New insights reveal that systematic investment plans in the Nifty50 have consistently underperformed, presenting a five-year XIRR of merely 4.5%. This result places Nifty50 below the returns of traditional fixed deposits. In contrast, midcap and smallcap indices have shown impressive gains. Analysts recommend a strategy focusing on individual stock selection and earnings growth rather than relying solely on index performance, prompting a reassessment of index-based investment approaches.