Indian Investment Options 2026 – Complete Guide (Savings to Global Crypto)

Comprehensive guide covering 13 major investment tools for Indian investors including domestic and global exposure. Easy to compare using eligibility, returns, risk, tax, and platforms.

1️⃣ Savings Account

• Instrument: Savings Account
• Eligibility: Resident Indian, 18+
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 3% – 6% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹500 – ₹10,000
• Maximum Investment: No limit
• Duration: Flexible, lifelong
• Insurance: ✔ Deposit insurance up to ₹5 lakh (DICGC)
• Withdrawal: Anytime
• Taxes: Interest taxable; ₹10,000 exemption under 80TTA
• Platform / Where to Invest: SBI (Yono), HDFC (MobileBanking), ICICI (iMobile), Axis Bank App, Kotak 811
• Similar Schemes: Post Office Savings Account
• Recommendations: Ideal for emergency fund and liquid savings

2️⃣ Fixed Deposit (FD)

• Instrument: Fixed Deposit
• Eligibility: Resident Indian
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 5% – 7% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹500 – ₹1,000
• Maximum Investment: No limit
• Duration: 7 days – 10 years
• Insurance: ✔ ₹5 lakh bank deposit insurance
• Withdrawal: Premature allowed with penalty
• Taxes: Interest taxable as per slab
• Platform / Where to Invest: SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank, AU Small Finance Bank
• Similar Schemes: Recurring Deposit, Post Office TD
• Recommendations: Safe, predictable returns; suitable for medium-term goals

3️⃣ Recurring Deposit (RD)

• Instrument: Recurring Deposit
• Eligibility: Resident Indian
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 5% – 7% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹500 – ₹1,000/month
• Maximum Investment: No limit
• Duration: 6 months – 10 years
• Insurance: ✔ ₹5 lakh bank deposit insurance
• Withdrawal: Premature allowed with penalty
• Taxes: Interest taxable
• Platform / Where to Invest: SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank
• Similar Schemes: Post Office MIS
• Recommendations: Good for disciplined monthly savings

4️⃣ Post Office Schemes (POSA, MIS, TD)

• Instrument: Small Saving Schemes
• Eligibility: Resident Indian
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 5% – 7% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹1,000
• Maximum Investment: MIS ₹9L (single) / ₹15L (joint)
• Duration: Scheme-specific 1–5 years
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: As per scheme
• Taxes: Interest taxable
• Platform / Where to Invest: Post Office, IPPB App, CSC e-Gov / Net Banking
• Similar Schemes: SCSS, PPF
• Recommendations: Safe government-backed investment for conservative investors

5️⃣ National Savings Certificate (NSC)

• Instrument: NSC
• Eligibility: Resident Indian
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 6% – 6.8% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹1,000
• Maximum Investment: No limit
• Duration: 5 years
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: At maturity
• Taxes: Interest taxable (except under 80C)
• Platform / Where to Invest: Post Office, IPPB App
• Similar Schemes: PPF, TD, MIS
• Recommendations: Fixed returns with tax-saving option

6️⃣ Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)

• Instrument: SSY
• Eligibility: Girl child under 10 years
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 7% – 8% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹250/year
• Maximum Investment: ₹1.5 lakh/year
• Duration: Maturity at 21 years (partial after 18)
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: Partial at 18; full at maturity
• Taxes: EEE – fully tax-free
• Platform / Where to Invest: Post Office, SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank
• Similar Schemes: PPF, Child Trust Funds
• Recommendations: Long-term wealth creation for daughters

7️⃣ EPF & VPF

• Instrument: EPF / VPF
• Eligibility: Salaried Employees
• Investment Choice: EPF – Mandatory | VPF – Optional
• Return Range: 8% – 8.5% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: 12% of basic salary
• Maximum Investment: No limit (VPF)
• Duration: Till retirement
• Insurance: ✔ EDLI death cover up to ₹7 lakh
• Withdrawal: Partial allowed; full at retirement
• Taxes: EEE – fully tax-free
• Platform / Where to Invest: EPFO Portal / UMANG App, Employer Payroll
• Similar Schemes: NPS, PPF
• Recommendations: Mandatory for salaried employees; safe retirement corpus

8️⃣ Public Provident Fund (PPF)

• Instrument: PPF
• Eligibility: Resident Indian
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 7% – 7.5% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹500/year
• Maximum Investment: ₹1.5 lakh/year
• Duration: 15 years
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: Partial after 5 years
• Taxes: EEE – fully tax-free
• Platform / Where to Invest: Post Office, SBI, ICICI, HDFC, Net Banking
• Similar Schemes: EPF, NSC
• Recommendations: Long-term, tax-efficient instrument

9️⃣ Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS)

• Instrument: SCSS
• Eligibility: Age 60+
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 7% – 8% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹1,000
• Maximum Investment: ₹30 lakh
• Duration: 5 years (extendable 3 years)
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: At maturity (early with penalty)
• Taxes: Interest taxable
• Platform / Where to Invest: Post Office, SBI, ICICI, PNB branches, Bank apps
• Similar Schemes: TD, MIS
• Recommendations: High safety with regular income

10️⃣ National Pension System (NPS)

• Instrument: NPS
• Eligibility: Age 18–70
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: Market-linked 8% – 10% p.a.
• Minimum Investment: ₹500
• Maximum Investment: No limit
• Duration: Till retirement
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: Partial allowed; annuity mandatory at retirement
• Taxes: Partial EEE; annuity taxable
• Platform / Where to Invest: eNPS Portal, NSDL CRA, Bank portals, Groww, Zerodha Coin
• Similar Schemes: EPF, PPF
• Recommendations: Market-linked retirement savings; tax-efficient

11️⃣ Mutual Funds (Domestic & International)

• Instrument: Mutual Funds
• Eligibility: KYC-compliant investor
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: 10% – 15% p.a. (equity domestic), 8% – 12% p.a. (global/USA/China)
• Minimum Investment: ₹500/SIP
• Maximum Investment: No limit
• Duration: Flexible; recommended 3–5 years
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: Anytime (exit load may apply)
• Taxes: Equity MF: STCG 15% (<1 12.5="" ltcg="" yr="">1 yr); Debt MF: taxed as per slab
• Platform / Where to Invest: Groww, Zerodha Coin, Kuvera, Paytm Money, ET Money, INDMoney
• Similar Schemes: NPS, Direct Equity
• Recommendations: Diversified growth; SIPs for discipline; global funds for international exposure

12️⃣ Direct Stock Market (Domestic + Global)

• Instrument: Stocks / Equities
• Eligibility: Demat & trading account required
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: Market-linked; 10% – 20%+ p.a. (domestic), 5% – 15% (global)
• Minimum Investment: Price of 1 share
• Maximum Investment: No limit
• Duration: Flexible; recommended 3+ years
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: Sell anytime during market hours
• Taxes: STCG 15% (<1 12.5="" ltcg="" yr="">1 yr above ₹1.25L)
• Platform / Where to Invest: Zerodha, Groww, Upstox, Angel One, ICICI Direct, HDFC Securities, Interactive Brokers (Global), eToro (Global)
• Similar Schemes: Mutual Funds
• Recommendations: High risk & reward; global diversification recommended

13️⃣ Global Crypto Market

• Instrument: Cryptocurrencies
• Eligibility: KYC-compliant investor
• Investment Choice: Optional
• Return Range: Highly volatile; -50% to +200%+ annually
• Minimum Investment: ₹100
• Maximum Investment: No limit
• Duration: Flexible; long-term recommended for risk-tolerant investors
• Insurance: ✖ No insurance
• Withdrawal: Anytime (via exchange)
• Taxes: Capital gains tax: 30% flat (India, 2026)
• Platform / Where to Invest: WazirX, CoinDCX, Binance, Coinbase, Kraken
• Similar Schemes: Stock market, Equity mutual funds
• Recommendations: Only for risk-tolerant investors; small portion of portfolio

⚠️ Disclaimer

This post is for educational purposes only. Returns, tax rules, and regulations may change. Always consult a SEBI-registered financial advisor before investing.