InvestmentFinancial Glossary
Debt Fund
Definition
A mutual fund that primarily invests in fixed-income securities such as government bonds, corporate bonds, treasury bills, and money market instruments. Debt funds are categorized by maturity duration — liquid funds (up to 91 days), short-duration funds (1-3 years), and long-duration funds (7+ years).
Why It Matters
Post April 2023, debt fund gains are taxed at your income tax slab rate regardless of holding period, removing the earlier indexation benefit. This has made bank FDs and debt funds roughly equivalent from a tax perspective for many investors. However, debt funds still offer liquidity advantages and no TDS on growth option.