This page lists the interest rates and deposit limits of the government's small savings schemes for the current quarter, and the deposit-insurance rule for bank deposits. Each row gives the figure, who it applies to and from when, and a link to the official source. Figures change with each Finance Act, notification and quarterly review, so check the date and the source before you rely on a number. The explanations sit in the Academy lessons linked at the end of the page.
Small savings rates, October to December 2026
The Department of Economic Affairs (Ministry of Finance) office memorandum of 30 September 2026, circulated by the Department of Posts the same day, kept the rates for 1 October to 31 December 2026 unchanged from the previous quarter. The same rates have applied in every quarter since 1 July 2025. Rates are reviewed every quarter.
| Item | Figure | Who and when it applies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Provident Fund (PPF) | 7.1% a year; deposits ₹500 to ₹1,50,000 a financial year | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSY) | 8.2% a year; deposits ₹250 to ₹1,50,000 a financial year | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme (SCSS) | 8.2% a year; deposits ₹1,000 to ₹30 lakh | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026; for eligible depositors | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS) | 7.4% a year; deposits from ₹1,000 up to ₹9 lakh (single account) or ₹15 lakh (joint account) | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| National Savings Certificate (NSC, VIII issue) | 7.7% a year; from ₹1,000, no maximum | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) | 7.5% a year; from ₹1,000, no maximum | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| Post Office Time Deposit | 1 year 6.9%; 2 years 7.0%; 3 years 7.1%; 5 years 7.5%; from ₹1,000, no maximum | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| Post Office Recurring Deposit (5 years) | 6.7% a year; from ₹100 a month | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| Post Office Savings Account | 4.0% a year; from ₹500 | Rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026 | DoP SB Order 12/2026 (rates unchanged); RBI Handbook, Table 111 (rates and limits) |
| Mahila Samman Savings Certificate | Closed to new deposits after 31 March 2025 | The Department of Posts' order of 28 March 2025 said no new deposits would be accepted after that date | DoP SB Order 03/2025 |
Deposit insurance for bank deposits
| Item | Figure | Who and when it applies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit insurance cover | Up to ₹5,00,000 per depositor per bank, principal and interest together | Deposits held in the same right and the same capacity are added together across all branches of one bank; deposits in a different capacity are counted separately | DICGC: A Guide to Deposit Insurance |
| Banks covered | Commercial banks (including branches of foreign banks in India), local area banks, regional rural banks and eligible co-operative banks | Primary co-operative societies are not insured | DICGC: A Guide to Deposit Insurance |
How to use these figures
A headline rate is only the start. Whether the rate is fixed for the whole term, what early exit costs, who is eligible and how the interest is taxed differ by scheme, and they decide what you actually keep. These lessons explain them:
- Small savings schemes: eligibility, early-exit rules, tax and post-tax comparison.
- Deposit insurance (DICGC): how the ₹5 lakh limit adds up across accounts and capacities.
- Fixed deposits, RDs and sweep accounts: comparing bank deposits with these schemes.
Last checked against sources: 23 October 2026. This is the date the figures above were compared with the official sources linked in each row. It is not a professional review of anyone's tax or investment position.