The schemes your grandparents trusted — still doing the job.
PPF, SCSS, Post Office MIS, NSC and NPS: government-backed, high-trust instruments that anchor retirement and family plans. We advise on fit; you invest with confidence.
Rates, rules and fit — at a glance
Current rates (Q2 FY 2026-27, July–September 2026) with the rules that actually matter. The government reviews these rates every quarter.
PPF — Public Provident Fund
The tax-free compounder — a superb backbone for retirement or a child's education corpus.
| Interest rate | 7.1% p.a., compounded annually |
| Tenure | 15 years, extendable in 5-year blocks (with or without fresh contributions) |
| Investment | ₹500 min – ₹1.5 lakh max per financial year |
| Tax | EEE: 80C deduction, interest and maturity fully tax-free |
| Liquidity | Partial withdrawal from year 7; loan facility years 3–6 |
| Who can invest | Resident individuals, incl. on behalf of a minor |
SCSS — Senior Citizen Savings Scheme
The highest-paying government scheme — quarterly income for retirees.
| Interest rate | 8.2% p.a., paid out quarterly |
| Tenure | 5 years, extendable by 3 |
| Investment | ₹1,000 min – ₹30 lakh max (per individual) |
| Tax | Deposit qualifies for 80C; interest is taxable (TDS applies above threshold) |
| Liquidity | Premature closure allowed with penalty (1–1.5%) |
| Who can invest | 60+; 55+ for eligible retirees; 50+ for retired defence personnel |
POMIS — Post Office Monthly Income Scheme
Fixed monthly income, government-backed — dependable cash flow for conservative investors.
| Interest rate | 7.4% p.a., paid out monthly |
| Tenure | 5 years |
| Investment | ₹1,000 min – ₹9 lakh (single) / ₹15 lakh (joint) |
| Tax | No 80C benefit; interest taxable at slab rate |
| Liquidity | Premature closure after 1 year: 2% penalty (years 1–3), 1% (years 3–5) |
| Who can invest | Resident individuals, singly or jointly |
NSC — National Savings Certificate
Simple, safe, 5-year tax-saving certificate — nothing to manage until maturity.
| Interest rate | 7.7% p.a., compounded annually, paid at maturity |
| Tenure | 5 years |
| Investment | ₹1,000 min, no upper limit |
| Tax | 80C on deposit; interest reinvested for the first 4 years also counts toward 80C; maturity interest taxable |
| Liquidity | No premature exit except death/court order; can be pledged as loan collateral |
| Who can invest | Resident individuals |
NPS — National Pension Scheme
The market-linked retirement leg — pair it with the guaranteed schemes above, don't replace them with it.
| Returns | Market-linked (equity/debt mix of your choice, equity up to 75%) — not a fixed rate |
| Tenure | Till age 60 (exit rules apply); can continue to 75 |
| Investment | Tier I: ₹500 min per contribution, ₹1,000 min per year |
| Tax | 80CCD(1B): extra ₹50,000 deduction over 80C; at exit up to 60% lump sum tax-free, min 40% buys an annuity |
| Liquidity | Locked till 60 barring limited partial withdrawals for specific needs |
| Who can invest | Indian citizens 18–70, incl. NRIs |
Advisory only
These are government schemes you hold directly — our role is advisory: which scheme, how much, and how each fits your plan. Rates shown are for the July–September 2026 quarter (unchanged for nine straight quarters); the government resets them quarterly, and we track every change.
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