New Delhi, Aug. 24 -- India Post offers a number of small saving schemes for various investor types and across tenures. Notably, returns on these investments are backed by the government.

The schemes on offer include the Senior Citizens Saving Scheme (SCSS), Public Provident Fund (PPF), Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) and Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), among others. Today, we discuss lock-in periods and exit rules for each, the penalties that may apply and expected loss of return.

Your choice of small savings schemes differs based on individual needs and tax requirements. Notable options include PPF with 7.1% interest, SSY at 8.2%, and KVP with at 7.5%, each with tax benefits, lock-in periods, and unique characteri...