text: Investment and returns A minimum yearly deposit of ₹500 is required to open and maintain a PPF account.  A PPF account holder can deposit a maximum of ₹1.5 lacs in his/her PPF account (including those where he is the guardian) per financial year. There must be a guardian for PPF accounts opened in the name of minor children. Parents can act as guardians in such PPF accounts of minor children. Any amount deposited more than ₹1.5 lacs in a financial year will not earn any interest. The amount can be deposited in lump sum or instalments per year. However, this does not mean a single deposit is made once a month.
  The Ministry of Finance, Government of India announces the rate of interest for PPF account every quarter. This interest is compounded annually and is paid in March every year. Interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the close of the fifth day and the last day of every month.
  Interest rates
  1986–2016
  2016–17
  2017–18
  2018–19
  2019–20
  2020–21
  2021–22
  2022–23
  2023–24
  2024–25
  Duration of scheme
  Original duration is 15 years. Thereafter it can either be closed and the entire amount can be withdrawn or on application by the subscriber, it can be extended for 1 or more blocks of 5 years each, with or without making further contributions.
  PPF maturity options
  Subscriber has 3 options once the maturity period is over.