What is the PPF lock-in period?

A PPF account has a 15-year lock-in and cannot be closed before maturity except in specific hardship cases. After 15 years, it can be extended in blocks of 5 years, with or without making further contributions.

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PPF calculator

Project your Public Provident Fund maturity value based on a fixed yearly contribution, assuming deposits at the start of each financial year. The real PPF rate is set by the government every quarter - check the current rate before relying on this.

Yearly contribution (₹)

PPF rules cap this at ₹1,50,000 per financial year.

PPF interest rate (%)

Duration (years)

Projected maturity value

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FV = A × [((1+r)^n − 1) / r] × (1+r)

How this calculator works

A PPF (Public Provident Fund) account earns interest compounded annually, credited every 31 March, on a government-set rate reviewed quarterly - 7.1% per annum for Q4 FY26. This calculator assumes you deposit your full yearly contribution at the start of each financial year, which is the best-case timing for interest (PPF interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of each month).

The formula is the same annuity-due shape used for SIPs, just with annual instead of monthly periods: FV = A × [((1+r)^n − 1) / r] × (1+r), where A is your yearly contribution, r is the annual rate, and n is the number of years.

Real PPF accounts have a mandatory 15-year minimum term - this calculator won't let you project fewer years than that, since that's not how a real PPF account works.

Real PPF rules worth knowing

Contribution limits: between ₹500 and ₹1,50,000 per financial year. Depositing less than ₹500 in a year makes the account inactive until reactivated with a penalty.
Lock-in: 15 years, extendable afterward in blocks of 5 years, with or without further contributions.
Partial withdrawal: up to 50% of the eligible balance, allowed from the 7th financial year onward, limited to once per year.
Loan facility: available between the 3rd and 6th financial years, capped at 25% of the balance two years prior.
Interest rate: set by the Government of India every quarter - always confirm the current rate rather than assuming it stays fixed for 15 years.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current PPF interest rate?

7.1% per annum for Q4 FY26, compounded annually. The government reviews and can change this rate every quarter - check the current figure before relying on a long-term projection.

What are the minimum and maximum PPF contribution limits?

Between ₹500 and ₹1,50,000 per financial year. Going over ₹1,50,000 doesn't earn interest on the excess.

Can I withdraw from PPF before 15 years?

Partial withdrawals of up to 50% of the eligible balance are allowed from the 7th financial year onward, once per year. A loan against the balance is separately available between the 3rd and 6th financial years.

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This calculator performs fixed, transparent arithmetic on the numbers you enter - the formula is shown alongside the result. The PPF interest rate shown as a default is accurate as of this page's last update and is not live; the actual rate is set by the Government of India every quarter and may have changed since. This is not investment or tax advice - always confirm current PPF rules on the National Savings Institute or India Post website, or consult a registered investment adviser.