Srinagar, Apr 1: Here is some good news for people planning to invest in post office saving schemes. Centre government has hiked the interest rate of small saving schemes making them attractive for the investors.
According to experts, hike in interest rates of small saving schemes will give stiff competition to banks. “People will now have variety to choose investing agency offering higher interest rates,” they said.
According to official release by Union Finance Ministry, the rate for one year time deposit has been increased by 50 basis points to 8.2 per cent from 7.7 per cent. A similar rate hike has been announced for 2 year time deposits to 8.3 per cent from 7.8 per cent.
The rate for 3 year time deposit has been increased from 8 to 8.4 percent. 5 year time recurring deposit will also fetch 8.4 percent interest as compared to earlier 8 percent.
For more popular ‘monthly income scheme’, however the increase is slightly lower at 30 basis points. The rate for the five–year-scheme stands pegged at 8.5 percent while the interest rate on public provident fund has been increased from 8.6 percent to 8.8 percent.
Pertinently, the rates came into effect from today and would remain applicable for FY 2012-13.
There is also good news for senior citizens. The rate for senior citizens saving schemes has also been raised to 9.3 percent from 9 percent.
Besides the age slab for senior citizens to get benefits under the scheme has been reduced by five years to 60 from 65.
The rates applicable on the five year and 10- year maturity National Savings have also been revised.
Now an investor will get 20 basis point more interest under these schemes. For five year time deposit interest rate has been fixed at 8.6 percent and for ten year 8.9 percent which was earlier 8.4 percent and 8.7 percent respectively.
Accordingly, the interest rate on saving deposits has been kept unchanged at 4 percent. Experts believe the decision of the centre government to hike interest rates will help revive these schemes which are less known to masses.
Source : Greater Kashmir
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