Small Savings Rates Jul-Sep 2026: PPF, SCSS, SSY - citizen guide 2026

If you are short on time, the full rate table is right below. Your existing deposits keep earning the same rate already locked in when you opened them.

The Ministry of Finance, through the Department of Economic Affairs, issued a quarterly notification dated 30 June 2026. It keeps small savings interest rates unchanged for the second quarter of FY 2026-27, that is 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026.

These are the rates per annum, effective 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026, as per the Finance Ministry notification dated 30 June 2026.

The notification, in short, says that the rates for the second quarter of FY 2026-27 shall remain unchanged from those notified for the first quarter, that is 1 April to 30 June 2026.

For most savers, no change is good news. The rates above are still higher than what many banks offer on regular fixed deposits and savings accounts. Your money in these schemes keeps growing at the same steady, government-backed rate.

If you are a senior citizen, SCSS at 8.2% remains one of the safest high-return options for regular income. The interest is paid every quarter, which helps with monthly expenses.

If you are a parent saving for a daughter, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana at 8.2% is still the best-paying small savings scheme. The longer your money stays in, the more the yearly compounding works for you.

For PPF holders, 7.1% is fully tax-free under the EEE rule. That means your deposit, the interest and the final maturity amount all stay out of tax. After tax, this beats most ordinary fixed deposits.

Note: once you buy NSC or KVP, the rate is locked for the full term. Quarterly changes apply only to new deposits, not to certificates you already hold.

You can open most of these schemes at any post office. PPF, SCSS and SSY can also be opened at many banks.

1. Decide your scheme based on your goal. Use SCSS for senior income, SSY for a girl child, PPF for long-term tax-free savings.
2. Carry your Aadhaar, PAN and a passport-size photo. For SSY, also carry the girl child's birth certificate.
3. Fill the account opening form at the post office or bank counter.
4. Make your first deposit. PPF needs at least Rs 500 a year, SSY at least Rs 250 a year.
5. Collect your passbook or certificate and keep it safe.

Read our step-by-step guides: how to open a PPF account, how to open an SCSS account and how to open a Sukanya Samriddhi account.

If your post office credits less interest than the notified rate, or delays your SCSS quarterly payout, you have two clear options.

First, file a complaint on the India Post grievance portal or with the Postmaster. Quote the Finance Ministry notification dated 30 June 2026 and the correct rate for your scheme.

Second, if the reply is unclear or you get no action, file an RTI application. India Post is a public authority under the RTI Act 2005. You can ask for the interest calculation on your account, the rate applied and the rule under which it was applied. The reply is due in 30 days.

Use our AI RTI Drafter tool to write the application in minutes. For the full process, see The RTI Playbook.

• Thinking the rate changes on your old deposits. NSC and KVP rates are locked at the time of purchase. Quarterly changes apply only to fresh deposits.
• Mixing up SSY and SCSS. SSY is for a girl child below 10. SCSS is for people aged 60 and above.
• Missing the minimum yearly PPF deposit of Rs 500. If you skip it, the account becomes inactive and needs a penalty to revive.
• Expecting Mahila Samman Savings Certificate. That scheme closed for new deposits on 31 March 2025 and is not available now.
• Assuming all banks give these rates. Small savings rates are set by the government, not by individual banks.

No. The Finance Ministry notification dated 30 June 2026 kept all small savings rates unchanged for the quarter from 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026. This is the ninth quarter in a row with no change.

The PPF interest rate is 7.1% per annum for the July to September 2026 quarter. It is unchanged from the previous quarter. PPF interest is fully tax-free under the EEE rule.

Two schemes share the top rate of 8.2% per annum: the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. SCSS is for those aged 60 and above. SSY is for a girl child below 10 years.

The government reviews small savings rates every quarter. The rates are benchmarked to government bond yields under the Shyamala Gopinath formula. A notification is issued at the end of each quarter for the next one.

No. The rate on NSC and KVP is fixed when you buy the certificate and stays the same for the full term. Quarterly changes apply only to new purchases, not to certificates you already hold.

You can open all these schemes at any post office. PPF, SCSS and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana can also be opened at many banks. Carry your Aadhaar, PAN and a photo, plus the girl child's birth certificate for SSY.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana pays 8.2% per annum for this quarter. It is the best-paying small savings scheme. The account is for a girl child below 10 years and runs until she turns 21.

No. The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate closed for new deposits on 31 March 2025. You cannot open a new account in this scheme now. Consider PPF, SSY or a Post Office Time Deposit instead.

• Check your passbook or statement to confirm the rate credited matches the table above.
• If a payout is delayed or wrong, note the dates and amounts before you complain.
• For a new account, list your goal and pick the matching scheme from the table.
• If the post office made an error, draft an RTI with the AI RTI Drafter tool.

• Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs, quarterly notification dated 30 June 2026, keeping small savings rates unchanged for Q2 FY 2026-27.
• India Post small savings schemes, indiapost.gov.in.
• Shyamala Gopinath Committee formula for quarterly rate review.

• How to open a PPF account in 2026
• How to open a Senior Citizen Savings Scheme account
• How to open a Sukanya Samriddhi account
• AI RTI Drafter tool