Government Maintains Interest Rates on Small Savings Schemes for Seventh Consecutive Quarter

The government has decided to maintain the existing interest rates for small savings schemes, including the Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC), for the seventh consecutive quarter. This decision applies to the period from January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026. The finance ministry confirmed that these rates will remain consistent with those set for the previous quarter ending December 31, 2025.

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Deposits in the Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme will continue to earn an interest rate of 8.2 per cent. Meanwhile, a three-year term deposit will still offer a rate of 7.1 per cent, which is unchanged from the current quarter. The PPF and post office savings deposit schemes will also retain their interest rates at 7.1 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively.

Interest Rates for Various Schemes

The Kisan Vikas Patra will offer an interest rate of 7.5 per cent, with investments maturing in 115 months. The NSC's interest rate remains at 7.7 per cent for the January-March quarter. Similarly, the monthly income scheme will continue to provide a return of 7.4 per cent during this period.

Small savings schemes are primarily managed by post offices and banks across India. These schemes have seen no change in interest rates for seven quarters in a row now. Previously, some adjustments were made by the government in certain schemes during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24.

Quarterly Notifications

The government reviews and announces interest rates on small savings schemes every quarter. This regular update ensures that investors are informed about potential changes or continuations in their returns from these schemes.

The decision to keep rates unchanged reflects a stable approach towards managing these savings options. It provides predictability for investors who rely on these schemes for steady returns over time.

With inputs from PTI