Not one product — a system. EPF, PPF, NPS, mutual funds, insurance and a few underused options, mapped to where you actually are in your career.
A quick estimate using the "25x annual expense" rule of thumb — adjust the assumptions as you like.
The "25x" rule assumes a ~4% annual withdrawal rate. Given India's historically higher and less predictable inflation, some planners suggest targeting 30x for extra safety — that would be roughly ₹0 instead. This is a starting estimate, not a guarantee.
General guidance for a typical Indian middle-class career — not personalised advice for your specific situation.
Where each option roughly sits — most Indian middle-class portfolios end up blending three or four of these, not picking just one.
Rates shown are for Jul–Sep 2026 (Q2 FY 2026–27) and EPF FY 2025–26 — these are revised quarterly/annually by the government.
| Scheme | Current Rate | Lock-in | Tax Treatment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPF | 8.25% p.a. | Till retirement/job change | Tax-free after 5 yrs service | Salaried employees |
| PPF | 7.1% p.a. | 15 years | EEE — fully tax-free, 80C | Everyone, incl. self-employed |
| NPS | Market-linked (not guaranteed) | Till 60 (can extend to 75) | 80CCD(1)+(1B)+(2), see below | Long-term growth + extra 80CCD(1B) saving |
| SCSS | 8.2% p.a. (max ₹30L) | 5 years | 80C eligible, interest taxable | Senior citizens (60+) |
| POMIS | 7.4% p.a. | 5 years | No 80C, interest taxable | Predictable monthly income |
| NSC | 7.7% p.a. | 5 years | 80C eligible | Conservative savers |
| KVP | 7.5% p.a. (~9y7m to double) | ~115 months | No 80C | Simple "money doubles" savers |
| Post Office FD (5yr) | 7.5% p.a. | 5 years | 80C eligible (5-yr only) | Fixed-return seekers |
| Equity Mutual Funds / SIP | Market-linked, not guaranteed | None (ELSS: 3 yrs) | ELSS gets 80C; LTCG rules apply | Long-horizon compounding |
| Annuity / Pension Plans | Typically ~5–7% p.a. | Locked for life once bought | Purchase exempt, payouts taxable | Guaranteed income for life |
Since December 2025, PFRDA lets non-government subscribers with a corpus above ₹12 lakh withdraw up to 80% as a lump sum (only 20% must go to annuity, down from the old 40%). Corpus under ₹8 lakh can be withdrawn 100%.
NPS tax benefit isn't one number — it's three: 80CCD(1) (your contribution, within the ₹1.5L 80C cap), 80CCD(1B) (an extra ₹50,000, NPS-exclusive), and 80CCD(2) (employer's contribution, up to 14% of salary).
Medical inflation in India regularly runs well ahead of general inflation. A retirement plan that skips adequate health cover can get wiped out by a single hospitalisation, regardless of how well the rest of the corpus was built.
Senior Citizen FDs — banks typically pay 0.25–0.75% more than standard FD rates for 60+ depositors, on top of SCSS.
Reverse Mortgage — lets homeowners 60+ convert home equity into a regular income stream without selling or moving out. Rarely used in India, but worth knowing about if a large share of net worth is tied up in property.