The Ministry of Finance resets small savings rates every quarter. For April-June 2026 (Q1 of FY 2026-27), here are the current rates to check against the official notification at dea.gov.in.
The current Q1 rates (verify on notification)
| Scheme | Rate | Lock-in | |---|---|---| | PPF | 7.1% | 15 years | | SCSS (Senior Citizen Savings Scheme) | 8.2% | 5 years | | Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana | 8.2% | Until girl turns 21 | | NSC (National Savings Certificate) | 7.7% | 5 years | | KVP (Kisan Vikas Patra) | 7.5% | 115 months | | Post Office MIS | 7.4% | 5 years | | Post Office Time Deposit (5-yr) | 7.5% | 5 years | | Post Office RD | 6.7% | 5 years |
Why the quarterly reset matters
Small savings rates are benchmarked to government G-Sec yields. When bond yields fall (as they did in 2024-25), these rates get trimmed. For the first time in two years, rates have been broadly stable in recent quarters — the MoF appears to be holding the line to protect retail savers.
Who should use what
- Senior citizens (60+): SCSS at 8.2% is the single best fixed-income instrument in India. Max limit ₹30 lakh per person; couple can park ₹60 lakh.
- Parents of a girl under 10: Sukanya Samriddhi at 8.2% with EEE tax treatment beats almost everything else for a 15-20 year goal.
- Tax-saving (80C): PPF for stability, NSC for shorter 5-year lock-in, or ELSS for higher returns with market risk.
- Regular income: POMIS at 7.4% monthly credit, or SCSS quarterly payouts.
The rate risk
If the RBI cuts repo rates further, expect Q2 FY 2026-27 small savings rates to trim 10-20 bps. Lock in longer tenures at current rates if your goal matches.
Run the maturity numbers on our PPF Calculator, SCSS Calculator, NSC Calculator, and Sukanya Samriddhi Calculator.