Finacolada

Small savings interest rates this quarter (Q3 FY2026-27)

The rates below are the ones notified for PPF, Sukanya Samriddhi, NSC, Kisan Vikas Patra, SCSS, the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme, post office deposits and EPF. Every Finacolada scheme calculator starts from these same numbers.

Rates effective from
Last verified
Next review expected

All rates at a glance

Q3 FY2026-27 (1 Oct 2026 – 31 Dec 2026). EPF is declared once a year for a financial year.

Scheme Rate a year Tenure Interest Limits Calculator
Public Provident Fund (PPF) 7.1% 15 years, extendable in 5-year blocks Worked out monthly on the lowest balance, credited yearly ₹500 to ₹1.5 L a year PPF calculator
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) 8.2% 21 years (deposits for 15) Worked out monthly on the lowest balance, credited yearly ₹250 to ₹1.5 L a year SSY calculator
National Savings Certificate (NSC) 7.7% 5 years Compounded yearly, paid at maturity From ₹1,000; no maximum NSC calculator
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) 7.5% 115 months (money doubles) Compounded yearly, paid at maturity From ₹1,000; no maximum KVP calculator
Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) 8.2% 5 years Paid out every quarter ₹1,000 to ₹30 L SCSS calculator
Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS) 7.4% 5 years Paid out every month Up to ₹9 L single, ₹15 L joint Post Office MIS calculator
Post Office Time Deposit, 1 year 6.9% 1 year Compounded quarterly – Post Office FD calculator
Post Office Time Deposit, 2 years 7% 2 years Compounded quarterly – Post Office FD calculator
Post Office Time Deposit, 3 years 7.1% 3 years Compounded quarterly – Post Office FD calculator
Post Office Time Deposit, 5 years 7.5% 5 years Compounded quarterly – Post Office FD calculator
Post Office Recurring Deposit (RD) 6.7% 5 years Compounded quarterly From ₹100 a month Post Office RD calculator
Post Office Savings Account 4% No fixed term Compounded yearly – –
Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), FY 2025-26 8.25% Until you withdraw or retire Worked out monthly on the running balance, credited yearly 12% of basic pay from you EPF calculator

How we checked. Ministry of Finance (DEA) Office Memorandum F.No.1/4/2019-NS of 30 Sep 2026 keeps every rate for Oct–Dec 2026 unchanged from the previous quarter; the Department of Posts forwarded it as SB Order 12/2026. The rates themselves were last set in a table effective 1 Jan 2024 and match India Post's current rates page (updated 19 Oct 2026). Limits match the National Savings Institute scheme pages.
EPF. 8.25% for FY2025-26 was recommended by EPFO's Central Board of Trustees on 2 Mar 2026, approved by the Labour Ministry in June 2026 and credited from July 2026. Interest is calculated on the monthly running balance and credited at year end. The statutory wage ceiling rose from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month from 17 Sep 2026 (S.O. 5109(E)).

Work out what these rates mean for you

Change log

  1. · Q3 FY2026-27

    No small-savings rate changed from the previous quarter (Ministry of Finance OM of 30 Sep 2026).

  2. · EPF wage ceiling

    The statutory EPF wage ceiling rose from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month (S.O. 5109(E)), so the maximum employer pension (EPS) share rose from ₹1,250 to about ₹2,083 a month.

  3. · EPF FY2025-26

    EPFO's Central Board of Trustees recommended 8.25% for FY2025-26; the Labour Ministry approved it in June 2026.

A new entry is added after each quarterly review.

Frequently asked questions

What are the small savings interest rates this quarter?

For Q3 FY2026-27 (1 Oct 2026 – 31 Dec 2026): PPF 7.1%, Sukanya Samriddhi 8.2%, NSC 7.7%, Kisan Vikas Patra 7.5%, SCSS 8.2%, Post Office MIS 7.4%, 5-year post office time deposit 7.5% and post office RD 6.7%. We last checked on 21 October 2026.

How often do small savings interest rates change?

The Finance Ministry reviews them every quarter and announces new rates, usually just before the quarter starts on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October. Rates can stay the same for several quarters. The next review is expected around 1 January 2027. EPF is different: its rate is declared once a year.

Which small savings scheme has the highest interest rate?

This quarter the highest notified rate is 8.2%, offered by Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and Senior Citizen Savings Scheme. A higher rate is not automatically better for you: SSY is only for a girl child, SCSS only for senior citizens, and each scheme has its own lock-in, limits and tax treatment. Our guide compares PPF, SSY, NSC and FDs.

Is the PPF interest rate fixed for 15 years?

No. The PPF rate is reset every quarter and the new rate applies to the whole balance in your account, not only to new deposits. It is 7.1% this quarter. The same is true of Sukanya Samriddhi. NSC, KVP, SCSS, POMIS, time deposits and recurring deposits instead keep the rate in force on the day you start, as per the scheme rules.

Where can I check the official small savings rates?

The Department of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance publishes the quarterly notification, and India Post and the National Savings Institute list the rates for each scheme. The links are at the bottom of this page. Our table was matched across secondary reports of the notification and should be confirmed against an official source before you invest.

Are small savings schemes safe?

PPF, SSY, NSC, KVP, SCSS and post office deposits are issued or backed by the Government of India, which is why they are widely regarded as low-risk. Low risk does not mean flexible or tax-free: each has a lock-in, limits and its own tax rules. Compare them with bank fixed deposits for your goal before choosing.

Sources

Logic and rates last verified on .