Interest rate on small savings scheme to be aligned with govt securities, says Shaktikanta Das

The government of India has said it will link the interest paid to millions of small savers in a $137-billion central deposit scheme to market rates that will be revised every quarter, a top finance ministry official said on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_2621592” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Small savings rate could save the government an estimated $700 million a year[/caption] Cutting the small savings rate could save the government an estimated $700 million a year. But the move is likely to irk small savers and could be unpopular politically, particularly in rural areas where few banks have branches. Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said the rates, previously adjusted annually, would be tweaked for shorter-term deposits and be aligned to government securities of comparable maturity. The government runs a number of small savings scheme, such as the National Savings Scheme, Kisan Vikas Patra, Public Provident Fund and post office deposits, among others. The current interest rate on them ranges from 8.4 percent to 9.3 percent while the money market or government bond yields are currently trading around 7.8 percent. Rates on two social security schemes – for girl child and senior citizens – will not be changed, Das said. Reuters