Post office small-savings schemes are the most widely held investments in India for one reason: a sovereign guarantee. The Government of India — not a bank — owes you the money, and rates are set by the Finance Ministry every quarter. Here is the full basket compared, as of Q1 FY 2026-27 (rates set quarterly by the Finance Ministry).
All post office schemes at a glance
| Scheme | Rate | Payout | Tenure | Max investment | Tax benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Provident Fund (PPF) | 7.1% | Compounded yearly | 15 years | ₹1.5 lakh/yr | 80C + tax-free (EEE) |
| Sukanya Samriddhi (SSY) | 8.2% | Compounded yearly | Till girl turns 21 | ₹1.5 lakh/yr | 80C + tax-free (EEE) |
| Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) | 8.2% | Quarterly payout | 5 years (+3 ext.) | ₹30 lakh | 80C; interest taxable |
| National Savings Certificate (NSC) | 7.7% | Compounded yearly, paid at maturity | 5 years | No cap | 80C; interest taxable |
| Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS) | 7.4% | Monthly payout | 5 years | ₹9L single / ₹15L joint | None; taxable |
| Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) | 7.5% | Compounded yearly | 115 months (doubles) | No cap | None; taxable |
| Time Deposit (TD, 1-year) | 6.9% | Quarterly compounding, annual payout | 1 / 2 / 3 / 5 years | No cap | 80C on 5-year TD only |
| Time Deposit (TD, 5-year) | 7.5% | Quarterly compounding, annual payout | 5 years | No cap | 80C; interest taxable |
| Recurring Deposit (RD) | 6.7% | Quarterly compounding | 5 years | No cap | None; taxable |
Rates as of Q1 FY 2026-27 — small-savings rates are reviewed and notified quarterly by the Finance Ministry. Verify the latest notification before investing.
Which scheme doubles your money?
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) is the scheme literally built to double a deposit. At the current 7.5%, ₹1,00,000 becomes ₹2,00,000 in 115 months — 9 years and 7 months. The certificate states the doubling period on its face, so there is no rate risk after you buy: a fresh quarterly notification only changes the period for new purchases.
If 9½ years feels long, that is simply the maths of 7.5% compounding (the rule of 72 gives 72 ÷ 7.5 ≈ 9.6 years). NSC doesn't double, but it grows ₹1,000 to about ₹1,449 in 5 years at 7.7% — a faster rate over a shorter lock-in.
Best post office schemes for women
There is no longer a live women-only deposit scheme: the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (7.5%, 2-year) closed to new deposits after 31 March 2025. As of 2026, the practical picks are:
- SSY — if you are investing for a daughter under 10 (highest rate in the basket, tax-free).
- SCSS — for women 60+, 8.2% with quarterly income.
- PPF — the default long-term, tax-free compounding account for any woman investor; many households open one in each spouse's name to double the ₹1.5 lakh/yr limit.
Best scheme for a girl child
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is the clear answer: 8.2% tax-free, opened any time before your daughter turns 10. You deposit for 15 years; the account matures when she turns 21. At the current rate, the full ₹1.5 lakh/year builds to roughly ₹69–70 lakh at maturity (if the rate held at 8.2% throughout — it changes quarterly). Run your own numbers in the SSY calculator. For a boy child, the nearest equivalents are PPF in the parent's or minor's name, or a long RD.
Best schemes for senior citizens
The classic retirement pairing is SCSS + POMIS:
- SCSS at 8.2%: the full ₹30 lakh limit pays ₹61,500 every quarter (₹2.46 lakh/year), with an 80C deduction on the deposit. Age 60+, or 55+ for the retired on superannuation.
- POMIS at 7.4%: a joint ₹15 lakh holding pays ₹9,250 every month — useful as a second, monthly income stream once SCSS is maxed.
Together, a retired couple can park ₹75 lakh (₹30L SCSS each + ₹15L joint MIS) entirely under sovereign guarantee. Interest from both is taxable — check the impact with the income tax calculator.
NSC vs bank FD
Both are 5-year, 80C-eligible options; the differences decide it:
- Rate: NSC pays 7.7% — higher than most large banks' 5-year tax-saver FDs (typically 6.5–7.25%) and equal to or above the post office's own 5-year TD at 7.5%.
- Tax quirk in NSC's favour: NSC interest is reinvested rather than paid out, and the reinvested interest itself qualifies for a fresh 80C deduction in years 1–4 (old regime).
- FD's edge: flexible tenures (7 days–10 years), premature withdrawal (with penalty), and monthly/quarterly payout options. NSC is locked for the full 5 years.
- Safety: NSC carries the sovereign guarantee; bank FDs are insured only up to ₹5 lakh per bank under DICGC.
Compare the actual maturity amounts side by side with the FD calculator.