India Post is nowadays offering several types of investment options including savings to fixed deposit and recurring deposit, for retail customers, who can choose from these varieties of options to keep their money safe. With over 1.5 lakh post offices across the country, India Post offers nine options under its small savings scheme portfolio. Of these schemes, a few include retirement planning-focussed Public Provident Fund (PPF), tax-saving five-year fixed deposit and Senior Citizen Savings Scheme. For the current quarter, which will end on March 31, the central government has decided an interest rate of 4-8.7 per cent on investments or deposits in these small savings schemes.

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According to India Post's website - indiapost.gov.in, a comparison of interest rate and investment limits applicable to these small savings schemes (including Public Provident Fund) is given below:

1. Post Office Savings Account can be started with a minimum amount of Rs 20 to earn an interest of 4% per annum on individual or joint accounts.

2. Five-year recurring deposit account can be opened with a minimum amount of Rs 10 per month to earn an interest of 7.30% per annum. It has no limit for investment.  

3. One-year time deposit (fixed deposit) account can be opened with minimum amount of Rs 200 to earn an interest of 7% per annum, and this has no deposit limit. 

4. Two-year time deposit (fixed deposit) account can be opened with minimum amount of Rs 200 to earn an interest of 7% per annum, and this too has no deposit limit. 

5. Three-year time deposit (fixed deposit) account can be opened with minimum amount of Rs 200 to earn an interest of 7% per annum, and this too has no deposit limit. 

6. Five-year time deposit (fixed deposit) account can be opened with minimum amount of Rs 200 to earn an interest of 7.80% per annum. 

7. Monthly income scheme account can be opened with minimum amount of Rs 1500 to earn an interest of 7.30% per annum. However, this cheme has a monetary cap of Rs 4.5 lakh

8- Senior citizen savings scheme (SCSS) account provide maximum interest of 8.70% per annum. This scheme also has a monetary cap of Rs 15 lakh, and can be started with a minimum investment of Rs 1000.

9. 15-year public provident fund account can be opened with minimum amount of Rs 500 to earn an interest of 8% per annum. This scheme has a monetary cap of Rs 1.5 lakh in a financial year.

10. National savings certificate (NSC) account will provide you an interest of 8% per annum. This can be opened with minimum amount of Rs 100, and has a monetary limit.

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Notably, of these small savings schemes, investment in the five-year term deposit (fixed deposit), Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS), 15 year Public Provident Fund and National Savings Certificates (NSC) qualifies for income tax benefit under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.