Financial glossary
PPF
PPF, or Public Provident Fund, is a Central Government-regulated small-savings scheme with official deposit, interest, maturity, and extension rules.
What PPF means
The Public Provident Fund operates under the Public Provident Fund Scheme, 2019. It is an account-based savings scheme whose rate is notified by the Central Government and may change over time.
Deposits and timing
The scheme permits ₹500 to ₹1,50,000 in a financial year in multiples of ₹50, paid as a lump sum or instalments. Monthly interest eligibility depends on the lowest balance between the close of the fifth day and month-end.
How a PPF projection relates to the account
A simplified calculator can add annual contributions and compound them at an assumed rate. An actual account uses notified rates and monthly balance eligibility, so timing and future rate changes can alter the result.
Maturity and extensions
The scheme permits closure after fifteen years from the end of the financial year in which the account was opened. Continuation with deposits uses further five-year blocks and is subject to the official option and timing procedure.