Calculate your PPF (Public Provident Fund) maturity value. India's most popular safe-haven savings scheme — sovereign-backed, 7.1% interest (Q1 FY 2026-27), 15-year tenure, and fully tax-free (EEE). Plus the option to extend in 5-year blocks indefinitely. Min ₹500/yr, max ₹1,50,000/yr.
₹
Min ₹500, max ₹1,50,000/yr (under Section 80C).
%
Q1 FY 2026-27 rate: 7.1% (revised quarterly by MoF).
PPF matures at 15 years; extendable in 5-year blocks.
Maturity value (fully tax-free)
₹0
Total invested
₹0
Total interest
₹0
Multiple
0x
Balance trajectory
InvestedInterest
Why PPF still matters in 2026
Equity markets give better long-run returns. So why does PPF still command ~₹15 lakh crore in deposits? Three reasons:
Sovereign safety — the principal and interest are backed by the Government of India. Zero credit risk.
EEE tax treatment — every rupee of interest and the entire maturity amount are 100% tax-free. At a 30% marginal income tax rate, 7.1% PPF is equivalent to ~10.1% pre-tax in any taxable instrument.
Behavioural lock-in — the 15-year tenure forces discipline. Money you can withdraw freely tends to get withdrawn for non-essentials.
The annual contribution rule
Interest is credited annually but calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of each month. Practical implication: deposit your annual contribution before April 5 to earn interest for the full year on the full deposit. Many people miss this and lose ~₹2-3k of interest on a max-cap deposit by depositing later in the year.
PPF tax math (vs. taxable alternatives)
Instrument
Gross return
Post-tax (30% slab)
PPF
7.1%
7.1% (EEE)
Bank FD (taxable)
7.0%
4.9%
Debt mutual fund (post-Apr 2023)
8.0%
5.6%
Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (taxable)
8.2%
5.7%
PPF wins on a tax-adjusted basis for anyone in the 20% or 30% income bracket — by a lot.
Public Provident Fund — a government-backed long-term savings scheme administered by India Post and most major banks. Backed by the Ministry of Finance, it carries sovereign credit risk (basically zero). Tenure: 15 years. Lock-in: 5 years from opening (partial withdrawals allowed from year 6). Tax treatment: EEE — Exempt at contribution (Section 80C), Exempt on accrual, Exempt at withdrawal.
What is the current PPF interest rate?
7.1% per annum for Q1 FY 2026-27 (April-June 2026). The rate is reviewed every quarter by the Ministry of Finance and has been at 7.1% since April 2020. Interest is credited annually, calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and last day of each month — so deposits made before the 5th of the month earn interest for that month.
What are the investment limits?
Minimum: ₹500 per financial year (else the account becomes dormant and a ₹50 penalty applies to reactivate). Maximum: ₹1,50,000 per financial year — this is the same as the Section 80C cap, so PPF contributions count fully toward your 80C deduction. You can deposit in lump sum or in up to 12 installments per year.
When can I withdraw?
Partial withdrawal allowed from year 6 (50% of balance at the end of year 4 or year preceding withdrawal, whichever is lower). Loan against PPF from year 3 to year 6 (up to 25% of the balance two years before the loan year). Premature closure after year 5 in limited cases (medical emergency, higher education). Full maturity at year 15, or extend in 5-year blocks indefinitely.
Should I extend after 15 years?
Often yes. PPF's post-tax returns beat most fixed-income alternatives for the same risk level. Two extension modes: with fresh contributions (continue depositing up to ₹1.5L/yr and continue 80C deduction), or without contributions (existing balance keeps earning interest, no new deposits). You can switch modes at extension time.
PPF vs ELSS vs NPS — which one?
They serve different goals. PPF: safety, predictability, tax-free, 7.1% return, 15-year lock-in. ELSS: equity exposure, 3-year lock-in (shortest 80C), market-linked returns (historically 12-15% but volatile). NPS: retirement-specific, asset allocation between equity/debt, partial tax-free maturity (60%), forced annuity on the rest. A common approach: max PPF for safety + ELSS for growth + NPS for retirement-specific tax benefits.
Is this calculator accurate?
Yes — it uses the official PPF compounding rule (annual interest credit) assuming you deposit your annual contribution at the start of the financial year (the standard assumption that maximises returns). Real-world variance comes from (1) when in the year you deposit (deposits after the 5th of the month don't earn that month's interest), and (2) future rate changes (the rate is reviewed quarterly).