What are the official small savings rates for Jan-Mar 2026?

Rates remain unchanged for a seventh quarter: PPF at 7.1%, NSC at 7.7%, and Sukanya Samriddhi at 8.2%. New NSC purchases lock the rate for five years. PPF and Sukanya accounts may see future resets each quarter, but the current quarter’s earnings follow these rates.

Is the PPF rate 2026 good enough versus FDs?

PPF at 7.1% offers tax-free interest and maturity, which can beat many FDs on a post-tax basis, especially for higher tax slabs. It also supports long-term compounding. Use PPF for goals beyond 10 years, and keep some funds in FDs for short-term liquidity and fixed cash flow needs.

How is NSC interest rate taxed?

NSC interest is taxable at your slab. Each year, the accrued interest is typically treated as reinvested and can be claimed under Section 80C, except in the final year when only the principal is considered for deduction. Plan for the tax outgo and consider a ladder to manage reinvestment risk.

Who should choose the Sukanya Samriddhi rate of 8.2%?

Parents or guardians of a girl child under 10 can open the account. Deposits qualify for Section 80C under the old regime, and both interest and maturity are tax-free. The long lock-in suits education and marriage goals. Commit to regular annual deposits to build a stable corpus.

Global Market Insights

Small Savings Schemes Interest Rates Unchanged for Jan–Mar — January 01

ByHuzaifa Zahoor January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Small savings schemes interest remains unchanged for Jan-Mar 2026, marking a seventh straight quarter of status quo. PPF rate 2026 stays at 7.1%, NSC interest rate at 7.7%, and the Sukanya Samriddhi rate at 8.2%. This steady move signals no quick shift in retail rates as 2026 starts. We explain how this affects household allocation across PPF, NSC, Sukanya, bank FDs, and debt funds, and what actions to consider before 31 March for tax planning in India.