Verified Ministry of Finance Rates (Quarter Ending Sept 2026)
All schemes feature zero credit risk and sovereign principal guarantee.
| Scheme Name | Interest Rate | Lock-in / Tenure | Annual Limits (₹) | Tax Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Safe 15-year long-term wealth compounding
|
7.10% | 15 Years (Extendable in 5-yr blocks) | Min ₹500 Max ₹1,50,000 |
EEE Sec 80C | Calculate |
|
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
Highest sovereign rate for girl child under 10
|
8.20% | 21 Years (Pay for 15 yrs) | Min ₹250 Max ₹1,50,000 |
EEE Sec 80C | Calculate |
|
Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)
Quarterly payout for individuals aged 60+
|
8.20% | 5 Years (Extendable by 3 yrs) | Min ₹1,000 Max ₹30,00,000 |
80C on Deposit Interest Taxable |
Calculate |
|
Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC)
High 7.5% quarterly compounding scheme for women & girls
|
7.50% | 2 Years (Partial withdrawal after 1 yr) | Min ₹1,000 Max ₹2,00,000 |
Interest Taxable | Calculate |
|
Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS)
Guaranteed monthly interest pension
|
7.40% | 5 Years | Min ₹1,000 Max ₹9L (Single) / ₹15L (Joint) |
Taxable Interest | Calculate |
|
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)
Guaranteed money doubler certificate
|
7.50% | 115 Months (9 Yrs 7 Mos to double) | Min ₹1,000 No Maximum Limit |
Taxable at Maturity | Calculate |
|
National Savings Certificate (NSC)
Post office 5-year fixed return certificate
|
7.70% | 5 Years | Min ₹1,000 No Maximum Limit |
Sec 80C (Annual interest deemed reinvested) | Calculate |
|
Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
Guaranteed pension of ₹1k–₹5k/mo from age 60
|
Guaranteed Pension | Till Age 60 (Entry age 18–40) | Contribution based on age ₹210–₹1,454/mo |
Sec 80CCD | Calculate |
|
National Pension System (NPS Tier 1)
Market-linked pension corpus with extra ₹50k tax deduction
|
9–11% Expected | Till Age 60 (60% Lump + 40% Annuity) | Min ₹1,000/yr No Maximum Limit |
80CCD(1B) + 80C | Calculate |
|
Post Office Time Deposit (POTD)
Fixed term deposit (1, 2, 3, 5 yrs) with quarterly compounding
|
6.9% – 7.5% | 1, 2, 3, or 5 Years (Premature closure after 6 mo) | Min ₹1,000 No Maximum Cap |
5-Yr Sec 80C | Calculate |
Understanding Tax Treatment: EEE vs EET in India
What is EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt)?
EEE is the highest tax-advantaged status in the Indian Income Tax Act:
- Investment Amount: Exempt under Section 80C (up to ₹1.5 Lakh).
- Annual Interest Accrued: 100% Tax-Free every year.
- Final Maturity / Withdrawal: 100% Tax-Free.
- Eligible Schemes: Only PPF and Sukanya Samriddhi (SSY) enjoy pure EEE sovereign status.
Sovereign Guarantee vs Bank FD Safety
Why Indian Government Schemes are strictly safer than commercial bank deposits:
- Commercial Banks: DICGC insurance protects deposits only up to ₹5 Lakh per bank per depositor.
- Small Savings Schemes: Backed directly by the Consolidated Fund of India with an unlimited sovereign guarantee on both principal and interest.