New Delhi, May 3 -- The Public Provident Fund (PPF) requires a minimum yearly contribution of Rs.500 to keep the account active. If an investor fails to deposit this amount in a financial year, the account is treated as inactive by the bank or post office. Meanwhile, the maximum deposit allowed is Rs.1.5 lakh annually.

An individual has the option to make either monthly or yearly contributions to a PPF account, as there is no fixed due date for deposits within a financial year. However, the timing of contributions can influence the interest earned.

Depositing a lump-sum amount in the scheme between 1 April and 5 April of a financial year is considered beneficial, as PPF interest is calculated based on the lowest balance between the 5th ...