New Delhi, May 17 -- If you are looking for a long-term investment option that provides assured and attractive interest rates along with stable returns on your invested amount, and also wish to generate inflation-beating, compounded returns without taking market-related risks, then the Public Provident Fund (PPF) can be an ideal investment choice for you.

PPF is a long-term savings and investment scheme that comes with a lock-in period of 15 years. The government revises the interest rate every quarter. At present, the scheme offers an annual interest rate of 7.1 percent. Investors can also claim tax deductions of up to Rs.1.5 lakh every financial year under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

In today's financial environment, investing ...