Public Provident Fund (PPF)

Feature	Description
Scheme Name	Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Type	Long-term government-backed savings scheme
Eligibility	Indian residents (individuals only; not available for NRIs or HUFs)
Minimum Investment	₹500 per year
Maximum Investment	₹1.5 lakh per year
Tenure	15 years (extendable in blocks of 5 years)
Interest Rate	~7.1% p.a. (compounded annually, set quarterly by government)
Interest Payment	Interest credited annually (on 31st March)
Tax Benefits	EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt):
	– Contribution: Tax deduction under Section 80C
	– Interest: Tax-free
	– Maturity: Tax-free
Withdrawals	Partial withdrawals allowed from 7th year onwards
Loan Facility	Loans available from 3rd to 6th year
Risk Level	Very low (government-guaranteed)
Account Opening	Post offices and authorized banks
Nomination Facility	Available