Home › Rates › SCSS interest rate
By Ashutosh Joshi, PGDM (Finance), B.Com · Page last reviewed:
SCSS pays 8.2% a year, paid every quarter, for accounts opened 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026, and that rate is fixed for 5 years. ₹30 lakh (the maximum) pays ₹61,500 a quarter, or ₹20,500 a month on average.
Key Highlights
- SCSS pays 8.2% a year, paid every quarter, for accounts opened 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026.
- 8.2% has applied since April–June 2023.
- Your rate is locked for the 5-year term when you open the account.
- The maximum deposit is ₹30 lakh.
SCSS is a 5-year Post Office and bank scheme for people aged 60 and above. Interest is paid out every quarter, which makes it a popular pension substitute. Compare with senior FD rates
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Your next questions, answered
How much monthly income will I get on ₹X lakh?
At 8.2% (paid quarterly): ₹5 lakh → ₹10,250/quarter (₹3,417/month); ₹10 lakh → ₹20,500/quarter (₹6,833/month); ₹15 lakh → ₹30,750/quarter (₹10,250/month); ₹20 lakh → ₹41,000/quarter (₹13,667/month); ₹30 lakh → ₹61,500/quarter (₹20,500/month).
What do I keep after tax?
In the 30% slab, ₹61,500 a quarter becomes about ₹42,312; in the 20% slab, about ₹48,708.
Is SCSS better than a senior-citizen FD?
SCSS at 8.2% gives 5.64% after tax in the 30% slab, against 5.16% for an illustrative senior FD at 7.5%.
Diving Finance view: expert take by Ashutosh Joshi
- For retirees, SCSS is a good base for regular income. Lock in the rate when you open the account.
- Still keep part of your money in FDs for emergencies, even in the 30% slab. With 6% inflation, SCSS income alone loses buying power over time.
This is general guidance, not personal advice. Check your own goals, tax slab and risk appetite.
How it compares after tax and inflation
| Option | Pre-tax | Post-tax (30% slab) | Post-tax (20% slab) | Real return after 6% inflation (30% slab) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCSS | 8.2% | 5.64% | 6.49% | -0.34% |
| Senior FD (illustrative) | 7.5% | 5.16% | 5.94% | -0.79% |
| PO MIS | 7.4% | 5.09% | 5.86% | -0.86% |
Assumptions in the comparisons: income-tax slabs of 30% and 20% plus 4% cess (31.2% and 20.8%), an illustrative bank FD at 7%, long-run inflation of 6% and equity SIP returns of 10–12%, as used by our author. These are planning assumptions, not forecasts.
Worked example
₹30 lakh (the maximum) at 8.2% pays ₹61,500 every quarter (₹30,00,000 × 8.2% ÷ 4), or ₹2.46 lakh a year. ₹10 lakh pays ₹20,500 a quarter. Interest is taxable at your slab rate.
Quarterly rate history (Apr 2016 – Dec 2026)
| Quarter | Rate (p.a.) |
|---|---|
| 2026-27 · Oct–Dec * | 8.2% |
| 2026-27 · Jul–Sep | 8.2% |
| 2026-27 · Apr–Jun | 8.2% |
| 2025-26 · Jan–Mar | 8.2% |
| 2025-26 · Oct–Dec | 8.2% |
| 2025-26 · Jul–Sep | 8.2% |
| 2025-26 · Apr–Jun | 8.2% |
| 2024-25 · Jan–Mar | 8.2% |
| 2024-25 · Oct–Dec | 8.2% |
| 2024-25 · Jul–Sep | 8.2% |
| 2024-25 · Apr–Jun | 8.2% |
| 2023-24 · Jan–Mar | 8.2% |
| 2023-24 · Oct–Dec | 8.2% |
| 2023-24 · Jul–Sep | 8.2% |
| 2023-24 · Apr–Jun | 8.2% |
| 2022-23 · Jan–Mar | 8.0% |
| 2022-23 · Oct–Dec | 7.6% |
| 2022-23 · Jul–Sep | 7.4% |
| 2022-23 · Apr–Jun | 7.4% |
| 2021-22 · Jan–Mar | 7.4% |
| 2021-22 · Oct–Dec | 7.4% |
| 2021-22 · Jul–Sep | 7.4% |
| 2021-22 · Apr–Jun | 7.4% |
| 2020-21 · Jan–Mar | 7.4% |
| 2020-21 · Oct–Dec | 7.4% |
| 2020-21 · Jul–Sep | 7.4% |
| 2020-21 · Apr–Jun | 7.4% |
| 2019-20 · Jan–Mar | 8.6% |
| 2019-20 · Oct–Dec | 8.6% |
| 2019-20 · Jul–Sep | 8.6% |
| 2019-20 · Apr–Jun | 8.7% |
| 2018-19 · Jan–Mar | 8.7% |
| 2018-19 · Oct–Dec | 8.7% |
| 2018-19 · Jul–Sep | 8.3% |
| 2018-19 · Apr–Jun | 8.3% |
| 2017-18 · Jan–Mar | 8.3% |
| 2017-18 · Oct–Dec | 8.3% |
| 2017-18 · Jul–Sep | 8.3% |
| 2017-18 · Apr–Jun | 8.4% |
| 2016-17 · Jan–Mar | 8.5% |
| 2016-17 · Oct–Dec | 8.5% |
| 2016-17 · Jul–Sep | 8.6% |
| 2016-17 · Apr–Jun | 8.6% |
Yearly rates, 2011-12 to 2015-16
| Year | Rate |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 9.3% |
| 2014-15 | 9.2% |
| 2013-14 | 9.2% |
| 2012-13 | 9.3% |
| 2011-12 (from 1 Dec 2011) | 9.0% |
Before 2011-12
Not published by source in a usable form: the NSI table for 1990-91 to 2010-11 does not line up values with years for this scheme, and RBI Handbook Table 111 only gives rates from 1 April 2016. We will add earlier years only from a clean official table.
Rate chart
Key rules
- Minimum ₹1,000, maximum ₹30 lakh; tenure 5 years.
- Interest is paid quarterly and the rate is fixed for the term.
- Deposits qualify for section 123 (old 80C) in the old regime, per RBI Handbook Table 111.
Source: DivingFinance, Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate (Oct–Dec 2026) & History, https://divingfinance.com/rates/scss-interest-rate/ (data: National Savings Institute & Ministry of Finance; updated 21 Oct 2026)FAQs
What is the SCSS rate for October–December 2026?
8.2% a year, paid quarterly.
Does the SCSS rate change after I invest?
No. The rate on the day you open the account applies for the full 5 years.
How much does SCSS pay on ₹30 lakh?
₹61,500 a quarter at 8.2%.
Is SCSS interest taxable?
Yes, at your income-tax slab rate.
How much monthly income will I get on ₹X lakh?
At 8.2% (paid quarterly): ₹5 lakh → ₹10,250/quarter (₹3,417/month); ₹10 lakh → ₹20,500/quarter (₹6,833/month); ₹15 lakh → ₹30,750/quarter (₹10,250/month); ₹20 lakh → ₹41,000/quarter (₹13,667/month); ₹30 lakh → ₹61,500/quarter (₹20,500/month).
What do I keep after tax?
In the 30% slab, ₹61,500 a quarter becomes about ₹42,312; in the 20% slab, about ₹48,708.
Is SCSS better than a senior-citizen FD?
SCSS at 8.2% gives 5.64% after tax in the 30% slab, against 5.16% for an illustrative senior FD at 7.5%.
Related rates
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Change log
- 21 Oct 2026 – Page created. Quarterly history from NSI (Apr 2016 – Sep 2026); Oct–Dec 2026 from the DEA order of 30 Sep 2026.
How we collect this data
Rates come from the National Savings Institute (Ministry of Finance) and the Department of Economic Affairs quarterly orders. Scheme rules come from the official scheme notifications on the NSI site and RBI Handbook Table 111. Examples are our own calculations. Read our editorial policy and how we calculate. For information only, not investment advice.