National Savings Schemes — India Post Savings Guide

National Savings Schemes (NSS) are government-backed savings instruments offered through India Post. They carry a sovereign guarantee — your money is as safe as it gets. Interest rates are revised quarterly by the Government of India.

Current quarter: July–September 2026 (Q2 FY 2026-27)

Compare All Rates

See the complete NSS interest rates table →

Scheme Guides

Click any scheme below for a plain-language explanation — what it is, who it is for, key features, and what to watch out for.

Post Office Savings

Post Office Savings Account
Ongoing  ·  ₹500 min
4%

Post Office Time Deposits

Post Office Time Deposit – 1 Year
1 year  ·  ₹1,000 min
6.9%
TDS
Post Office Time Deposit – 2 Years
2 years  ·  ₹1,000 min
7%
TDS
Post Office Time Deposit – 3 Years
3 years  ·  ₹1,000 min
7.1%
TDS
Post Office Time Deposit – 5 Years
5 years  ·  ₹1,000 min
7.5%
80CTDS

Recurring Deposit

Post Office Recurring Deposit
5 years  ·  ₹100/month min
6.7%

Senior Citizen Scheme

Senior Citizen Savings Scheme
5 years  ·  ₹1,000 min
8.2%
80CTDS

Monthly Income

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme
5 years  ·  ₹1,500 min
7.4%

Certificates & Bonds

Kisan Vikas Patra
~115 months  ·  ₹1,000 min
7.5%
National Savings Certificate (NSC)
5 years  ·  ₹1,000 min
7.7%
80C

Provident Fund

Public Provident Fund
15 years  ·  ₹500/year min
7.1%
80C

Girl Child Schemes

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
21 years  ·  ₹250/year min
8.2%
80C

Closed Schemes

No longer accepting new investment. Existing accounts continue to run and earn interest until maturity.

Mahila Samman Savings Certificate
2 years  ·  ₹1,000 min
Closed

Rates as of July–September 2026 (Q2 FY 2026-27). Source: India Post.

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