New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- The Centre has kept interest rates on popular small savings schemes such as the Public Provident Fund (PPF) and the National Savings Certificate (NSC) unchanged for the January-March quarter, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of status quo.

The PPF will continue to earn 7.1%, while the Post Office Savings Account will pay 4% interest, according to the finance ministry's notification issued on Wednesday. The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana will maintain its higher return of 8.2%, and the three-year term deposit stays at 7.1%.

The NSC continues at 7.7%, the Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) offers 7.5% with a maturity of 115 months, and the five-year Post Office Monthly Income Scheme holds steady at 7.4%.

With easing inflation ...