Savings
Government schemes and deposits — the rates, the lock-ins, and whether the tax break is worth the illiquidity.
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: how the account actually works Sukanya Samriddhi pays 8.2% for Q2 FY 2026-27 and the interest is tax free. Eligibility, the 15-year deposit period against 21-year maturity, and the honest catch.
- Senior Citizens Savings Scheme: how SCSS actually works SCSS pays 8.2% for Q2 FY 2026-27, and the interest is paid out quarterly rather than compounded. Eligibility, the ₹30 lakh limit, tax and early exit in full.
- Post office savings schemes: the whole family, compared Every small savings scheme in one place — PPF, SCSS, Sukanya Samriddhi, NSC, KVP, MIS, RD and time deposits — with Q2 FY 2026-27 rates, limits and tax treatment.
- SCSS vs fixed deposit: where a retirement lump sum should go SCSS pays 8.2% quarterly with sovereign backing but caps at ₹30 lakh. An FD has no ceiling and can compound. How to split a retirement corpus between them.
- NPS vs PPF: the comparison most pages are still getting wrong PPF pays 7.1% this quarter and locks money for 15 years. NPS is market-linked to age 60 — and its exit rules changed in December 2025. How the two really compare.