New Delhi, March 30 -- The government today kept interest rates unchanged for various small savings schemes, including the public provident fund (PPF) and national savings certificate (NSC), for the eighth straight quarter, beginning 1 April 2026.

"The rates of interest on various Small Savings Schemes for the first quarter of FY 2026-27, starting from April 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2026, shall remain unchanged from those notified for the fourth quarter (January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026) of FY 2025-26," the finance ministry said in a notification.

Notably, the government had last changed the interest rate on some small schemes, mainly operated by post offices and banks, in the fourth quarter of 2023-24 (i.e. January to March 20...