The government has kept interest rates on small savings schemes unchanged for the October-December 2026 quarter. This is the tenth straight quarter without a rate change.

The Finance Ministry announced the decision on September 30. The rates apply to the third quarter of financial year 2026-27, from October 1 to December 31.

The Public Provident Fund (PPF) will continue to earn 7.1% per year. The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and the Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme both stay at 8.2%.

The National Savings Certificate offers 7.7%, and the Kisan Vikas Patra offers 7.5% with maturity in 115 months. The Monthly Income Scheme stays at 7.4%.

The rates were last changed in the fourth quarter of 2023-24. The freeze gives savers stable, predictable returns. Fresh deposits made this quarter will earn these rates.

The rates were last changed in the fourth quarter of 2023-24. The long freeze stands out because market interest rates have moved since then. For now, savers get stability, but attention will turn to whether the government revises rates for the January-March quarter.