Category : Investing Guides July 28, 20255 minutes read
The Nifty 50 represents the top 50 large-cap companies in India, offering relative stability, low volatility, and potentially high liquidity. In contrast, the Nifty 500 includes 500 companies across various market capitalizations, providing broader diversification but with higher volatility due to its inclusion of mid- and small-cap stocks.
Nifty 50 vs Nifty 500, the Nifty 50 includes the top 50 large-cap companies, offering relative stability, potentially high liquidity, and low volatility. The Nifty 500 provides broader market exposure with 500 companies, including large, mid, and small-caps, offering more diversification but higher volatility. Both indexes reflect the performance of key sectors in the Indian economy. Nifty 500 covers 96.1% of the free float market capitalization on the NSE (source: NSE).
Introduction
The performance of the top 50 large-cap businesses listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India is represented by the Nifty 50 stock market index. Investors frequently use it to evaluate market trends and as a benchmark to gauge the overall performance of the Indian equities market.
The performance of the top 500 firms listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India is represented by the Nifty 500 stock market index. Compared to smaller measurements like the Nifty 50, it provides a more comprehensive picture of the entire stock market and covers a wide range of sectors.
The Nifty 50 and Nifty 500 indexes will be thoroughly explained in this guide, with an emphasis on its definition, function, and selection criteria. It will delve into Nifty 50 vs Nifty 500 and describe how these indices reflect various stock market segments in India.
Additionally, readers will learn about Nifty 50 and Nifty 500 mutual funds, including their advantages, how they operate, and the kinds of investors they might be appropriate for. The book will also examine the salient characteristics of both indices, including stability and liquidity, which are essential for assessing their dependability and performance. A thorough comparison between the Nifty 50 and Nifty 500 is conducted in order to improve comprehension even more.


To further understand the key differences between Nifty 50 and Nifty 500, let’s explore the meaning of the Nifty 50 index. The 50 biggest and most actively traded businesses on India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) are represented by the Nifty 50 stock market index. These businesses, which account for more than 60% of the NSE’s entire market value, are chosen based on their market capitalisation.
The Nifty 50 is a crucial gauge of the success of the Indian stock market since it encompasses 13 important industries, including:
- Consumer goods
- Energy
- IT
- Finance
Because it is a market-capitalisation-weighted index, the fluctuations of the index are more influenced by larger companies. To make sure it accurately represents the state of the market, the index is periodically examined and modified. Due to the strong liquidity of the companies in the Nifty 50, investors can trade without worrying about major price fluctuations because their shares are often purchased and sold.
Investors may invest in this index directly, through their DEMAT accounts or invest via Nifty 50 mutual funds.
Nifty 50 Mutual Funds
Investing in a Nifty 50 index fund has a number of advantages. By distributing investments among 50 top companies, it offers portfolio diversification and lessens the impact of any one company’s poor performance. The index is a potentially dependable option during market swings because of its steadiness, which is fuelled by big, well-established businesses. Additionally, investors can enter or exit investments with ease because of the underlying stocks’ potential liquidity. The Nifty 50 has steadily increased over time, mirroring the development of the Indian economy. Nifty 50 index funds are therefore a desirable choice for novice and seasoned investors looking for steady, long-term development.
Nifty 50 mutual funds invest in the same 50 firms in the same proportion as the index. They are passively managed, which means they seek to mimic the performance of the index.
Through these funds, investors can have exposure to India’s leading companies rather than picking individual stocks. Nifty 50 mutual funds provide diversity, reduced expenses, and are suitable for long-term, passive investors looking for relatively steady returns because they follow a broad-market index.
For investors looking for diverse exposure to India’s leading corporations in industries like IT, banking, and energy, the Nifty 50 is a suitable option. Long-term investors seeking relatively steady returns, novices seeking a straightforward investment choice, and passive investors favouring index funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can all benefit from it. Because of its wide market coverage, it offers lower risk than sector-specific indices. Its stability, liquidity, and capacity to mirror India’s general economic progress may also appeal to institutional and risk-averse investors.
Features of Nifty 50
Let’s explore some key features of the Nifty 50 index.
Stability
The Nifty 50 index is generally considered a relatively stable index as large-cap firms with solid financial standing and a long history form a part of the Nifty 50. These businesses have the potential to provide some resilience against market volatility and are leaders in their respective industries. The index is a dependable option for long-term investors due to its diversified composition across multiple industries, which further aims to improves its stability.
Liquidity
The Nifty 50 aims to offer strong liquidity as it contains the equities that are traded the most on the NSE. This implies that there won’t be any major price swings when investors buy or sell shares. The Nifty 50 may be a desirable choice for both institutional and retail investors because of its relatively higher liquidity.
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The Nifty 50 index represents the 50 largest and most actively traded companies on India's National Stock Exchange, covering over 60% of the market's total value. It includes industries like consumer goods, energy, IT, and finance. This market-capitalisation-weighted index is influenced by larger companies, offering high liquidity and stable trading conditions. Nifty 50 mutual funds provide diversification, reduced costs, and steady long-term growth, making them suitable for both novice and experienced investors. The index’s stability, liquidity, and broad market coverage make it an attractive option for those seeking exposure to India’s leading companies and reduced risk.


We can further compare the Nifty 500 index vs the Nifty 50 index by understanding how the Nifty 500 works. While the Nifty 50 is focused on the top 50 stocks in India, the Nifty 500 Index offers a highly diversified portfolio, comprising 500 companies from various industries, reducing the risk of over-reliance on any single company’s performance. This makes it a potentially safer choice for investors, as the impact of one company’s poor performance is minimised.
A significant advantage of the Nifty 500 is its inclusion of mid-cap and small-cap stocks alongside established large-cap firms. While mid and small-cap companies often have higher growth potential and may provide larger long-term returns, they also tend to experience greater short-term volatility. The large-cap companies in the index help balance this risk.
Covering approximately 96.1% of the free float market capitalization on the NSE, the Nifty 500 gives investors comprehensive exposure to the Indian equity market. By investing in funds that track this index, investors can achieve a well-balanced portfolio that mirrors overall market performance, potentially enhancing long-term gains while minimizing individual stock risk.
Nifty 500 Mutual Funds
To be included in the index, companies must rank in the top 800 based on their full market capitalisation and average daily turnover over the previous six months. The final selection is determined by the free-float market capitalisation, representing publicly tradable shares. This process is reviewed every six months to ensure the index reflects current market conditions.
Nifty 500 index funds may benefit investors seeking to diversify their portfolio across the market. While there may be a risk of overlap, this investment option may allow investors to gain from superior performance of multiple sectors while off-setting the poor performance of certain sectors.
Additionally, specific funds like the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 Fund invest in the 50 top-performing stocks from the Nifty 500, following a momentum investing strategy. Stocks are selected based on their strong performance over the past six and twelve months, assuming their upward trend will continue. As a passively managed fund, it does not actively choose stocks but simply tracks the performance of companies listed in the Nifty 500 Momentum 50 Index. This approach makes it a suitable option for investors seeking to capitalize on prevailing market trends.
Features of Nifty 500
The top 500 firms listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) are represented by the broad-based Nifty 500 index, which spans a variety of industries and market capitalisations. It is a popular option for investors looking for growth and diversity because it provides extensive market exposure. Here are a few of its key characteristics:
Stability
The Nifty 500’s general stability is attributed to the well-balanced mix of large, mid, and small-cap companies it offers. The index has a strong basis thanks to the inclusion of large-cap corporations, which are often more established and financially stable. Large-cap companies’ consistent performance frequently balances the growth potential of mid-cap and small-cap equities, even though they can cause short-term volatility. As a result of this combination, the index is comparatively steady and represents general market movements.
Liquidity
Because the companies in the Nifty 500 Index are actively traded on the NSE, it offers strong liquidity. This may allow investors to purchase or sell shares with ease and that the stock price won’t be greatly impacted. The index’s broad selection of equities improves liquidity even more, making it a sensible choice for institutional and individual investors. Investors can enter and exit investments with less price volatility because of this feature.
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The Nifty 500 Index offers a highly diversified portfolio with 500 companies across various industries, including mid-cap and small-cap stocks alongside large-cap firms. This diversification reduces risk by minimizing the impact of any single company's poor performance. It covers about 96.1% of the NSE’s free float market capitalization, providing comprehensive exposure to the Indian market. Nifty 500 mutual funds offer broad market coverage and potential for long-term growth, while balancing risk. The index’s stability comes from its mix of company sizes, and its liquidity ensures easy trading with minimal price impact, making it suitable for both retail and institutional investors.


Parameter | Nifty 50 | Nifty 500 |
Meaning | The top 50 large-cap firms that are listed on the NSE and represent important areas of the Indian economy form part of the Nifty 50. | The Nifty 500 includes the top 500 companies across various market capitalizations, offering broad-based exposure to the Indian stock market |
Stock selection | Focuses on large-cap stocks, representing the top-performing and most liquid companies in the market. | offers a more varied range across industries and market sizes by combining large, mid, and small-cap stocks. |
Liquidity | High liquidity as a result of its inclusion of reputable, extensively traded large-cap firms. | High liquidity as well, however the addition of small and mid-cap stocks could result in somewhat less liquidity than the Nifty 50. |
Volatility | Relatively low volatility | Higher volatility |
Market Presentation | Represents the top 50 companies. | Provides a broader view of the market by including 500 companies |


- The Nifty 50 represents the top 50 large-cap companies in India, covering sectors like IT, energy, and finance, offering a relatively stable and liquid investment option.
- The Nifty 500 includes 500 companies across various market capitalizations, providing broader exposure and diversification, with a mix of large, mid, and small-cap stocks.
- Nifty 50 is highly liquid and offers low volatility, making it suitable for long-term, passive investors.
- Nifty 500 offers higher diversification but also higher volatility due to its inclusion of mid and small-cap stocks, though large-caps help balance the risk.
- Nifty 500 gives a comprehensive view of the market, covering around 96.1% of the free float market capitalization on the NSE