PPF basics
- Current rate: 7.1% a year for October–December 2026, unchanged by the Finance Ministry.
- Deposit ₹500 to ₹1.5 lakh every year.
- Lock-in of 15 years, which you can extend in blocks of 5 years.
- Deposits qualify for 80C in the old regime; interest and maturity are tax-free.
Interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of each month, so deposit before the 5th to earn the full month's interest.