Small Savings Rates Unchanged: PPF At 7.10 Per Cent, NSC At 7.70 Per Cent

The government has kept interest rates unchanged on small savings schemes for the October-December quarter of FY 2026-27. The rates that applied from July 1-September 30 will also apply from October 1-December 31, 2026.

The latest decision covers popular schemes, such as Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), Sukanya Samridhhi Yojana (SSY), Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) and Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme (SCSS). Small savings schemes are mainly offered through post offices, while some are also available through banks.

PPF Rate At 7.1 Per Cent

The rate of interest on PPF will be 7.10 per cent for the October-December quarter. The Post Office Savings Account will offer a deposit rate of 4 per cent. PPF has a 15-year tenure and is used by many investors for long-term savings.

For Post Office Time Deposits, the deposit rate on three-year deposits will be 7.10 per cent. The rate for five-year deposits will be 7.50 per cent. The deposit rate varies depending on the type and tenure of the deposit.

NSC Rate At 7.70 Per Cent

The deposit rate on NSC will be 7.70 per cent during the October-December quarter. NSC has a five-year maturity period, with interest calculated annually.

The deposit rate on SSY will be 8.20 per cent. The scheme is meant for a girl child and has specific eligibility rules. The deposit rate on KVP will be 7.50 per cent, with investments maturing in 115 months at the notified rate.

The MIS will offer a deposit rate of 7.40 per cent during the quarter. The deposit rate on SCSS will be 8.20 per cent. Each scheme has different rules related to tenure, deposits, withdrawals and interest payments.

Small Savings Rates Unchanged For 10 Quarters

The latest notification marks the 10th consecutive quarter without a change in the rate of interest on small savings schemes. The government reviews these rates every quarter, but there has been no revision for the October-December 2026 period.

The last change in some small savings rates came in Q4 of FY 2023-24. Since then, the rates have been kept unchanged through successive quarterly notifications.

For investors, this means the rates available under these schemes during the October-December quarter will be the same as those offered in the previous quarter. The actual return from an investment will also depend on the scheme’s tenure, deposit rules and interest calculation method.