New Delhi, April 17 -- PPF, ELSS and NPS are among the most widely used tax-saving investment options available to individuals. While all three offer tax benefits, they differ in terms of structure, eligibility, lock-in periods and long-term return potential.

Each of these instruments also follows distinct rules for contributions, withdrawals and taxation. Understanding these differences is essential when comparing how they function and how you can use them to meet your investment goals. Here's how each scheme works if you invest Rs.5,000 regularly in PPF, ELSS and NPS over a period of 15 years, highlighting differences in returns, lock-in and overall structure.

Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a long-term savings scheme backed by the gov...