How We Check Rates
Every rate, limit and rule on Calcnomy that changes over time is kept in one place and used by every calculator and guide that needs it. When the government announces a new quarterly rate or the Budget changes a limit, we update it once and the whole site changes together. The table below is read directly from that file, so it always shows the figures the calculators are using right now.
The rates our calculators use
| What | Current figure | Official source | How often it changes | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBI repo rate | 5.50% (raised on 7 October 2026) | Reserve Bank of India | At RBI Monetary Policy Committee meetings, about every two months | 23 Oct 2026 |
| PPF | 7.1% | Ministry of Finance small savings notice | Reviewed every quarter | 4 Nov 2026 |
| Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana | 8.2% | Ministry of Finance small savings notice | Reviewed every quarter | 4 Nov 2026 |
| Senior Citizens Savings Scheme | 8.2% | Ministry of Finance small savings notice | Reviewed every quarter | 4 Nov 2026 |
| NSC / KVP / Monthly Income Scheme | 7.7% / 7.5% / 7.4% | Ministry of Finance small savings notice | Reviewed every quarter | 4 Nov 2026 |
| Post office 5-year RD / 5-year time deposit | 6.7% / 7.5% | Ministry of Finance small savings notice | Reviewed every quarter | 4 Nov 2026 |
| EPF interest rate | 8.25% for 2025-26 | EPFO, after approval by the Finance Ministry | Once a year | 5 Nov 2026 |
| NPS exit at 60 (non-government) | Up to 80% lump sum, at least 20% annuity; all of it up to ₹8 lakh | PFRDA exit regulations (amended December 2025) | When PFRDA amends its regulations | 4 Nov 2026 |
| NPS lump sum that is tax-free | Up to 60% of the corpus | Income-tax Act | At the Union Budget | 4 Nov 2026 |
| Income tax: new regime | No tax up to ₹12 lakh of taxable income; standard deduction ₹75,000 | Income-tax Act, 2025, CBDT | At the Union Budget (1 February) | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Income tax: old regime limits | ₹1.5 lakh investments; ₹2 lakh home loan interest; standard deduction ₹50,000 | Income-tax Act, 2025, CBDT | At the Union Budget | 23 Oct 2026 |
| TDS on bank and post office interest | Above ₹50,000 a year (₹1,00,000 for senior citizens), at 10% | Income-tax Act, 2025, CBDT | At the Union Budget | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Cost Inflation Index | 384 for 2026-27 | CBDT notification | Once a year | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Gratuity tax-free limit | ₹20 lakh | Code on Social Security, 2020; Income-tax Act | By government notification | 23 Oct 2026 |
| Bank deposit insurance | ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank | DICGC (RBI) | By government decision | 4 Nov 2026 |
Small savings rates shown are for October to December 2026.
When we check
- Every quarter: the government announces small savings rates (PPF, Sukanya Samriddhi, SCSS, NSC, KVP and post office deposits) shortly before each quarter starts. We update them for the new quarter.
- After every RBI policy meeting: we update the repo rate and re-check pages that quote bank loan or deposit rates.
- After the Union Budget: we re-check tax slabs, the rebate, deductions, TDS limits and capital gains rules, and the pages that use them.
- When a regulator changes its rules: for example PFRDA’s NPS exit rules or EPFO’s yearly interest rate.
Bank and lender rates in our guides
Interest rates offered by banks and NBFCs change often and differ by customer, so they are not in the table above. Guides that compare lenders, such as Home Loan Interest Rates and Car Loan Interest Rates, show each rate with its source and the date it was checked. We take rates from the lender’s own rate card wherever we can read it; where we cannot, we name the aggregator we used and its date, and say that the lender may have changed it since.
What the calculators let you change
Calculators start with the current figure but let you type your own, because your bank, scheme or tax situation may differ. Always confirm the rate in your bank’s Key Fact Statement or the official notice before you commit.
Think a rate here is out of date? Email [email protected] with the official notice. If we got it wrong, the fix is listed on our corrections page. Our wider standards are in the editorial policy.