Top 5 Best Small Saving Schemes in India to invest
While there are several best investment plans, small saving schemes would still attract several investors. While these are safe investment options, these provide high interest rates and competing with bank fixed deposits. In this artice, I would provide quick snapshot about Top 5 Small Saving Schemes which you would love to invest. One should note that, not all schemes are suitable to every one. One should choose based on their individual need.
Top 5 Small Saving Schemes in India which you would love to invest
1) Sukanya Samriddhi Account offering 9.2% interest
- Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme is one of the best girl child saving scheme in India. This scheme helps to accumulate money for girl marriage or for her education. Here are some of its key features.
- Sukanya Samriddhi Account can be opened by any individual or guardian on behalf of a girl child.
- This scheme offers 9.2% interest rate for 2015-2016 financial year which would be reviewed every year by Govt. of India.
- Minimum deposit is Rs 1,000 and max is Rs 1.5 Lakhs per financial year.
- Deposit should be done till the girl attains 14 years of age.
- Interest would be credited once girl attains 14 years of age to 21 years of age.
- It can be opened for any girl child who is less than 10 years old.
- Account would be active till girl attains 21 years of age
- Amount deposited is exempted u/s 80C of income tax act upto Rs 1.5 Lakhs.
- Interest earned is tax free.
- You can open SSA in any post office or any authorized banks. You can check the authorized list of banks where you can open Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme.
- Partial withdrawal upto 50% can be done once girl attains 18 years of age for her education purpose.
- Account would be active till 21 years of age where maturity amount would paid.
Also Read: Complete review about Sukanya Samriddhi Account Yojana Scheme
2) Public Provident Fund offering 8.7% interest rates
- PPF is one of the best way to do child education or can do retirement planning scheme. You can open PPF Account with any post office or with ICICI Bank (which is the only private bank authorised to open PPF Account). Here are some of its key features.
- PPF Scheme interest rate for 2015-2016 is 8.7% per annum. It is compounded yearly, but paid at maturity. Interest rate would be reviewed by Govt. of India every year.
- Tenure of PPF account is 15 years of age. This can be extended for another 5 years block-period.
- Minimum deposit is Rs 500 and maximum is Rs 1.5 Lakhs per financial year.
- You can get tax benefit u/s 80C upto Rs 1.5 Lakhs
- Interest from PPF account is tax free on maturity.
- NRI’s who opened their PPF account before they moved out of India can continue their PPF account based on certain conditions.
- Individual can open PPF account along with their spouse and deposit Rs 1.5 Lakhs per annum each totaling to Rs 3 Lakhs for 15 years and get tax free maturity amount of Rs 94 Lakhs.
- Premature Withdrawal is not possible.
- Partial withdrawal available from 7th year from opening PPF account.
- Bonus Tip: You can deposit Rs 1.5 Lakhs by 4th April and enjoy highest tax free interest along with income tax benefit u/s 80C.
Also Read: How to get maximum interest on Public Provident Funde (PPF)?
3) National Saving Certificate (5 years and 10 years) – 8.5% and 8.8% interest rates
One of the oldest way of tax saving option is investing in National Saving Certificate (NSC) from post office. Here are some of its key features.
- NSC’s are available for 5 years and 10 years tenure.
- NSC for 5 years carry 8.5% interest rate per annum.
- NSC for 10 years carry 8.8% interest rate per annum.
- Minimum deposit is Rs 100 and max no limit.
- You can get tax benefit u/s 80C upto Rs 1.5 Lakhs
- You can invest Rs 100 in 5 years NSC and get maturity amount of Rs 151.62.
- You can invest Rs 100 in 10 years NSC and get maturity amount of Rs 236.60.
- You can buy NSC and gift it to your loved ones.
- These can be transferred from one post office to another post office.
- NSC Interest is taxable
- Bonus tip: Interest from NSC is taxable. However you can show this interest as re-invested and claim as part of 80C deduction (if 80C is not fully exhausted) as income from NSC as indicated in our guide to NSC article. This way you can avoid income tax on interest of NSC.
4) Post Office MIS Scheme (POMIS) – 8.4% interest rate
One of the best way to get monthly safest income is to invest in Post office Montly Income Scheme (POMIS). Here are some of its key features.
- Interest rate in POMIS scheme is 8.4% per annum.
- Interest is paid every month proportionately.
- Maturity of POMIS scheme is 5 years.
- Premature withdrawal possible, however 2% of deposit is deducted if you withdraw after 1 year, but before 3 years. 1% of deposit would be deducted after 3 years, but before maturity.
- You can transfer POMIS scheme from one post office to another post office easily.
5) Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) – Double your money in 100 months
KVP is small saving scheme offered by post office where you can double your money in specific period.
- You can invest in KVP and double your money in 100 months / 8 Yrs 4 months.
- Interest rate works out to be 8.7% per annum (approx).
- You can invest in the denomination of Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000.
- You can transfer KVP from one person to another person.
- Premature withdrawal available after 2.5 years from the date of issue.
- Comparison of features between KVP Vs NSC Vs PPF can give you better idea to choose the right one suitable to you.
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Suresh
Top 5 Best Small Saving Schemes in India which you would love to invest
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which one would be the best scheme plz… suggest
Sir,
Kindly clarify which savings scheme is better i.e., POMIS or Bank Recurring Deposit for a monthly savings of Rs.3,000/-.
what is better pomis or nsc in rising inflation
Both options are different. POMIS would provide monthly returns. NSC would provide returns only on maturity.