6 most sought-after tax-saving investment options in India

Published: 02nd Aug 2024

By: Value Research

#6 Unit-linked insurance plan (ULIP)

ULIPs are hybrid investment products that combine term insurance and investments. However, they fare quite poorly in terms of transparency, liquidity, returns and coverage.

#5 Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)

Launched in 2015, SSY is a tax-free small savings scheme for the girl child. The scheme offers an annual interest rate of 8.2%, and has a tenure of 21 years. Parents or legal guardians of a girl child aged 10 years or below are eligible to open an SSY account.

#4 National Savings Certificate (NSC)

The NSC is a government-backed small savings instrument that combines tax savings with guaranteed returns. It requires a minimum investment of Rs 1,000 per annum and has a five-year lock-in period. Presently, the interest on NSC is 7.7%, compounded annually.

#3 Public Provident Fund (PPF)

It is a long-term savings instrument established by the Government of India. To open a PPF account, you need a minimum investment of Rs 500 and a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh per annum. It offers an interest of 7.1%, compounded annually and has a tenure of 15 years, that can be extended in blocks of five years upon maturity.

#2 National Pension System (NPS)

NPS is an initiative by the central government to extend pension benefits to all Indian citizens. It is a long-term investment avenue that helps you on two fronts. One, it can build a sizable retirement corpus. Two, it helps you save additional tax.

#1 Equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS) funds

ELSS funds are a type of equity scheme that have a three-year lock-in period. It is one of the few tax-saving instruments that can help investors earn inflation-beating returns in the long run.

Which is the best investment option among them?

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