PPF Interest Rate History The PPF scheme was launched in 1968 with the aim of mobilizing small savings for long-term savings, especially for retirement. The scheme is operated through post offices and banks. The interest rate was 4.8% in 1968, which increased to 12% between 1986 and 2000. Currently, the interest rate on PPF is 7.1%, which is announced quarterly by the government.
PPF Interest Rate History : The PPF scheme was launched in 1968 to mobilize small savings for long-term retirement, primarily for those not covered by the EPFO. It is operated by the National Savings Institute, which operates under the Department of Economic Affairs and is tasked with mobilizing small savings under the Government of India’s National Savings Schemes.
These schemes are operated through post offices, nationalized banks, and designated private banks. Small savings schemes include the Post Office Savings Account, Senior Citizen Savings Scheme, and Sukanya Samriddhi Account. But today, we’ll discuss the history of the PPF interest rate. We’ll tell you what percentage interest rate the Public Provident Fund, which was launched in 1968, has earned year after year.
A PPF account can be opened with a minimum deposit of ₹500. ₹500 is also the minimum deposit you must make in a financial year to prevent your PPF account from becoming inactive.
You can deposit a maximum of ₹150,000 in a financial year, including all accounts opened on behalf of your minor child. Any number of deposits in multiples of ₹50 can be made in a financial year.
PPF Interest Rate History: PPF Interest Rate History, 1968 to 2025
One of the most important factors when considering PPF as an investment option is its interest rate history, which can help estimate expected returns. The PPF interest rate history shows significant fluctuations, starting from 4.8% in 1968 and reaching a peak of 12% between 1986 and 2000.
| Public Provident Fund Account | |
| PPF interest rate since its inception | |
| Year | interest rate |
| 1968-69 to 1969-70 | 4.80% |
| From 1970-71 to 1972-73 | 5% |
| 1973-74 | 5.30% |
| From 01.04.1974 to 31.07.1974 | 5.80% |
| From 01.08.1974 to 31.03.1975 | 7% |
| 1975-76 to 1976-77 | 7% |
| From 1977-78 to 1979-80 | 7.50% |
| 1980-81 | 8% |
| 1981-82 to 1982-83 | 8.50% |
| 1983-84 | 9% |
| 1984-85 | 9.50% |
| 1985-86 | 10% |
| From 1986-87 to 1998-99 | 12% |
| From 01.04.1999 to 14.01.2000 | 12% |
| 15.01.2000 to 28.02.2001 | 11% |
| From 01.03.2001 to 28.02.2002 | 9.50% |
| From 01.03.2002 to 28.02.2003 | 9% |
| From 01.03.2003 to 30.11.2011 | 8% |
| From 01.12.2011 to 31.03.2012 | 8.60% |
| From 01.04.2012 to 31.03.2013 | 8.80% |
| From 01.04.2013 to 31.03.2016 | 8.70% |
| From 01.04.2016 to 30.09.2016 | 8.10% |
| From 01.10.2016 to 31.03.2017 | 8% |
| From 01.04.2017 to 30.06.2017 | 7.90% |
| 01.07.2017 to 31.12.2017 | 7.80% |
| From 01.01.2018 to 30.09.2018 | 7.60% |
| From 01.10.2018 to 31.06.2019 | 8% |
| From 01.07.2019 to 31.03.2020 | 7.90% |
| From 01.04.2020 to 31.12.2025 | 7.10% |
| From 01.04.2025 till now | 7.10% |
| Source – nsiindia | |
Since 2000, rates have generally moved downwards, with the current rate being 7.1% as of April 2020. The government announces new rates on a quarterly basis, with interest calculated monthly and credited annually.
The Ministry of Finance issues a quarterly notification regarding the Public Provident Fund (PPF) interest rate. For the October-December 2025 quarter, the government has not made any changes to the PPF interest rate. PPF is a small savings scheme, for which accounts can be opened at either a post office or a bank. The interest rate remains the same for both.
