Calculator
Your PPF in three inputs
The rate starts at 7.1 percent, the rate in force for several quarters up to 2026. Treat it as an assumed rate for illustration: the government can revise it every quarter, and the balance earns whatever rate applies in each quarter.
Maturity value
₹40,68,209
- You deposit
- ₹22,50,000
- Interest earned
- ₹18,18,209
Assumes each deposit goes in by 5 April and the rate stays flat. Assumed rate for illustration, not a promise. Interest is credited once a year on 31 March.
Year by year
Watch the interest catch up with your deposits
In the early years most of the balance is your own money. Somewhere past year ten the yearly interest starts to overtake the yearly deposit. That is why people who stop at year 15 often extend.
| Year | Deposit | Interest that year | Year-end balance |
|---|
Assumed rate for illustration, applied flat for every year. Real PPF interest follows the rate notified for each quarter.
The rules that move the number
PPF basics, in one table
These are the well-known rules most account holders need. Rules as of 2026, check current rules before you act, as the government can change rates and limits.
The deposit limit is per person across all your PPF accounts, including one you open for a minor child. Two accounts do not double the ₹1.5 lakh cap.
- Deposit
- ₹500 minimum, ₹1,50,000 maximum per financial year, in one go or up to 12 instalments
- Term
- 15 full financial years from the year of opening
- Extension
- Blocks of 5 years, with or without fresh deposits
- Interest
- Worked out monthly on the lowest balance between the 5th and month end, credited on 31 March
- Rate
- Notified by the government every quarter
- Tax
- Deposit counts under Section 80C in the old regime; interest and maturity are tax-free
- Withdrawal
- Partial withdrawal allowed from the 7th financial year, within limits
- Missed year
- Account turns inactive; revive by paying ₹500 for each missed year plus ₹50 penalty per year
Small habit, real money
Deposit by the 5th. April beats March.
Because interest is worked out on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of each month, money that lands on the 6th sits idle for that month. A full-year deposit made on 1 to 5 April earns interest for all twelve months. The same deposit made in March earns for one.
On ₹1.5 lakh at the assumed rate for illustration of 7.1 percent, that gap is close to ₹9,800 in the first year alone, and it compounds for the rest of the term.
- 1 to 5 AprilFull year of interest on the whole deposit. The best slot if you have the money.
- Monthly, before the 5thGood for salaried savers. Set a standing instruction for the 1st of each month.
- After the 5thThat month earns nothing on the new money. Move the date, not the amount.
- Last week of MarchStill counts for 80C, but loses almost a year of interest.
Where PPF fits
PPF, ELSS and NPS side by side
We rarely suggest PPF alone. It is the fixed-income base; ELSS and NPS carry the equity part. Rules as of 2026, check current rules.
| PPF | ELSS fund | NPS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it holds | Small-savings scheme, rate set by government | Mostly equity shares | Mix of equity, corporate and government bonds |
| Lock-in | 15 years, partial withdrawal from year 7 | 3 years per instalment | Till age 60, limited exits |
| Returns | Declared rate, revised quarterly | Market-linked, can be negative in some years | Market-linked |
| Tax on gains | Tax-free | Long-term capital gains tax above the yearly exemption | Part of corpus tax-free, rest goes into an annuity |
| Suits | The stable base of a long goal | Long goals where you can sit through falls | Retirement only |
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. More on this in NPS vs PPF.
Plan it with us
How much in PPF, how much in funds?
Tell us your goal and your yearly saving. We reply on WhatsApp with a split between PPF and mutual fund categories, and the deposit dates to set.
Questions
PPF, asked often
Rules as of 2026, check current rules.
Is 7.1 percent fixed for my whole 15 years?
No. The rate is reviewed every quarter and your whole balance earns whatever rate applies in that quarter. The calculator holds one assumed rate for illustration so you can see the shape of the growth.
Can I deposit more than ₹1.5 lakh in a year?
No. Anything above ₹1.5 lakh in a financial year earns no interest and gets no tax benefit. If you can save more, the extra usually goes to mutual funds or NPS depending on the goal.
What happens after 15 years?
You can close the account and take the full amount, keep it running without deposits, or extend for 5 years with deposits. To extend with deposits you must submit the request within one year of maturity.
Is PPF enough for retirement?
For most people, no. A rate close to inflation keeps money safe but grows it slowly. We use PPF as the stable base and add equity through SIPs. See retirement planning.
Does PPF help under the new tax regime?
The 80C deduction is available only in the old regime. Interest and maturity stay tax-free in both. If you are on the new regime, PPF is still a clean fixed-income option, just without the deduction.
Related
Other tools and pages
PPF works best next to the right equity and insurance pieces.
Want PPF and SIP dates set up as one plan?
PPF rates are set by the government and revised quarterly; figures here use an assumed rate for illustration. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.