Interest rates on small savings schemes may go up by 0.25

8220;We are in the process of calculating the rates. The new rates will be applicable from April 1,8221; they added.

The government had in December,2011 hiked interest rates on post office savings accounts POSA to 4 per cent,from 3.5 per cent. Similarly,the interest rates on the MIS and PPF was fixed at 8.2 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively.

The decision to hike interest rates in December was in line with the recommendations of the Shyamala Gopinath Committee which had suggested linking of interest rates on small savings with that of the market. The panel had also suggested that the interest rates on small savings schemes should be revised annually.

The revision in the interest rates is aimed at maintaining the attractiveness of the small savings schemes vis-a-vis fixed deposit schemes operated by banks.

The government,as part of economic liberalisation process,had freed the interest rates on banks deposits giving freedom to lenders to fix rates depending upon the asset-liability position,but continued to fix rates for small savings schemes.

Pursuant to the recommendations of the Gopinath Committee,the government had introduced the National Savings Scheme NSC with a 10-year maturity to attract long-term funds.

The annual investment ceiling in PPF savings was increased to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 70,000.