FYI: FinMin cuts interest rates on PPF, NSC, postal deposits

The Finance Ministry has cut interest rate on PPF (Public Provident Fund) andNational Savings Certificates (NSC) by 0.1 percent to 8.7 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively.

The changes are effective from 1 April 2013. The earlier PPF rate was 8.8 percent while rate of NSC was 8.6 percent.

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The ministry has also cut interest rate on five-year postal recurring deposits to 8.3 percent but has kept the savings deposit rate unchanged at 4 percent.

The finance ministry, however, has left savings deposit rate and one-year time deposit unchanged.

The government is still trying to protect small investors, the ministry said adding “G-Sec (Government securities) rates have fallen more sharply than reduction in small saving instruments.”