PPF & SCSS Rates Frozen: Is Your Savings Losing?
The government has kept small savings scheme rates — PPF, SCSS, Sukanya Samriddhi — unchanged for the July–September 2026 quarter. This is the ninth straight quarter with no revision. With inflation still biting, your real returns may be shrinking.
PPF at 7.1% means ₹1,000/month earns less real return than your chai budget beats inflation
Your PPF and SCSS returns have been frozen at the same rate since early 2024
Key Takeaways
Compare: If your bank FD is now below 7%, shifting surplus savings to PPF or SCSS may give better guaranteed returns right now.
Review SCSS eligibility: If you or a parent is 60+, the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme at 8.2% beats most bank FDs — open one before rates shift.
Top up Sukanya Samriddhi: If you have a daughter under 10, maximise the ₹1.5 lakh annual deposit limit this quarter while 8.2% holds.
The government has kept small savings scheme rates — PPF, SCSS, Sukanya Samriddhi — unchanged for the July–September 2026 quarter. This is the ninth straight quarter with no revision. With inflation still biting, your real returns may be shrinking.
Here's what happened: Small savings rates for Q2 FY2027 (July–September 2026) stay unchanged — PPF at 7.1%, SCSS at 8.2%, Sukanya Samriddhi at 8.2%.. This is the ninth consecutive quarter the government has held these rates steady, with no hike or cut since early 2024.. The decision comes despite RBI cutting the repo rate in 2025, which has already pushed bank FD rates lower across most lenders..
What you should do: Compare: If your bank FD is now below 7%, shifting surplus savings to PPF or SCSS may give better guaranteed returns right now.. Review SCSS eligibility: If you or a parent is 60+, the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme at 8.2% beats most bank FDs — open one before rates shift.. Top up Sukanya Samriddhi: If you have a daughter under 10, maximise the ₹1.5 lakh annual deposit limit this quarter while 8.2% holds..
PPF interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 1st and 5th of each month — deposit before the 5th to avoid losing a full month of interest on your contribution.
Explore TARA — Your Financial Co-Pilot
Retirement, tax, EMI, refinance and savings calculators — all free. Get a plan aligned to YOUR income, goals and CIBIL.
Try TARA — Free →References
- [1]“Interest rate of small savings schemes remains unchanged for July-September quarter — Check latest PPF, SCSS, SSY rates” mint - money · 30 Jun 2026
This article is reported by GoCredit's Editorial Team based on the source above. GoCredit synthesises, contextualises, and adds India-borrower-relevant analysis. We are not the original publisher.