research to accommodate a wide variety of schemes with sound market knowledge. 

Many investors consistently look for the best Quant Mutual Fund 2026  as a primary source of equity and hybrid investment opportunities. 

But, they consider investing from an institution with a long-established history of achieving performance consistency in both asset classes, independent of changing economic conditions.

Quant Mutual Fund currently provides its investors with a broad-based array of schemes across four different markets, including equity, hybrid, fixed income, debt, and specialty investments.  

Below is an overview of the various Quant Mutual Fund schemes,  their broad-based performance in the areas of equity and hybrids, and what many investors frequently refer to when researching potential investment opportunities.

Source: Quant Mutual Fund, as of April 2026

Inside India’s First SIF: QSIF By Quant Mutual Fund

Under the SEBI Specialised Investment Fund framework, Quant Mutual Fund is aiming to launch QSIF Equity Long Short Fund. Just like Nippon India Multi-Cap Fund is a mutual fund operating under the Multi-Cap Category, QSIF Equity Long Short Fund is operating under the SIF category.

Let us decode its anticipated launch and characteristics based on information provided by Quant Mutual Fund and SEBI guidelines.

A. Key Features of the QSIF Equity Long-Short Fund

Although the factsheet of the new SIF by Quant Mutual Fund is not yet available, discussed below are some key takeaways from the reports and SEBI guidelines regarding QSIF Equity Long Short Fund.

1. Target Audience: Quant Mutual Fund has clarified that the investment medium is suitable for investors who possess knowledge of financial markets. The investors can expect advanced investment strategies, requiring a high risk tolerance from this medium. In simple terms, it is akin to one of the new MF products for rich investors.

2. Minimum Portfolio Investment: According to a SEBI circular dated February 2025, an Equity Long Short Fund should invest at least 80% in equity and related instruments². However, short exposure in equity and related instruments through unhedged derivatives should not exceed 25%.

3. Minimum investment: Investors need to have an investment amount of at least INR 10,00,000 to invest in any kind of SIF, including Equity Long Short³. Now, let us compare this to other fund investments to understand how SIFs lie between regular MFs and AIFs.

4. Investment Strategy: The SIF aims to take long and short positions in the equity market to benefit from market fluctuations. It might also use derivatives and enhance risk-mitigating methodologies. 
Moreover, the Quant Mutual Fund Factsheet that carries the SIF announcement also gives several market trends related to gold, bitcoin, oil, and other commodities⁶.

5. Creation of a distinct market presence: Quant Mutual Fund has also stated that a separate website portal and communication channel would be created for its SIF category. The objective is to establish a separate brand identity from its regular MFs.

Now that we have a working idea of the various characteristics of this long-short mutual fund in India, let’s take a look at its timeline.

B. Launch Timeline And SEBI Guidelines

The Quant Mutual Fund Equity Long Short SIF is expected to be launched in August 2025. The offer document is expected to carry the following information related to liquidity timelines, as per SEBI notifications.

1. Subscription and Redemption: The process of purchasing SIF units is called subscription, and the process of liquidating them is called redemption. The permissible frequency of redemption and subscription, as per the investment strategy, is to be mentioned in the offer documents⁷. 
   For instance, an SIF might allow investors to subscribe to its units weekly but redeem monthly. This is to control the liquidity of SIF.
2. Disclosure: SIF is a high-value and high-risk investment. Therefore, they might require a more periodic assessment, given that investors have fair control over investment strategies. Therefore, the portfolio disclosure frequency is also expected to be mentioned.
3. Notice Period: Moreover, if an investor needs to give any notice before redemption, the requirement, along with the notice period, will also be mentioned. 

Along with liquidity and investment strategy guidelines, there must also be necessary disclosures related to risks. The Quant Mutual Fund India must adhere to such SEBI guidelines to ensure smooth functioning.

C. Risk Controls And SEBI Guidelines

Similar to low, medium, or high-risk mutual funds in India 2025, the Quant Mutual Fund SIF is expected to have risk bands in its scheme documents through pictorial risk meters that show the potential risk associated with investment strategies. 

The table below shows the risk meter stipulated according to the SEBI guidelines.

Source: SEBI⁸

Now, like other Quant Mutual Funds in India, the suitability of the Equity Long Short Fund depends on the investor's temperament as well. 

Quant Launches Hybrid Long-Short SIF

Quant Mutual Fund has further expanded its alternatives platform with the launch of the QSIF Hybrid Long-Short Fund in September 2025. This innovative interval fund blends equity and debt exposure, allowing up to 25% short positions via derivatives for dynamic risk management. The NFO is open for subscription until October 9, 2025, and reopens for regular transactions shortly after.

Key details:

1. Asset mix: 25–75% in equities, 25–75% in debt, up to 25% short derivatives, and up to 20% in REITs or InvITs.
2. Benchmark: Nifty 50 Hybrid Composite Debt 50:50 Index.
3. Targeted at HNIs and tactical investors—balancing returns, growth, and risk management.
4. Highlights Quant’s rapid innovation in India’s SIF segment, following the successful launch of its Equity Long-Short SIF earlier in 2025

What The SIF Category Means For Indian Investors ?

Let us now take a closer look at what this new Quant Mutual Fund offering means for investors. This can aid us in understanding if this SIF category can make its place among the best Quant Mutual Funds or not.

A. A New Era Of Diversified Hedge Fund Strategies Mutual Fund

AIFs and Hedge Funds have been out of the purview of numerous investors due to their entry barrier in the form of a high minimum investment. The introduction of the SIF category shall give numerous investors a sweet upgrade from mutual funds, in terms of sophisticated investment strategies backed by high-risk. Moreover, it would not be as niche as hedge funds.

This marks a new beginning of targeted diversification, wherein investors can have wider access to a greater range of investment categories.

B. What To Know Before Investing In A SIF

However, before choosing QIF Equity Long Short Fund, investors must consider a few points.

1. It is a high-risk investment medium.
2. The investment is targeted at seasoned investors with optimal investing know-how.
3. The minimum investment set by SEBI is still higher than regular MFs.

Who Should Invest In Quant Funds ?

Quant Mutual Fund options are ideal for those who prefer higher-growth strategies based on quant data instead of traditional stock picking methods. 

These types of investments are better suited towards risk seekers that are looking to obtain superior returns to that of the overall market through a long investment timeframe, despite any volatility that may occur along the way.

The most popular quant-mutual fund options like the "Quant Small Cap Fund" will tend to perform better in "bull" market conditions. 

They reward those who have taken the more aggressive approach to investing unlike conservative savers who tend to get less return than the average saver.

Investors looking to invest in quant mutual fund performance should be diligent in verifying their risk tolerance when trying to find which one is the most beneficial for them.

1. Aggressive Growth Seekers

Investors that are looking to obtain superior returns in "smaller company" investments, such as the "Quant Small Cap Fund", will have the best chance of achieving those returns by following the momentum investment techniques of Quant AMC.

2. Tax-Saving Investors

Salaried employees that want to take advantage of a tax deduction under section 80C while earning above-average returns will have success when using the "Quant ELSS Tax Saver Fund." This fund allows you the opportunity to earn long-term appreciation in your portfolio, while still taking advantage of the tax deduction.

3. Diversified Portfolio Builders

Investors that want to combine active equity exposure with a "Quant Active Fund" or "Quant Multi-Cap Fund" will accomplish finance goals while obtaining higher overall returns as a result of the experience of the team at Quant AMC.

Quant Mutual Fund Pros And Cons

Pros:

• There is considerable evidence showing that equity portfolios have produced sustained strong returns over time. 
• Quant uses data-backed methods to evaluate stock price trends (i.e., momentum) and sector rotation, which often outperform the broader market during periods of strong market performance.
• Quant offers many different types of funds to meet various investor preferences and needs, including tax-advantaged investments and multi-asset funds.
• Quant’s rapid rise in assets under management (AUM) suggests that many investors are starting to view Quant funds as a viable alternative to more traditional asset management firms.

Cons:

• It is highly volatile when compared to traditional asset management approaches, particularly for small-cap and concentrated funds.
• Recently several Quant funds have underperformed because of market corrections and will require active management.

Proper know-how of the risks related to investing in a Quant fund can help an investor make an informed decision regarding whether a Quant fund aligns with their investment strategy.  So, it is important to know how these features will help you determine whether or not you like Quant AMC.

How To Invest In Quant Mutual Fund ?

When it comes to investing in Quant mutual fund schemes, it can be easily done online following the steps specified below:

Step 1: Choose Your Platform

To start, choose either an easy-to-use mobile investment platform like Groww or a more advanced trading platform such as Zerodha Coin to invest in direct, no-commission quant small-cap fund schemes through quant mutual funds. Either platform will help ensure you are maximizing returns from both the quant small-cap fund and other quant mutual fund options.

Step 2: Complete KYC 

Upon completion of your KYC (know your customer) upload documents to get verified instantly and access to your quant mutual funds; search by name or use the filter to find the best quant mutual fund 2026 by return and NAV (net asset value) and rating before you add to cart.

Step 3: Invest via SIP or Lumpsum

Create a systematic investment plan (SIP) for rupee-cost averaging in the volatile quant mutual fund space or go with a lumpsum investment during market pullbacks. Also, monitor your allocations to the quant ELSS tax saver fund via your dashboard and alerts.

Step 4: Monitor and Rebalance

Review your quant fund performance on an ongoing basis through your platform's analytics. Redeem or switch units as required to stay in alignment with your long-term compounding SIP investment strategy.

Current NAV Of Top Quant Mutual Funds In 2026

It is important to track the NAV of quant funds so that you can time your investment and exit with quant fund mutual funds, using daily data that reflects how the whole market is moving. 

In fact uptill today quantitative funds have had modest performance since the overall markets have been recovering due to an increase in the Small and Mid-Cap Markets. Current best quant mutual funds in 2026 are being evaluated based upon historical price return information in conjunction with NAVs. 

Some examples include: Quant Small Cap Fund, among many other mutual funds.

Key Quant Fund NAVs (as of 22 April 2026 – Direct Growth Plans):

• Quant Small Cap Fund: INR 276.52 (up by around 1.3% on the previous day)
• Quant ELSS Tax Saver Fund: INR 427.89
• Quant Multi Cap Fund (formerly Active Fund): INR 684.06 (or Regular plan around INR 622–675 range)

Note: NAV is an estimate and may vary from time to time based on market fluctuations so before you buy or sell any units you should check their actual NAV at the official Quant website.

Conclusion

In short, the Quant Mutual Fund’s inauguration of SIFs with its Equity Long-Short fund reiterates the growing sophistication of Indian markets. Investors today have nuanced differences in investing needs. Creation of unique categories will not only aid individual investor interests but also optimise nation-building through increased investment.

And if you want to participate in these rising growth trends of the Indian markets, don’t forget to explore the diverse investment mediums offered by Grip Invest- India’s one-stop destination for fixed returns.

FAQs On Quant Mutual Funds In India

1. Who can invest in Quant’s QSIF Equity Long-Short Fund?
According to official statements by Quant Mutual Fund, the QSIF is targeted towards sophisticated investors with optimal investment knowledge and a high risk appetite.

2. What is the minimum investment amount for SIFs in India?
According to SEBI guidelines regarding SIFs, the minimum investment amount should be INR 10 lakhs. For details specific to the Quant Mutual Fund, we need to wait for their fact sheet.

3. Are SIFs regulated by SEBI like mutual funds?
Yes, SIFs are regulated by SEBI. The category was announced by  SEBI. Moreover, according to SEBI guidelines, certain guidelines are even stipulated by AMFI.

4. What are the different investment strategies in SIF?

Special Investment Funds (SIFs) typically follow multiple strategies depending on their objectives and investor profiles. Broadly, these include:

• Private Equity Strategy: Investing in unlisted companies with high growth potential, often to fund expansion, acquisitions, or restructuring.
• Venture Capital Strategy: Targeting early-stage or start-up companies with innovative business models and strong scalability prospects.
• Debt or Credit Strategy: Providing structured debt, mezzanine financing, or distressed asset funding to generate stable, risk-adjusted returns.
• Real Estate or Infrastructure Strategy: Investing in commercial, residential, or infrastructure projects to benefit from long-term asset appreciation and income generation.
• Hedge or Alternative Strategy: Using complex instruments (like derivatives, arbitrage, or event-driven positions) to seek absolute returns, irrespective of market direction.

Each SIF may adopt a single or hybrid approach based on its investment policy and regulatory framework.

5. Where does SIF invest?

SIFs invest across a diversified range of asset classes — both listed and unlisted — depending on their strategy and risk appetite. Typical investment areas include:

• Unlisted equities and private companies (start-ups, growth-stage businesses)
• Debt instruments (structured credit, convertible debentures, mezzanine loans)
• Real estate and infrastructure assets
• Listed securities (in some cases, for liquidity or hedging)
• Alternative assets such as distressed assets, special situations, or project financing

References:
1. Economic Times, accessed from: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mf/analysis/sif-vs-mutual-funds-vs-pms-vs-aifs-what-you-need-to-know/articleshow/122001925.cms?from=mdr

2. SEBI, accessed from: https://www.sebi.gov.in/legal/circulars/feb-2025/regulatory-framework-for-specialized-investment-funds-sif-_92299.html

3. SEBI, accessed from: https://www.sebi.gov.in/legal/circulars/feb-2025/regulatory-framework-for-specialized-investment-funds-sif-_92299.html

4. SEBI, accessed from: https://www.sebi.gov.in/sebi_data/faqfiles/sep-2024/1727350357563.pdf

5. CNBCTV18, accessed from: https://www.cnbctv18.com/alternative-investment-fund/aif-investment-how-much-corpus-do-you-really-need-19564077.htm

6. Quant Mutual, accessed from: https://quantmutual.com/Admin/Factsheet/quant_Factsheet_August_2025.pdf

7. SEBI, accessed from: https://www.sebi.gov.in/legal/circulars/feb-2025/regulatory-framework-for-specialized-investment-funds-sif-_92299.html

8. SEBI, accessed from: https://www.sebi.gov.in/legal/circulars/feb-2025/regulatory-framework-for-specialized-investment-funds-sif-_92299.html

Author: Grip Invest Editorial Team The Grip Invest Editorial Team is a group of Chartered Accountants, MBA (Finance) graduates, and Qualified Research Analysts dedicated to helping you invest smarter. We dive deep into India's fixed income landscape to deliver content that is accurate, up-to-date, and easy to understand. Whether you're exploring bonds, fixed deposits, or other fixed income opportunities, our guides cut through the noise and give you the clarity to make better financial decisions.

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