Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) is one of the most popular investment options available for senior citizens of India in 2024 and is used to provide predictable interest income to those above age 60. If you are looking for the Updated SCSS interest rate history, then this article lists down the all the changes in Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) since 2015 and up to 2024.
As of today, the rate of interest on SCSS is 8.2% per annum.
SCSS Interest Rate History (Since 2015)
This history of SCSS interest rate in last 8-9 years has been as follows:
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jan-2024 to 31-Mar-2024 is 8.2%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Oct-2023 to 31-Dec-2023 is 8.2%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jul-2023 to 30-Sep-2023 is 8.2%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2023 to 30-Jun-2023 is 8.2% (details)
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jan-2023 to 31-Mar-2023 is 8.0% (details)
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Oct-2022 to 31-Dec-2022 is 7.6% (details)
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jul-2022 to 30-Sep-2022 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2022 to 30-Jun-2022 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jan-2022 to 31-Mar-2022 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Oct-2021 to 31-Dec-2021 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jul-2021 to 30-Sep-2021 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2021 to 30-Jun-2021 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jan-2021 to 31-Mar-2021 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Oct-2020 to 31-Dec-2020 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jul-2020 to 30-Sep-2020 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2020 to 30-Jun-2020 is 7.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jan-2020 to 31-Mar-2020 is 8.6%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Oct-2019 to 31-Dec-2019 is 8.6%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jul-2019 to 30-Sep-2019 is 8.6%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 31-Mar-2019 to 30-Jun-2019 is 8.7%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jan-2019 to 31-Mar-2019 is 8.7%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Oct-2018 to 31-Dec-2018 is 8.7%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jul-2017 to 30-Sep-2018 is 8.3%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2017 to 30-Jun-2017 is 8.4%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jan-2017 to 31-Mar-2017 is 8.5%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Oct-2016 to 31-Dec-2016 is 8.5%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Jul-2016 to 30-Sep-2016 is 8.6%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2016 to 30-Jun-2016 is 8.6%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2015 to 31-Mar-2016 is 9.3%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2014 to 31-Mar-2015 is 9.2%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2013 to 31-Mar-2014 is 9.2%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2012 to 31-Mar-2013 is 9.3%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2011 to 31-Mar-2012 is 9.0%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2010 to 31-Mar-2011 is 9.0%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2009 to 31-Mar-2010 is 9.0%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2008 to 31-Mar-2009 is 9.0%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2007 to 31-Mar-2008 is 9.0%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2006 to 31-Mar-2007 is 9.0%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 01-Apr-2005 to 31-Mar-2006 is 9.0%
- Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) Interest Rate from 02-Aug-2004 to 31-Mar-2005 is 9.0%
So that was the complete history of SCSS interest rates till date.
Here are few important features of SCSS –
- SCSS is available for senior citizens of age 60 and above or for those who have taken VRS.
- The policy term or maturity period for SCSS is 5 years.
- SCSS being part of small savings schemes, the SCSS interest rate can be revised every quarter. But once you invest an amount in SCSS, the rate at that time of investment gets locked for the full 5-year tenure.
- The maximum amount that can be invested in SCSS is now Rs 30 lakh per senior citizen. Earlier it was Rs 15 lakh each but since April-2023, the SCSS limit increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. The government also discontinued another senior citizen oriented scheme at the time of increasing the SCSS limit to Rs 30 lakh. The now discontinued scheme PMVVY was available from 2020 to 2023.
- One can open several SCSS account but the sum total of all deposits in all SCSS accounts should not exceed Rs 30 lakh for each senior citizen.
- Interest Payout Frequency for SCSS has is only quarterly payouts, i.e. at the end of months June, September, December and March.
- On maturity of 5 years SCSS, the SCSS account gets closed and the invested money can be withdrawn. It is also possible to extend SCSS by 3 years but the rate of interest will be as per the then prevailing rates and not necessarily same as the original one in the initial 5-year period.
- After 3-year extension, the SCSS account closes. But if the depositor wants, they can open a new SCSS account after maturity as well.
- SCSS allows premature closure. If pre-closed after 1 year of deposit, then 98.5% of the invested amount is returned. If after 2 years, then 99% of the invested amount is returned.
- Contributions made to SCSS qualify of for tax deduction under Section 80C up to the common limit of Rs 1.5 lakh per year.
- The SCSS interest income is fully taxable as per the retiree’s tax slabs and comes under the head of ‘Income from Other Sources’.
SCSS is used by many retirees to park their VRS and EPF payouts and earn reliable interest income. In fact, if you were to ask most elders, they will vouch for SCSS being one of the best regular income options for senior citizens. Other options are annuity schemes like IRDA conceptualized new LIC Saral Pension scheme and the ever popular one of LIC Jeevan Akshay annuity plans.
So that was about the updated history of Senior Citizen Savings Scheme or SCSS interest rate history (2024) in India.