Calculators / Government & bank savings
Government & bank savings
PPF Calculator India
PPF is the Public Provident Fund: a 15-year, government-backed account whose interest and maturity are entirely tax-free. This calculator projects what your yearly contribution grows to at the current rate, and shows why a tax-free 7.1% beats the FD it looks slower than.
PPF's 7.1% is tax-free, so for a top-slab saver it does the work of a 10.1% fixed deposit, one no bank offers. Against the same 6% inflation an FD loses to, PPF gains ground. The only difference is tax.
PPF rate is 7.1% as last declared. The government revises small-savings rates each quarter, so treat any projection as an estimate. Last reviewed September 2026.
15-year lock-in, extendable in 5-year blocks. Maximum ₹1.5 lakh a year. Rate revised quarterly by the Government of India.
About the PPF calculator
PPF is a government savings scheme with a 15-year lock-in, a ₹1.5 lakh yearly cap, and interest that is entirely tax-free. It is the safe, tax-free base of a portfolio, not the engine. Below the tool is why its modest rate beats a higher FD after tax, how the compounding builds over time, and where PPF belongs in your plan.
| Your tax slab | PPF stays | FD would need |
|---|---|---|
| No tax | 7.10% | 7.10% |
| 5% | 7.10% | 7.47% |
| 20% | 7.10% | 8.87% |
| 30% | 7.10% | 10.14% |
PPF interest is tax-free, so to match it your FD has to earn the rate on the right and hand the tax back. For a top-slab saver a 7.1% PPF does the work of a 10.1% FD, which no bank offers. That is the whole case for PPF as your safe money.
Your PPF by life stage
How much will my PPF grow to?
On the calculator's default, ₹1.5 lakh a year at 7.1% for 15 years matures to about ₹40.7 lakh, of which ₹18.2 lakh is interest, and every rupee of it is tax-free. A longer tenure and a higher rate both lift the figure. Enter your own contribution, rate and tenure above for your number.
| Held for | You put in | It grows to |
|---|---|---|
| 15 years | ₹22.5 lakh | ₹40.7 lakh |
| 20 years | ₹30 lakh | ₹66.6 lakh |
| 25 years | ₹37.5 lakh | ₹1.03 crore |
| 30 years | ₹45 lakh | ₹1.55 crore |
PPF matures at 15 years and extends in 5-year blocks. By 25 years, more than half the balance is tax-free interest you never paid a rupee of tax on. That is the reward for leaving it alone. Enter your own contribution and tenure above for your figure.
How is PPF interest calculated?
Interest is compounded once a year and credited at the end of the financial year, but it is worked out every month on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day. So deposit before the 5th of the month, and to earn a full year's interest on a lump sum, deposit it before the 5th of April. The calculator uses annual compounding on your yearly contribution, the standard way to project a PPF.
Why is PPF better than an FD for safe money?
Because PPF interest is entirely tax-free and an FD's is not. A 7.1% PPF, for a 30% slab saver, does the work of a 10.1% fixed deposit, as the table above shows. Against 6% inflation the FD's after-tax return slips slightly negative, while the PPF stays about 1% ahead in real terms. For long-term safe money, PPF wins on the one thing that is certain: tax.
What does tax-free or EEE mean here?
PPF is Exempt-Exempt-Exempt. The contribution is deductible under Section 80C, the interest each year is tax-free, and the maturity amount is tax-free too. No other fixed-income product in India is fully EEE, and it is the main reason PPF beats a taxed deposit at the same headline rate.
What is the current PPF rate, and can it change?
7.1% as last declared. The government revises small-savings rates every quarter, and PPF has ranged from about 7% to 8.7% over the years, so treat any projection as an estimate, not a lock. The rate for a quarter applies to your whole balance, not just fresh deposits.
Can I withdraw before 15 years?
Not fully. The account matures at 15 years. A partial withdrawal is allowed from year 7, and a loan against the balance from year 3 to 6. At maturity you can take everything, or extend in 5-year blocks with or without fresh contributions. Treat the money as locked, and keep your emergency fund elsewhere.
Is PPF better than an equity SIP?
They do different jobs. PPF gives certainty and tax-free safety; an equity SIP gives higher expected growth with real ups and downs. Over 15 years or more an index fund has usually out-grown PPF by a wide margin, but not on a straight line. Most people want both: PPF as the safe base, equity as the engine.
How much should I put in, and by when?
Up to ₹1.5 lakh a year, which is also the shared 80C limit. To earn a full year's interest, put the money in before the 5th of April; a lump sum early in the year beats twelve monthly bits. Even ₹500 a year keeps the account active, so never let it lapse.
Can I open PPF for my child, or hold more than one?
One PPF account per person, and no joint accounts. You can open one for a minor child as guardian, but the ₹1.5 lakh cap applies across your own account and the minor's together, not to each. A spouse can hold their own account and use their own ₹1.5 lakh limit.
Where does PPF fit in my plan?
As the tax-free, guaranteed sleeve of your long-term money, and a natural fit for a goal about 15 years away, like a child's education or the safe base of your retirement. It is not the whole plan, because it will not outgrow equity, and it is not your emergency fund, because it is locked. It is the part you never want to see fall.