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| Tax treatment | Min investment | Compare | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India Post Monthly Income Scheme · any post office | Very low | 7.4% fixed | 5 years | Interest is fully taxable at your slab rate; no TDS is deducted but you must declare it | ₹1,000 minimum, up to ₹9L (single) or ₹15L (joint) | |
| SCSS at SBI, Post Office, major banks · age 60+ only | Very low | 8.2% fixed | 5 years (extendable by 3) | Deposit eligible for 80C deduction up to ₹1.5L; interest is fully taxable and TDS applies above ₹50,000/yr | ₹1,000 minimum, up to ₹30L maximum | |
| SBI PPF | Zero | 7.1% fixed | 15 years | EEE status: deposit deductible under 80C, interest tax-free, maturity tax-free | ₹500 minimum/year, up to ₹1.5L maximum/year | |
| Post Office PPF | Zero | 7.1% fixed | 15 years | EEE status: deposit deductible under 80C, interest tax-free, maturity tax-free | ₹500 minimum/year, up to ₹1.5L maximum/year | |
| HDFC Bank PPF | Zero | 7.1% fixed | 15 years | EEE status: deposit deductible under 80C, interest tax-free, maturity tax-free | ₹500 minimum/year, up to ₹1.5L maximum/year | |
| EPFO — through employer | Zero | 8.15% fixed | Till retirement/job change (partial withdrawals allowed for specific needs) | EEE status for most employees: contribution deductible under 80C, interest tax-free (up to ₹2.5L/yr contribution), withdrawal tax-free after 5 years of service | 12% of basic salary (mandatory), matched by employer; voluntary top-up (VPF) available | |
| NPS via HDFC, SBI, Kotak, ICICI Pru Pension Funds | Medium | 9–12% | Till age 60 | Extra ₹50,000 deduction under 80CCD(1B), over and above the ₹1.5L 80C limit; at maturity, 60% is tax-free lump sum, 40% must buy an annuity (taxed as income when received) | ₹500 minimum contribution (Tier I account), no fixed annual minimum after account opening in most cases | |
| HDFC Retirement Savings Fund | Medium | 9–13% | 5 years or till retirement age, whichever is earlier | Some plans offer 80C benefit under the erstwhile 'pension fund' notification; gains taxed per standard equity/hybrid fund rules otherwise | ₹500/month SIP or ₹5,000 lump sum | |
| Nippon India Retirement Fund | Medium | 9–13% | 5 years or till retirement age, whichever is earlier | Some plans offer 80C benefit under the erstwhile 'pension fund' notification; gains taxed per standard equity/hybrid fund rules otherwise | ₹500/month SIP or ₹5,000 lump sum |