Skip to main content

Q3 FY 2026-27 · verified 24 October 2026

Small-savings interest rates: October–December 2026

For 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, the notified rates range from 6.7% for the five-year Post Office recurring deposit to 8.2% for SCSS and Sukanya Samriddhi. The table keeps payout method and tenure beside each rate because equal-looking annual percentages can produce different cash flows.

Small-savings rate table

SchemeRate p.a.How interest is appliedTenure note
Public Provident Fund (PPF)7.1%Compounded annuallySee scheme rules
Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)8.2%Paid quarterly5 years, extendable in blocks of 3 years
Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSY)8.2%Compounded annuallySee scheme rules
National Savings Certificate (NSC VIII Issue)7.7%Paid on maturity5 years; interest compounds annually but is paid only at maturity
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)7.5%Paid on maturityMatures in 115 months, at which point the investment doubles
Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS)7.4%Paid monthly5 years
Post Office Time Deposit – 1 year6.9%Compounded quarterlySee scheme rules
Post Office Time Deposit – 2 years7.0%Compounded quarterlySee scheme rules
Post Office Time Deposit – 3 years7.1%Compounded quarterlySee scheme rules
Post Office Time Deposit – 5 years7.5%Compounded quarterlyQualifies for Section 80C
Post Office Recurring Deposit – 5 years6.7%Compounded quarterlySee scheme rules

Effective window for every row: 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. “Per annum” describes the quoted annual rate; payout and compounding follow the method shown.

How to read the table

The figures are quoted annual rates, not a promise that every account receives cash at the same interval. SCSS credits interest quarterly and the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme pays monthly. PPF and Sukanya Samriddhi compound annually, while time deposits use quarterly compounding. NSC and KVP pay at maturity under their scheme rules.

Tenure matters as much as the headline number. A five-year time deposit, a long-horizon PPF account and an income-paying SCSS account solve different problems. Eligibility, premature closure, contribution limits, nomination and tax treatment also need to be checked in the relevant scheme rules before comparing outcomes.

Source and update method

The Department of Economic Affairs publishes quarterly notifications for small-savings rates. This table is tied to the Q3 FY 2026-27 notification rather than labelled simply “current”. India Post is linked as a second official reference for the savings products it operates.

The page should be checked when the next quarterly notification is released. If a later quarter exists, do not carry these values forward merely because news coverage says rates were unchanged; update the effective window and link the new notification.

Model the cash flow, not just the rate

Use the matching calculator to test a contribution, tenure and payout pattern. Calculator results are estimates based on the inputs and do not replace the scheme document.

PPF calculatorSCSS calculatorSSY calculatorPOMIS calculator

For eligibility, tax treatment and which scheme fits which goal, read the post office savings schemes guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the PPF interest rate for October to December 2026?

The notified PPF rate for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026 is 7.1% per annum, compounded annually.

What is the SCSS interest rate for this quarter?

The notified SCSS rate for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026 is 8.2% per annum, paid quarterly.

Do small-savings rates change every quarter?

The Ministry of Finance reviews and notifies the rates each quarter. A review does not guarantee a change, so the effective quarter still needs to be stated even when the number remains the same.

Are all the rates in the table directly comparable?

No. Payout timing, compounding, tenure, liquidity, eligibility and tax treatment differ. The stated annual rate alone does not establish which scheme suits a person.

General information only. Rates, eligibility and scheme rules can change. Verify the latest official notification before depositing or withdrawing money.