Equity Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS) or Tax Saving Mutual Funds Schemes are also known as popular tax-saving investments. Section 80C of the Income Tax Act is the major reason for this popularity. Along with ELSS another investment avenue that comes under Section 80C are:-

Life Insurance, Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificates (NSCs), Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS), Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS), etc also offer a similar tax benefit. 

ELSS funds enable the fund manager to take long-term calls on account of the enforced three-year lock-in. Moreover, they are promoted as good investments