New Delhi, May 5 -- The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and the Public Provident Fund (PPF) are two widely used long-term savings instruments in India, each governed by a different set of rules. While EPF is primarily meant for salaried employees and is linked to employment, PPF is a voluntary scheme in which any individual can open an account and make contributions.

Both schemes offer tax benefits and fixed interest rates notified periodically by the government, but they differ in terms of eligibility, contribution structure, withdrawal rules and maturity period. Here's a look at the structure of each of these investment schemes.

EPF is administered by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the EPF Act of 1952. While P...