New Delhi, Oct. 1 -- The government on Wednesday kept interest rates unchanged across a dozen small savings schemes, including the Public Provident Fund (PPF) and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), for the October-December quarter. The rates have now been kept unchanged for 11 consecutive quarters.

Small savings schemes consist of government-backed deposit and certificate products which are operated through the post office and designated banks. They provide Indian households with a formal and safe savings avenue, as it comes with sovereign guarantee and tax benefits on select schemes.

Deposits under the PPF and SSY accounts will continue to earn interest rates of 7.1% and 8.2%, respectively, which is credited on an annual basis.

The Senio...