The Post Office Time Deposit Account works much like a bank fixed deposit, and its interest rates hold up well against banks and other institutions. Until March 2016 the rates changed once a financial year. Since April 2016 the government has reviewed them every quarter.
Below are the Post Office Time Deposit interest rates for each period, from the National Savings Institute's records.
Financial year 2013-2014
| Lock-in period | Interest rate |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 8.20% |
| 2 years | 8.20% |
| 3 years | 8.30% |
| 5 years | 8.40% |
Financial year 2014-2015
| Lock-in period | Interest rate |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 8.40% |
| 2 years | 8.40% |
| 3 years | 8.40% |
| 5 years | 8.50% |
Financial year 2015-2016
| Lock-in period | Interest rate |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 8.40% |
| 2 years | 8.40% |
| 3 years | 8.40% |
| 5 years | 8.50% |
April to September 2016
| Lock-in period | Interest rate |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 7.10% |
| 2 years | 7.20% |
| 3 years | 7.40% |
| 5 years | 7.90% |
From October 2016 (rates reviewed every quarter)
| Period | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-10-2016 to 31-03-2017 | 7.00% | 7.10% | 7.30% | 7.80% |
| 01-04-2017 to 30-06-2017 | 6.90% | 7.00% | 7.20% | 7.70% |
| 01-07-2017 to 31-12-2017 | 6.80% | 6.90% | 7.10% | 7.60% |
| 01-01-2018 to 30-09-2018 | 6.60% | 6.70% | 6.90% | 7.40% |
| 01-10-2018 to 31-12-2018 | 6.90% | 7.00% | 7.20% | 7.80% |
| 01-01-2019 to 30-06-2019 | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.80% |
| 01-07-2019 to 31-03-2020 | 6.90% | 6.90% | 6.90% | 7.70% |
| 01-04-2020 to 30-09-2022 | 5.50% | 5.50% | 5.50% | 6.70% |
| 01-10-2022 to 31-12-2022 | 5.50% | 5.70% | 5.80% | 6.70% |
| 01-01-2023 to 31-03-2023 | 6.60% | 6.80% | 6.90% | 7.00% |
| 01-04-2023 to 30-06-2023 | 6.80% | 6.90% | 7.00% | 7.50% |
| 01-07-2023 to 31-12-2023 | 6.90% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.50% |
| 01-01-2024 onwards | 6.90% | 7.00% | 7.10% | 7.50% |
The rates from January 2024 still apply for October to December 2026. Rates for later quarters are published by the National Savings Institute (nsiindia.gov.in) and India Post, and our Post Office Time Deposit calculator uses the current rates.