Updated 27 October 2026
Quick answer: For October–December 2026 the government kept small savings rates unchanged: PPF 7.1%, Sukanya Samriddhi 8.2%, Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme 8.2%, NSC 7.7% and KVP 7.5%. EPF pays 8.25% for 2025-26. Putting the maximum ₹1.5 lakh into PPF every year for 15 years grows to about ₹40.7 lakh, of which ₹22.5 lakh is your money and ₹18.2 lakh tax-free interest. Bank FDs and RDs pay roughly 6–7.5% but their interest is taxed. Use the tabs below to see what each scheme grows to with your own amounts.
These schemes are where most Indian families keep long-term savings, because the government backs them, the returns are known in advance and three of them (PPF, EPF and Sukanya Samriddhi) are tax-free at maturity. What they don't make obvious is how much of the final amount is interest, or how much difference starting five years earlier makes. The calculator shows both.
PPF, EPF, Sukanya Samriddhi, FD and RD calculator
See what each savings scheme grows to, how much is your own money and how much is interest. Rates are filled in for October–December 2026 and can be changed.
Year by year
| Year | Deposited | Interest | Balance |
|---|
Current Rates at a Glance
| Scheme | Rate | Lock-in | Tax on interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPF | 7.1% | 15 years, extendable in 5-year blocks | Tax-free |
| EPF (2025-26) | 8.25% | Until you retire or leave work | Tax-free unless your own contribution is over ₹2.5 lakh a year |
| Sukanya Samriddhi (SSY) | 8.2% | 21 years from opening | Tax-free |
| Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme | 8.2%, paid quarterly | 5 years | Taxable |
| NSC | 7.7% | 5 years | Taxable |
| Kisan Vikas Patra | 7.5% (doubles in 115 months) | 115 months | Taxable |
| Bank FD and RD | About 6–7.5%, varies by bank | 7 days to 10 years | Taxable at your slab rate |
Small savings rates are reviewed every quarter. For PPF and SSY a change applies to your whole balance from that quarter; for NSC, KVP, SCSS and fixed deposits the rate is locked when you invest.
PPF: The Long-Term Tax-Free Saver
- Deposit between ₹500 and ₹1.5 lakh a year, in one go or in instalments.
- Deposit before the 5th of the month (ideally before 5 April) to earn interest for that month; interest is credited once a year.
- Partial withdrawals are allowed from the seventh year and loans between the third and sixth years.
- After 15 years you can withdraw everything or extend in 5-year blocks, with or without new deposits.
Small differences compound into large ones: ₹1.5 lakh a year for 15 years gives about ₹40.7 lakh, but continuing for 25 years gives about ₹1.03 crore, because the last ten years earn interest on a much larger balance.
EPF: The Saving That Happens by Itself
You contribute 12% of basic pay plus DA every month, and your employer adds 12%. Of the employer's share, 8.33% goes to the Employees' Pension Scheme rather than your EPF balance, capped at ₹1,250 a month. On a basic of ₹15,000 or less, 12% plus 3.67% reaches your EPF; on higher pay the pension share stays at ₹1,250, so more of the employer's 12% lands in your account. You can add more through Voluntary PF (VPF) at the same rate. Because the contributions rise with your salary, EPF often becomes the largest single retirement asset for salaried people. The calculator includes yearly pay rises to show this.
Sukanya Samriddhi: Savings for a Daughter
Parents can open one account per daughter (for up to two daughters) before she turns 10. Deposits of ₹250 to ₹1.5 lakh are made for the first 15 years; the account keeps earning until it matures 21 years after opening. Up to half the balance can be withdrawn after she turns 18 for higher education. At 8.2% it is the highest-paying tax-free scheme, but the money is locked for a long time, so it suits goals you are sure of.
FDs and RDs: Flexible but Taxed
Fixed deposits suit money you need in one to five years. Most banks add interest every quarter, which is why a 6.75% FD earns slightly more than 6.75% a year. The interest is added to your income and taxed at your slab rate, so at the 30% rate (31.2% with cess) a 7% FD keeps only about 4.8% after tax. Banks deduct 10% TDS once a bank's interest passes ₹50,000 in a year (₹1 lakh for senior citizens); submit Form 15G or 15H if your total income is below the taxable limit. Recurring deposits work the same way for a fixed monthly amount. Deposits of up to ₹5 lakh per bank are insured by DICGC.
Which Scheme Should You Choose?
| Your goal | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Emergency fund, money needed within a year | Savings account, sweep-in FD or liquid fund |
| A goal in 1–5 years (car, wedding, deposit) | FD or RD timed to the goal |
| Retirement, safe portion | EPF, VPF and PPF |
| Daughter's education or marriage | Sukanya Samriddhi, plus equity SIPs for growth |
| Regular income after 60 | Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme |
| Beating inflation over 15+ years | Equity mutual funds alongside these, not instead of them |
Safe schemes protect your capital but grow slowly after inflation. For goals more than ten years away, many people combine them with equity investments; the SIP calculator shows what that adds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PPF interest rate for October–December 2026?
7.1% a year, unchanged from the previous quarter. Sukanya Samriddhi and SCSS pay 8.2%, NSC 7.7% and KVP 7.5%.
How much will ₹1.5 lakh a year in PPF become after 15 years?
About ₹40.68 lakh at 7.1%, if you deposit by 5 April each year: ₹22.5 lakh of deposits and about ₹18.18 lakh of tax-free interest.
What is the EPF interest rate for 2025-26?
8.25%, the same as the previous two years, approved by the EPFO's Central Board of Trustees and ratified by the government in 2026.
Is FD interest taxable?
Yes. It is added to your income and taxed at your slab rate, whether or not the bank deducts TDS. Only the five-year tax-saver FD gives an 80C deduction in the old regime, and its interest is still taxed.
Is PPF better than an FD?
For long-term savings, usually yes: 7.1% tax-free beats a 7% taxable FD for anyone paying income tax. But PPF locks your money for 15 years, while an FD can be broken early with a small penalty.
Can I have both PPF and Sukanya Samriddhi?
Yes. They are separate accounts with separate ₹1.5 lakh yearly limits, though together they share the single ₹1.5 lakh 80C deduction in the old regime.
Sources
- National Savings Institute: small savings schemes
- Outlook Money: small savings rates unchanged, PPF at 7.1%
- EPFO: Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
- Outlook Money: EPF rate unchanged at 8.25% for 2025-26
- Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (India)
Related Guides
- SIP calculator
- Income Tax Calculator FY 2026-27: New vs Old Regime, Which Saves You More?
- How Much Emergency Fund Do You Need? (With Calculator)
- FIRE calculator
- Where to Keep Your Cash When Rates Rise: Savings Accounts, T-Bills and Money Market Funds
Rates for October–December 2026 and the EPF rate for 2025-26, as announced by the Ministry of Finance and EPFO. Rates change; this is a guide, not investment advice.
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