Small savings rates: what Rs 1 lakh earns in a year
A side-by-side look at India's post office and small savings schemes for October to December 2026, using the rate the government sets each quarter. Free to embed on your own site.
Source: Ministry of Finance, DEA Office Memorandum F.No.1/4/2019-NS dated 30.09.2026 (rates unchanged from the previous quarter); India Post savings schemes page, updated 30.10.2026.
This compares the headline yearly rate on Rs 1 lakh. It is not advice. How interest is paid and compounded differs by scheme, so the amount you actually earn over several years will differ, and some schemes have eligibility limits. Rates change every quarter; this page updates when we refresh them.
How to read it
Each bar is the interest Rs 1 lakh would earn in a year at that scheme's current rate: 1% of Rs 1 lakh is Rs 1,000, so a 7.1% rate is about Rs 7,100 a year. The top-paying schemes usually carry conditions, so the best rate is not open to everyone. For the full picture of lock-ins and tax, read the post office schemes guide.
Work out your own numbers
- PPF calculator and Sukanya Samriddhi calculator
- Recurring deposit calculator and FD calculator
- PPF vs EPF, NSC and Kisan Vikas Patra
- Browse all GreenFunds data charts
Questions people ask
Which small savings scheme has the highest interest rate?
The chart ranks every scheme at the current quarter's rate. The top-paying ones usually come with conditions: the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme needs you to be 60 or older, and Sukanya Samriddhi is only for a girl child's account. So the best headline rate is not open to everyone.
How often do these rates change?
Every quarter. The Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) resets small savings rates around the last working day before each quarter, so the figure can change on 1 April, 1 July, 1 October and 1 January. This chart reads from a single rate file, so it updates when we refresh the quarter.
Is the interest on these schemes taxable?
It depends on the scheme. PPF and Sukanya Samriddhi interest is tax-free, while interest on the Senior Citizens scheme, NSC, Kisan Vikas Patra, the Monthly Income Scheme and recurring deposits is added to your income and taxed at your slab. Check the rules for the scheme you pick.