India Post small savings ecosystem
India Post operates the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) — a suite of seven government-backed savings instruments covering the full spectrum of investor needs: regular deposits, fixed-term investments, monthly income, tax-saving certificates, wealth doubling, retirement income, and long-term tax-free savings. All schemes carry a sovereign guarantee from the Government of India.
Interest rates are revised quarterly and notified by the Ministry of Finance. The rates below reflect Q1 FY 2026-27 (April–June 2026).
Decision tree — which scheme fits your goal?
| Goal | Recommended scheme | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly income (any age) | Post Office MIS | Only PO scheme with monthly payout |
| Retirement income (age 60+) | SCSS | Highest rate (8.2%), 80C-eligible, ₹30L cap |
| Tax saving + 5-year lock-in | NSC | 7.7%, 80C deduction, no upper limit |
| Double a lump sum | KVP | Guaranteed doubling in 115 months |
| Long-term tax-free wealth (15 yr) | PPF | EEE status, 7.1%, 80C, ₹1.5L/yr cap |
| Regular monthly savings | Post Office RD | 6.7%, any monthly amount, 5-year term |
| Lump sum, fixed term | Post Office FD | 6.9%–7.5% depending on 1–5yr tenure |
Calculator cards
Monthly deposit · 5 years
Post Office RD Calculator
6.7% p.a. quarterly compounding. Build a corpus with monthly instalments of any size.
Open calculator →Lump sum · 1–5 years
Post Office FD Calculator
6.9%–7.5% p.a. quarterly compounding. 5-year FD qualifies for 80C deduction.
Open calculator →Monthly income · 5 years
Post Office MIS Calculator
7.4% p.a. simple interest. Max ₹9L (single) / ₹15L (joint). Guaranteed monthly payout.
Open calculator →80C tax saving · 5 years
NSC Calculator
7.7% p.a. annual compounding. No upper limit. Section 80C deduction on principal.
Open calculator →Wealth doubling · 115 months
KVP Calculator
7.5% p.a. effective. Money doubles in 9 years 7 months. No upper limit on investment.
Open calculator →Senior citizens · 5 years
SCSS Calculator
8.2% p.a. Highest guaranteed rate. ₹30L cap. Quarterly payouts. 80C-eligible. Age 60+ only.
Open calculator →Scheme comparison table (Q1 FY 2026-27)
| Scheme | Rate (p.a.) | Tenure | Max deposit | Tax treatment | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post Office RD | 6.7% | 5 years | No limit | Interest taxable; no TDS | At maturity |
| Post Office FD (1yr) | 6.9% | 1 year | No limit | Interest taxable; no TDS | At maturity |
| Post Office FD (2yr) | 7.0% | 2 years | No limit | Interest taxable; no TDS | At maturity |
| Post Office FD (3yr) | 7.1% | 3 years | No limit | Interest taxable; no TDS | At maturity |
| Post Office FD (5yr) | 7.5% | 5 years | No limit | 80C on principal; interest taxable | At maturity |
| Post Office MIS | 7.4% | 5 years | ₹9L (single) / ₹15L (joint) | Interest taxable; no TDS | Monthly |
| NSC | 7.7% | 5 years | No limit | 80C on principal + reinvested interest; taxable at maturity | At maturity |
| KVP | 7.5% | 115 months | No limit | Interest taxable; no TDS | At maturity (doubles) |
| SCSS | 8.2% | 5 years (+3yr ext.) | ₹30,00,000 | 80C on principal; interest taxable; TDS if >₹50K/yr | Quarterly |
| PPF | 7.1% | 15 years | ₹1,50,000/yr | EEE — 80C + interest tax-free + maturity tax-free | At maturity (partial withdrawal yr 7+) |
Rates are Q1 FY 2026-27 (April–June 2026) as notified by the Ministry of Finance. Rates are revised quarterly.
How Post Office interest rates are set
The Government of India revises small savings rates every quarter (April, July, October, January). Rates are benchmarked against Government of India securities (G-Secs) of comparable maturity with a spread of 0–100 basis points. The Ministry of Finance issues a formal GSR notification before each quarter begins.
Once you open an account, your contracted rate is protected for your deposit cycle — a rate cut after account opening does not reduce your existing deposit’s return.
Bridges
- Section 80C Deduction Calculator — NSC and SCSS deposits qualify for 80C deduction up to ₹1.5L; combine with PPF, ELSS, and insurance premiums to model your full 80C position
- PPF Calculator — PPF can be opened at India Post or SBI/authorised banks; EEE status makes it the best long-term tax-free small savings option