High return investments – Top 7 small saving schemes in India
High return investments – Top 7 Small saving schemes in India
This Saturday, I went to Indian post office branch to withdraw the National Saving Certificates which got matured this month. I was going through the small saving schemes and the features. I felt some of them are best investment options which are getting high return on investments. This post is updated in Apr-2016 as there are several changes happened in post office interest rates.
Small saving schemes in India
Indian post office (run by Govt. of India) offers small saving schemes in India. These days, small saving schemes have become popular. Gone are the days where one used to buy a National saving certificate for tax saving purpose. There are wide varieties of schemes offered by them and they are safe investments (since they are run by Govt. of India, the investment is protected). Agreed, that some of these schemes offer low interest rates compared to other investment options. However I felt, some of them are good investment options yielding high return on investment.
Before I move in providing the features, I want to tell you about the important feature I noticed in small saving schemes (which are now being offered by some of the banks too in India). Some of these small saving schemes are offered with compounding interest by Quarter. Such schemes would actually provide higher returns on investment comparing to other investment options, as the interest payable every Quarter would be compounded and the yearly interest is paid.
For e.g. If you invest Rs 1,000 at 8% interest p.a, for one year, your money would be Rs 1,080. However if the interest rate is compounded every quarter the interest rate would be as below
Interest for Quarter -1 = Rs 1,000 x 8% x 3/12 months = 20. Now your Quarter-2 investment amount would become Rs 1,020 (Rs 1,000 + Rs 20).
Interest for Quarter – 2 = Rs 1,020 x 8% x 3/12 months = 20.4. Now your Quarter-3 investment amount would become Rs 1,040.4 (Rs 1,020 + Rs 20.4).
Interest for Quarter – 3 = Rs 1,040.40 x 8% x 3/12 months = 20.8. Now your Quarter-4 investment amount would become Rs 1,061.2 (Rs 1,040.4 + Rs 20.8).
Interest for Quarter – 4 = Rs 1,061.2 x 8% x 3/12 months = 21.22.
Now at the end of the year, your investment is 1,082.43 (Rs 1,061.2+21.22)
If you observe the actual return received is 8.2% (Rs 82.43 interest on Rs 1,000 investment) against what is indicated as 8%. This is the advantage of investing in quarterly or half yearly compound interest rate saving schemes.
Top small saving schemes in India
Below are the top small saving schemes in India offering high return on investment. This list is not comprehensive as other schemes offered are with low interest rates.
1) 5 year time deposit scheme: The interest rate is revised to 7.9% in Apr-2016. Quarterly interest compounding scheme. The effective yield would be 7.9% p.a. Principal is exempted u/s 80c of Indian Income tax act, 1956.
2) 5 year national saving certificate: This is my favorite saving scheme for tax saving purpose. The interest rate is revised to 8.1% in Apr-2016. Principal is exempted u/s 80c of Indian Income tax act, 1956. However, I would now prefer to invest in 5 year time deposit scheme which offers 7.9% p.a. interest rates (compounded quarterly) which provides high return on investment comparing to NSC.
4) 5 years recurring deposit : The scheme offers 7.4% interest rate per annum.
5) 10 year national saving certificate: . This is discontinued w.e.f. Jan-2016.
6) 5 year senior citizens saving schemes : This is good scheme for senior citizens. The interest paid is 8.6% p.a. Principal is exempted u/s 80c of Indian Income tax act, 1956.
7) Time deposits: There are 1, 2,3 and 5 year time deposits schemes. The interest rates are 7.1%, 7.2%, 7.4% and 7.9% respectively. With quarterly compound interest the effective yield would be 0.2% more then what is being offered.
Conclusion: These small saving schemes are safe investments and provide high return on investment. Investor can invest in good saving schemes which fit the investor need.
Readers, what is your opinion on these small saving schemes in India? Please give your comments
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Suresh
Happy investing in small saving schemes in India
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Post office scheme is a best option of small saving
I'm a house wife I want to save 200 every month which scheme will be benefit for me ?after 1year how much cash will be in my account please tell me
RDS and post office is best
I want to know scheme that i am student i teach student and earn little bit but i want to save 1000 rs pr mnth so what to do to get high return
Hi Sharma,
try mutual funds which will give more return. take option of dividends reinvested instead of dividents paid out option