​The expense ratio is the fee charged by a mutual fund for managing your investment. It covers fund management, administrative costs, distribution expenses (in regular plans), and other operational services. The expense ratio is expressed as a percentage of the fund’s Assets Under Management (AUM).

This fee is not charged separately to the investor. Instead, it is deducted from the fund’s assets on a daily basis before the Net Asset Value (NAV) is declared. As a result, the NAV you see already reflects the expense ratio.

For example, if a fund has an expense ratio of 1 percent, it means 1 percent of your invested amount is used annually to cover the fund's operating costs. The deduction happens in small portions daily.

Direct plans of a mutual fund have a lower expense ratio because they do not include distributor commissions, while regular plans have a higher expense ratio due to these added costs. Over time, this difference can have a significant impact on your returns.

For better cost-efficiency and higher long-term gains, investing through direct plans is generally more beneficial. Why choose Direct plans over regular plans? ​