The eligibility criteria for Public Provident Fund (PPF) are as follows:
- The account can be opened by any resident Indian individual, either in his/her own name or on behalf of a minor.
- Only one account can be opened by an individual in his/her own name.
- Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) are not eligible to open a PPF account.
- However, if a resident who opens an account under the scheme, subsequently becomes an NRI during the currency of the maturity period, the account may continue till its maturity on a non-repatriation basis.
PPF is a long-term savings scheme that offers attractive interest rates and sovereign guarantee. Individuals can invest up to Rs 1.5 lakh per year in their PPF account and claim tax benefits under section 80C of the Income Tax Act. The interest earned and the maturity amount are also exempt from tax under section 10(11) of the Income Tax Act.