The National Savings Scheme (NSS) is a government-backed savings and investments scheme meant to encourage people to save and invest for their future. NSS offers a variety of options to people to invest, which also ensure the safety and security of their money.
The main objective of NSS is to mobilise the savings of various kinds of individuals and help them build a sizeable corpus. NSS offers assured returns to investors, providing them with steady cash inflows. Besides, as the scheme is government-backed, investors are assured of the safety of their investment. In addition, NSS offers tax benefits, which further enhances its appeal as an investment option. To make an investment in an NSS scheme, you can visit a post office or an authorised bank’s branch.
Major Types of National Saving Scheme
The National Saving Scheme (NSS) offers various options for a diverse set of investors. Please read below for some of the most popular NSS schemes, their features, tax benefits, etc.
For Girl Child
Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme (SSAS)
For the prosperity of a girl child, the Central Government has a scheme called “Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme” (SSAS) under the NSS. You can open an SSY account in a post office or an authorised bank.
Objective: The scheme helps parents of a girl child to save for her future so that they can build a sizeable corpus for her education or marriage.
Eligibility criteria: An SSY account can be opened for a girl child who is under the age of 10 years by her parents or legal guardians.
Minimum amount for investment: An SSY account can be started with a minimum investment of as little as ₹ 250 per year.
Maximum amount for investment: You can invest a maximum amount of ₹ 1.5 lakh per year in an SSY account.
Tax treatment: Interest earned on an SSY account is exempt from income tax.
Lock-in period: An SSY account matures 21 years after the date of its opening or the marriage of the girl child, whichever is earlier. Besides, the account gets terminated after the marriage of the girl child. Only one premature withdrawal is allowed from the account when the girl child turns 18 to fund her higher education.
For Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)
Objective: The objective of Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) is to provide a safe investment option to senior citizens, which offers them regular income at a decent interest rate.
Eligibility criteria: An individual who is 60 years old or older can open an account under the scheme. Besides, an individual who is 55 years of age or older but less than 60 years of age and has retired under Superannuation, Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) or Special VRS, can also open an account. Further, retired defence personnel (excluding civilian defence employees) can open an account under the SCSS scheme on turning 50 years of age subject to certain conditions.
Minimum investment amount: An SCSS account can be started with a minimum investment amount of just ₹ 1,000.
Maximum investment amount: The maximum amount that you can invest in an SCSS account is ₹ 30 lakh.
Tax benefits: You can claim a tax deduction for investments up to ₹ 1.5 lakh under this scheme.
Premature withdrawal: You can make a premature withdrawal under this scheme, subject to certain conditions.
Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)
Objective: The Central Government launched this scheme to provide a regular pension to senior citizens aged 60 years or more.
Eligibility criteria: Anyone 60 years of age or older can open an account under this scheme.
Minimum pension under the scheme: The minimum pension under the scheme is ₹ 1,000 per month, ₹ 3,000 per quarter, ₹ 6,000 per six months, and ₹ 12,000 per year.
Maximum pension under the scheme: The maximum pension under the scheme is ₹ 9,250 per month, ₹ 27,750 per quarter, ₹ 55,000 per six months, and ₹ 1,11,000 per year.
Tax treatment: When a subscriber makes a deposit under the scheme, it is exempt from income tax. However, the interest that he earns from the deposit is not exempt from tax.
For Regular Investors
Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS)
Objective: This government-backed scheme is meant to provide regular income to investors.
Eligibility criteria: You have to be an adult and a resident of India to open an account under this scheme. An account can also be opened on the behalf of a minor who is 10 years of age or older.
Minimum investment amount: You can open a POMIS account with a minimum amount of ₹ 1,000.
Maximum investment amount: The maximum amount you can invest in this scheme is ₹ 9 lakh for a single account and ₹ 15 lakh for a joint account.
Post Office Recurring Deposit Scheme (PORDS)
Objective: This scheme is meant to encourage people to save regularly and also earn an attractive interest rate.
Eligibility criteria: An Indian citizen can open an account under the scheme in his own name or jointly with another account holder. A parent or guardian of a minor can open an account on his behalf.
Minimum investment amount: You need to invest a minimum amount of ₹ 100 under this scheme.
Maximum investment amount: There is no maximum limit on how much you can invest under the scheme.
Premature withdrawal: You can make a premature withdrawal from this scheme after 3 years, subject to specific conditions.
Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Objective: This government-backed scheme is aimed at encouraging people to save for their retirement, earn an attractive interest rate, and also enjoy tax benefits.
Eligibility criteria: You have to be an adult and an Indian resident to open a PPF account. A PPF account can also be opened on the behalf of a minor.
Minimum investment amount: You have to invest a minimum amount of ₹ 500 annually in a PPF account.
Maximum investment amount: The maximum amount you can invest in a PPF account in a year is ₹ 1.5 lakhs.
Lock-in period: A PPF account comes with a lock-in period of 15 years.
Premature withdrawals: You can make partial or premature withdrawals from your PPF account, subject to certain conditions.
Tax benefits: PPF investments fall in the category of EEE (exempt, exempt, & exempt). The amount you invest in a PPF account is exempt from tax. The interest you earn on your PPF account is exempt from tax. Moreover, the amount you get on maturity is also exempt from tax.
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)
Objective: This government-backed scheme encourages people to save so that they can accumulate a significant corpus over a period of time.
Eligibility criteria: You must be an Indian citizen and at least 18 years of age to open an account under this scheme.
Minimum investment amount: The minimum amount that you need to invest under the KVP scheme is ₹ 1,000.
Maximum investment amount: There is no maximum limit on the amount that you can invest under the scheme.
Lock-in period: There is a lock-in period of 2 years and 6 months under the scheme.
Premature closure: A KYP account can be prematurely closed, but only under certain specific conditions.
Tax benefits: The KYP scheme does not offer any income tax benefits.
National Savings Certificate (NSC)
Objective: This Central Government’s scheme is meant to encourage mostly small to mid-income investors to save money while offering them tax benefits.
Eligibility criteria: An adult Indian citizen can invest in this scheme. Investments can also be made on the behalf of a minor.
Minimum investment amount: You need to make a minimum investment of ₹ 1,000 under the scheme.
Maximum investment amount: You can invest as much as you want to because there is no maximum limit under the scheme.
Lock-in period: NSC investments have a lock-in period of 5 years.
Premature withdrawals: Typically, premature withdrawals are not allowed. However, such withdrawals can be made if an investor dies or there is a court order.
Tax benefits: You can get a tax deduction of up to an annual investment of ₹ 1.5 lakh in NSC.
Key Features and Advantages
The main benefits of investing in NSS schemes are explained below:
Guaranteed Returns: NSS schemes provide guaranteed returns on investment. Hence, they are ideal for risk-averse investors who want financial security and a steady source of income. This is why many small to mid-income investors invest in such schemes.
Significant Returns: NSS schemes provide significant returns over a long period. Besides, many schemes, like PPF & NSC, offer tax benefits as well. Hence, post-tax returns on such schemes are high enough to enable investors to build a significant corpus over a period of time.
Security: The fact that NSS schemes are government-backed and provide assured returns helps investors feel secure.
Tax Advantages: Several schemes under NSS, like Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana, & Public Provident Fund, offer tax benefits, which increase their appeal to investors.
Comparison of popular National Savings Schemes
The following table compares some of the most popular NSS schemes, which can help improve your understanding of their features and limitations.
Feature
| Public Provident Fund (PPF)
| National Savings Certificate (NSC)
| Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS)
| Post Office Recurring Deposit Scheme (PORDS)
|
Maturity Period (In years)
| 15 years (extendable in the block of 5 years)
| 5 years
| 5 years
| 5 or 10 years
|
Premature Withdrawal
| Subject to certain conditions
| Subject to certain conditions
| Available
| Available
|
Tax Benefits
| The amount invested in a PPF account is exempt from tax. The interest earned on a PPF account is exempt from tax. Besides, the maturity amount is also exempt from tax.
| Tax deductions are available on an annual investment in NSC of up to ₹ 1.5 lakh.
| No tax benefits are available.
| No tax benefits are available.
|
Conclusion
There is no denying that National Savings Schemes (NSS) can provide several benefits to investors, like a steady income, tax benefits, and an attractive rate of interest. Besides, you can go to a bank’s branch or post office to invest in an NSS scheme.
That said, investors should first consider their objective and then the features of a scheme before investing. For example, if an investor cannot stay invested in a scheme for at least 15 years, then PPF will not be an ideal scheme for him. Hence, such investments should be made wisely and thoughtfully