New Delhi, April 12 -- Introduced by India Post in 1988 as a small savings certificate, Kisan Vikas Patra is a 115 month (9 years and five months) long scheme, where an investor can put in lump sum amount to double over the full tenure.

It was started as an initiative to help farmers save for the long term but is now available to all Indian citizens above the age of 10 years. For minors (below 18 years of age) an adult can open the account and then transfer the same once they attain major age.

The scheme has a minimum start investment of Rs.1,000, with no upper cap and Aadhaar as proof of identity. However, since 2014, investments above Rs.50,000 require PAN Card proof, while for deposits of Rs.10 lakh and more investors must show incom...