The Public Provident Fund (PPF) remains one of India's most popular long-term savings instruments, backed by the Government of India, offering a combination of safety, tax benefits, and reasonable returns. PPF has a mandatory lock-in of 15 years (extendable in blocks of 5 years), with the interest rate set and revised quarterly by the government.
Contributions to PPF qualify for deduction under Section 80C up to ₹1.5 lakh per year, the interest earned is completely tax-free, and the maturity amount is also tax-free — making PPF one of the few "EEE" (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) tax instruments available in India. This calculator assumes annual contribution at the start of each financial year, compounded annually at the rate you specify.
Because the PPF interest rate changes periodically based on government notification, the rate prefilled in this calculator is only indicative — please check the current quarter's official rate before making investment decisions.
The minimum annual contribution is ₹500 and the maximum is ₹1.5 lakh per financial year, in line with the Section 80C limit.
Partial withdrawals are allowed from the 7th financial year onward, subject to conditions. Premature closure is allowed in specific circumstances like medical emergencies, after 5 years.
An individual can hold only one PPF account in their own name (a separate account can be opened for a minor child under guardianship).
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