What this category covers
Retirement planning in India usually draws on more than one instrument at once — EPF and NPS through an employer, PPF or SSY for long-term tax-free savings, and SIPs or lumpsum mutual fund investments for market-linked growth. This category covers how each of these actually compounds, what the current rates and limits are, and how a step-up SIP or a lumpsum investment grows differently over time.
Interest rates on small savings schemes (PPF, SCSS, NSC, SSY) are reviewed by the government every quarter, and EPF/NPS rules can change through official circulars. The calculators below use the rates and limits current at the time this site was last updated — check the official scheme page for the latest quarter's rate before committing to a specific figure.