Small savings rates unchanged for Oct to Dec 2026: PPF 7.1%, Sukanya 8.2%
If you keep money in the Public Provident Fund (PPF), a Sukanya Samriddhi account, a post office recurring deposit or a time deposit, the interest rate you earn is set by the Government of India, and it is reviewed every quarter. For October to December 2026 (the third quarter of 2026-27), the rates India Post currently shows are the same as those in the official table for the previous quarters.
The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, lists a notice titled "Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes for Q3 2026-27", dated 30 September 2026 on its small savings page. The National Savings Institute rate table lists identical rates for every quarter from April 2025 up to July to September 2026, and the India Post savings page, which shows the current rates, lists the same figures.
The rates for October to December 2026
These are the rates on India Post's savings page, and they match the latest quarter in the National Savings Institute table:
- Post Office Savings Account: 4.0% a year.
- Time Deposit: 6.9% for 1 year, 7.0% for 2 years, 7.1% for 3 years and 7.5% for 5 years.
- 5-year Recurring Deposit: 6.7%.
- Senior Citizens Savings Scheme: 8.2%.
- Monthly Income Account: 7.4%.
- National Savings Certificate (VIII Issue): 7.7%.
- Public Provident Fund: 7.1%.
- Sukanya Samriddhi Account: 8.2%.
- Kisan Vikas Patra: 7.5%, and the India Post page says the amount doubles in 115 months.
What "unchanged" really means
First, the rate is not locked for the life of your account. The government announces a rate for each quarter, and the next announcement for January to March 2027 could keep the rates, raise them or lower them. The NSI table shows how the rate for a scheme like the 5-year time deposit has moved over the years, so a rate that is stable today is not a promise about tomorrow.
Second, a rate that stays the same is not an instruction to move your money. Your choice depends on your goal, your tax position and how long you can leave the money untouched. Some schemes have lock-in periods, so read the scheme rules or ask your post office before you decide.
Third, compare rates properly. A scheme that pays interest once a year and one that compounds every quarter are not directly comparable by the headline number alone. The India Post page notes, for example, that the PPF rate is compounded yearly and the recurring deposit rate is compounded quarterly.
A simple example with round numbers
Take Rs 1,00,000 held for exactly one year, with no deposits or withdrawals, and assume the October to December 2026 rates applied for the whole year (they may not, since the rate can change each quarter). The yearly interest is simply the amount times the rate:
- Post Office Savings Account at 4.0%: Rs 4,000.
- PPF at 7.1%: Rs 7,100.
- Sukanya Samriddhi at 8.2%: Rs 8,200.
The gap between Rs 4,000 and Rs 7,100 on the same Rs 1,00,000 is why many families look at these schemes for money they do not need soon. This is only arithmetic on a published rate, not a forecast of what you will earn.
How to use this
If you already have a PPF or Sukanya account, nothing changes for you this quarter. If you are planning a deposit, use the Gunaka PPF calculator to see how yearly deposits grow over 15 years at the current rate, and change the rate to test a lower one. The calculator treats the rate you enter as an assumption, because the real rate is reviewed every quarter.
Gunaka gives estimates, not financial advice. For decisions about your own savings, check the latest rate on the official sites linked above before you invest.
More guides
- PPF explained: yearly limit, 15-year lock-in and a Rs 1 lakh example
- Senior Citizens Savings Scheme: rules and a Rs 10 lakh example
- Pensioners: Digital Life Certificate campaign runs until 30 November 2026