The government is set to align interest rates on small savings schemes with market rates and revise them on a quarterly basis, effective from April 1. Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das has said that the decision has been taken and the executive order and notification will be issued in a day or two. Currently, Small savings rates are linked to government securities’ interest rates which are readjusted every year.
Das further said that the alignment of interest rates of the schemes will be done with G-sec rates of comparable maturities and added that the interest rate reduction would mostly affect schemes at the lower end of the maturity curve. The rates under the girl child scheme Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and the senior citizen scheme will remain unaltered. Besides he said that whatever spreads they have over the G-Sec rates will not be altered. Similarly, all long term savings more than five years will continue to have the existing spreads.
Das further said that the Finance Ministry has finalized suggestions that were made by various stakeholders, including banks and other ministries and brought it up during the pre-budget meetings with country’s top banks and leading economists suggesting changes in the small savings rate.
At present, the returns on small savings schemes are benchmarked to the yield on government securities. Small savings schemes include the National Savings Scheme, Kisan Vikas Patra, post office deposits, and Public Provident Fund. The interest rates for these schemes range from 8.4 per cent for a one-year deposit to 9.3 per cent for the five-year Senior Citizen Savings Scheme. Earlier, on Sept 29, following the rate cut by Reserve Bank of India, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced that the centre would review small savings schemes to enable transmission of the central bank’s rate cut by banks.
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