Post Office Recurring Deposit Scheme provides the facility of saving small sums of money every month to meet future financial goals and earn relatively higher risk free returns. Changes in the scheme :
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Any resident adult individual singly or jointly with one or two other adults.
Minor's accounts can be opened through guardians. A minor, who has attained 10 years age, can also open the account. |
| Minimum amount | Monthly Rs. 10/- |
| Maximum amount | Any amount in multiples of Rs. 5/- |
| Maturity period | 60 months |
| Interest Rate: | The interest paid varies as declared by the Directorate, Small Savings from time to time. The current rate of interest is 7.5% p. a.(quarterly compounded) for accounts opened upto 20.11.2011. The interest rate increased to 8.2% per annum w.e.f. 1st December 2011. Interest rate increased to 8.40% w.e.f. 01.4.2012. Interest Rate revised to Rs. 8.30% w.e.f. 01.04.2013. |
| Transferability | Transferable from one office to another. |
| Tax benefits | Not available. |
| Interest Taxability | Taxable |
| Other features | The amount of deposit made at the time of opening of the account cannot be varied.
The Recurring Deposit Account matures on the date on which it is opened after the end of the term. In case the date of maturity falls on Sunday or postal holiday, the payment becomes due on the business day immediately preceding the date of maturity. Maximum defaults allowed in an account is four. After four defaults the account is treated as 'discontinued'.Discontinued account can be revived by paying defaulted deposits, within two months from the fifth default. If it is not so revived, the account cannot be continued. The holder of an account may prematurely close the account after 3 years of date of opening of the account. Interest at the rate applicable from time to time to Post Office Savings Account shall be payable on such premature closure of account. Premature closure is permitted on completion of 3 years from the date of opening. Interest is calculated as per the rules and rate applicable to individual savings account. One withdrawal (Advance against Deposit) is permitted from the account on completion of one year from the date of opening, on theconditions that:
Where a Depositor in a single account or a surviving depositor in a joint account dies during the Maturity period of an account, the legal heir of such depositor is paid the amount as if the depositor had paid all the sixty monthly deposits, subject to the conditions that:
After maturity of the account, it can be continued for a further period of 5 years with or without further deposits. During this extended period, the account can be closed at any time. Post maturity interest is paid at the prescribed rate. |