Small Savings Interest Rates

Rate on National Savings Certificate steeply raised by 70 bps, PPF kept unchanged

Small savings rates for 1-year time deposit (6.6 per cent), 2-year time deposit (6.8 per cent) and 3-year time deposit (6.9 per cent) were raised by 110 bps

National Savings Certificate, Public Provident Fund rate kept unchanged

The government on Thursday raised rates on some small savings schemes by up to 30 basis points (bps) in line with the hardening interest rate in the economy. With the revision, a three-year time deposit with post offices would earn 5.8 per cent from the existing 5.5 per cent, an increase of 30 basis points for the third quarter of the current financial year. Senior Citizen Savings scheme will earn 20 basis points more to 7.6 per cent from the existing rate of 7.4 per cent during the October-December period, a finance ministry notification said. With regard to Kisan Credit Card, the government has revised both tenure and interest rates. The Reserve Bank since May has raised the benchmark lending rate by 140 basis points, prompting banks to raise interest rates on deposits as well.

If this happens, it will be the 10th straight quarter of status quo; govt official says Centre did not cut rates when policy rates were being cut during pandemic

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Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) will continue to carry an annual interest rate of 7.1 per cent and 6.8 per cent, respectively

The rates have not been changed since September 1, 2020; status quo to help Centre raise additional resources, says Icra economist

Interest rates for small savings schemes are notified by the Finance Ministry on a quarterly basis

Several products offer better rates, especially for seniors; that said, never try to optimise returns when you need money in the short term

As cash is priority, you can delay payment. But there will be loss in interest income

Interest rates were also cut for a senior citizens saving scheme and National Savings Certificate

Bond yields will also be under pressure due to Rs 2.7 trillion of switches in FY21, which increases duration risk

In another notification, the ministry said it has decided to extend submission of Aadhaar details for small savings scheme investors until further orders

Since 2016, the government has linked the small savings deposit rate with the benchmark Government Securities (G-Sec) rate