The post office double money scheme is Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP): whatever you put in is paid back twice over after 115 months at the current 7.5% rate. It is the only post office product built around doubling.
Other schemes can double your money too if you leave the interest invested long enough. Below is how long each takes, what to watch for, and why no honest post office product doubles money in five years.
At a glance
Doubling scheme
Kisan Vikas PatraTime to double
115 monthsRule of 72
72 ÷ rate = years to doubleMinimum
₹1,000Risk
None; government backed
KVP: the post office double money scheme
KVP is sold with one promise: double the amount at maturity. ₹1 lakh becomes ₹2 lakh, ₹3 lakh becomes ₹6 lakh. The calculator above shows the doubling date and estimated values along the way. Details on rules and tax are on the KVP scheme page.
Time to double in every post office scheme
| Scheme | Rate | Years to double | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVP | 7.5% | 9.6 | Built in, exact |
| NSC, renewed | 7.7% | About 9.3 | Needs reinvesting after 5 years |
| PPF | 7.1% | About 10.1 | Yearly deposits, 15 year lock |
| 5 year FD, interest reinvested | 7.5% | About 9.4 | Only if payouts are reinvested |
| Savings account | 4.0% | 18 | Not a growth product |
NSC, renewed at maturity, actually doubles a little faster than KVP at today's rates, but KVP needs no action from you.
The rule of 72, in plain words
Divide 72 by the yearly rate to get roughly how many years money takes to double when interest stays invested. At 7.5%, that is 9.6 years. At 7.7%, 9.4 years. At 4%, 18 years. It is a quick check on any doubling claim.
If anyone offers a post office FD double scheme or a post office paisa double scheme in five years, be careful. At current rates, doubling in five years would need about 15% a year, which no post office product pays. Genuine post office schemes are sold at the counter, never by agents promising unusual returns.
Post office FD double scheme: is there one
No. A post office fixed deposit pays its interest out every year, so on its own it never doubles. Some agents call KVP a fixed deposit double scheme, which is loosely true: like an FD, it is fixed and safe, but it is a certificate, not a deposit account. If you ask the counter for the money double scheme in post office, they will offer KVP.
Double money scheme in post office for a goal
A couple plans for their daughter's higher education in ten years. They invest ₹4 lakh in KVP. In 115 months, that becomes ₹8 lakh, arriving a few months before the deadline. If they also want a deduction, they could put part into NSC and reinvest it after five years.
KVP suits goals about ten years out. For goals that are only three to five years away, it cannot double in time; an NSC or RD fits better.
Tax on doubled money
The doubled amount is not all yours after tax. The gain, which equals your original investment, is taxable interest. Doubling ₹1 lakh at a 20% slab leaves roughly ₹1.8 lakh after tax. Plan with the after tax figure, especially for large amounts. More in KVP rules.
Frequently asked questions
Which post office scheme doubles money?
Kisan Vikas Patra. At 7.5%, it doubles in 115 months.
Can money double in 5 years in the post office?
No. That would need about 15% a year. Be wary of anyone promising it.
Is the post office double money scheme safe?
Yes. KVP is a Government of India certificate.
How much is the minimum for the double money scheme?
₹1,000. There is no maximum.
Is the doubled amount taxable?
The gain is taxable as interest income; the original investment is not.
Does the post office have a double scheme in Hindi forms?
Yes, KVP forms are available in Hindi at post offices. People also call it the post office me double scheme or paisa double scheme.