PPF Calculator
About the rate: the calculator defaults to 7.1% p.a., the PPF rate at the time of writing. PPF rates are set by the Government of India and reviewed every quarter, so check the latest notification and edit the rate field if it has changed.
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a government-backed, long-term savings scheme. Its main appeal is its tax treatment, known as EEE (exempt-exempt-exempt): your contributions can qualify for a deduction under Section 80C (within the overall ₹1.5 lakh limit, and only if you file under the old tax regime), the interest is tax-free, and the maturity amount is tax-free.
Key rules as of writing; verify current terms with the Government of India or your bank or post office:
- Lock-in: 15 years from the end of the financial year of your first deposit, after which the account can be extended in blocks of 5 years.
- Contributions: a minimum of ₹500 and a maximum of ₹1,50,000 per financial year.
- Access before maturity: partial withdrawals are allowed from the seventh financial year, up to a limit, and a loan against the balance is available in the early years.
- Interest rate: declared by the Government of India and revised quarterly.
Contribution Details
Default is 7.1%, the rate at the time of writing. PPF rates are reviewed every quarter, so check the latest notification and edit this if it has changed.
Total Contributed: ₹0
Total Interest Earned: ₹0
This is an estimate, not an offer. The figures above are indicative calculations based on the numbers you entered and standard industry formulas/rules of thumb. They are not a loan/insurance quote, a pre-approval, or a guarantee of approval by any bank, NBFC, or insurer. Actual eligibility, interest rate, premium, and approval are decided solely by the lender/insurer after their own underwriting and verification.
Year-by-Year Projection
| Year | Opening Balance | Contribution | Interest Earned | Closing Balance |
|---|
What the Projection Assumes
At the default 7.1%, ₹1,50,000 a year for 15 years grows to ₹40,68,209, of which ₹22,50,000 is your own contribution and ₹18,18,209 is interest. PPF rates are revised quarterly, so if the declared rate changes, enter the new one and the figures will update.
The projection is a simplification. It assumes you deposit the full year's contribution early in the year and applies a full year's interest to it. In practice, PPF interest is calculated monthly on the lowest balance between the 5th and the end of the month and credited at the end of the financial year, so a deposit made after the 5th of a month, or late in the year, earns less in that period.
PPF vs Other Tax-Saving Options
A broad guide as of writing. The Section 80C limit of ₹1.5 lakh is shared across these options and applies only under the old tax regime, so which is better for you depends on your regime, goal, time horizon, and appetite for risk. Verify current rules before deciding.
| Option | Lock-in | Returns | Tax on returns | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPF | 15 years, limited early access | Government-declared, revised quarterly | Tax-free | Rate may fall; long lock-in |
| ELSS mutual funds | 3 years | Market-linked, not guaranteed | Gains taxed under capital-gains rules | Market risk |
| 5-year tax-saver FD | 5 years | Fixed at booking | Interest taxable at slab rate | Inflation; no premature withdrawal |
| NPS (Tier I) | Until retirement age, with limited early withdrawals | Market-linked, not guaranteed | Partly tax-free at maturity; a portion must buy an annuity | Market risk; limited access |
| National Savings Certificate | 5 years | Government-declared, fixed at purchase | Interest taxable at slab rate | Inflation; no early exit |
You can test the market-linked options with the SIP Calculator, and a fixed-return alternative with the FD Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What interest rate does this calculator use?
It defaults to 7.1% per annum, the declared rate at the time of writing. PPF rates are reviewed every quarter, so check the latest notification and edit the rate field before relying on the result.
What is the maximum I can contribute to PPF each year?
The current annual contribution cap is ₹1,50,000 per financial year. This calculator automatically caps your yearly contribution at that limit.
Why 15 years?
15 years is the standard PPF account tenure before maturity (extendable later in blocks of 5 years), so this calculator uses it as the default projection horizon.