PPF, other small savings scheme rates remain unchanged. Check rates here

The Ministry of Finance on Thursday kept interest rates of small savings schemes comprising Public Provident Fund (PPF) and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), other post office schemes unchanged for the sixth quarter in a row for the October-December quarter. 

This means that the interest rates earned in the July to September quarter of FY22 will be same for the next quarter. In addition, new investments made during the October-December 2021 quarter will also garner same interest rates as in the previous quarter.

As per ministry’s circular, PPF will continue to earn 7.10%, the NSC will fetch 6.8%, and Post Office Monthly Income Scheme Account will earn 6.6%.

The small savings schemes will continue to fetch small investors better rates than other fixed income avenues such as bank fixed deposits (FDs).

For example, the five-year fixed deposit under Post Office Savings Scheme gives a 6.7% interest rate. Top banks in India generally offer 5.4-5.5% interest rates on a fixed deposit of the same period.

Earlier on 1 April, the Centre had swiftly revoked a steep interest rate cut of up to 1.1% for the first quarter on small savings schemes, citing oversight.

As a result, the first quarter rates were retained at the level of the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year. The cut was touted as the steepest cut in many decades.

Interest rates for small savings schemes are notified on a quarterly basis.