Small SavingsSmall savings calculators and rates, India 2026-27
Pick a government savings scheme to see what a deposit becomes, what interest it pays, and the rules in plain words. Rates and limits are taken from the National Savings Institute and were read on 13 November 2026. Nothing you type leaves your device.
- PPF 7.1% · 15 years
- Sukanya Samriddhi 8.2% · 21 years
- NSC 7.7% · 5 years
- Senior Citizens Savings 8.2% · paid quarterly
- Monthly Income Scheme 7.4% · paid monthly
- Kisan Vikas Patra 7.5% · doubles in 115 months
- Recurring deposit 6.7% · 5 years
- Time deposit 6.9% to 7.5% · 1 to 5 years
The rates now
| Scheme | Rate (a year), July to September 2026 |
|---|---|
| PPF | 7.1% |
| Sukanya Samriddhi | 8.2% |
| NSC (5 year) | 7.7% |
| Senior Citizens Savings Scheme | 8.2% |
| Monthly Income Account | 7.4% |
| Kisan Vikas Patra | 7.5% |
| Recurring Deposit (5 year) | 6.7% |
| Time Deposit 1 year | 6.9% |
| Time Deposit 2 year | 7% |
| Time Deposit 3 year | 7.1% |
| Time Deposit 5 year | 7.5% |
| Post Office Savings Account | 4% |
How to choose between them
- Want income every month or quarter? The Monthly Income Scheme pays monthly (limit ₹9 lakh single, ₹15 lakh joint); the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme pays quarterly (limit ₹30 lakh).
- Saving for a daughter's future? Sukanya Samriddhi has the highest rate and a 21-year term, with deposits of ₹250 to ₹1,50,000 a year.
- Long-term, tax-free interest? The PPF has a 15-year term and a ₹1,50,000 yearly limit; its interest is called tax free by the NSI summary.
- A fixed amount at the end? The NSC, Kisan Vikas Patra and time deposits pay everything at maturity (time deposit interest can be paid out yearly).
- Small regular saving? The recurring deposit starts at ₹100 a month.
The calculators use the latest rate in the official table, and you can change the rate when a new quarter begins. The comparison above is about the shape of each scheme, not a recommendation.
Common questions
Which small savings scheme has the highest rate?
In the July-September 2026 column of the official table, the Sukanya Samriddhi Account and the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme are highest at 8.2%, followed by the 5-year NSC at 7.7%, the 5-year time deposit at 7.5% and the Kisan Vikas Patra at 7.5%. The schemes differ in who can use them, the deposit limits and the term, so the rate alone does not make one better.
Are the rates fixed?
The government reviews the rates for every quarter. The official table showed no change from April 2024 to July-September 2026, but the October-December 2026 column was still empty on 13 November 2026.
Is this advice?
No. The pages work out arithmetic from published rates and limits and do not recommend a scheme.
Sources
- Interest rates for every quarter: National Savings Institute, Ministry of Finance, "Scheme Wise Interest Rate" table (nsiindia.gov.in), read on 13 November 2026. The latest quarter shown in that table was July-September 2026; the October-December 2026 column was empty on that date.
- Minimum and maximum deposits, terms and withdrawal features: the same institute's "National Savings Schemes at a glance" page (nsiindia.gov.in), read on 13 November 2026.
- PPF interest rule: Public Provident Fund Scheme, 2019, paragraph 7, as published by the National Savings Institute (nsiindia.gov.in), read on 13 November 2026: the lowest balance between the close of the fifth day and the end of the month earns interest, at a rate per annum, and interest is credited at the end of each year. The same paragraph, as amended by G.S.R. 290(E) of 5 May 2020, fixes 7.1% a year for deposits from 1 April 2020.
- What the texts do not spell out and this site assumes: a month earns one twelfth of the yearly rate, and interest is rounded to the rupee when it is added. Sukanya Samriddhi follows the same pattern in the way we work it; the recurring deposit and time deposit figures compound every quarter, as NSI says for the time deposit; the rule texts of those schemes were not opened. Every result is an estimate and a passbook can differ by a few rupees.
Rates and limits read on 13 November 2026 from the National Savings Institute. They are set by the government for each quarter and can change; the rates shown are those of July to September 2026, so treat them as out of date after 31 December 2026 unless this page has been updated. This is arithmetic, not investment advice; check the current rate at a post office, an authorised bank or indiapost.gov.in before you invest.