What Is a Recurring Deposit in India?
A Recurring Deposit (RD) is a monthly savings scheme offered by Indian banks and post offices that allows individuals to deposit a fixed amount every month and earn guaranteed interest over a predetermined tenure. RDs combine the disciplined saving habit of a SIP with the safety and fixed returns of an FD.
Unlike a fixed deposit where a lump sum is invested, an RD lets investors build a corpus incrementally. Typical RD tenures range from 6 months to 10 years, with interest compounded quarterly by most banks in India.
RD Maturity Calculation Formula
Indian banks use quarterly compounding for RD:
Maturity = P × n + P × n(n+1)/2 × r/1200
(Simplified approximation; actual calculation uses compound interest per quarter.)
Exact formula with quarterly compounding:
M = P × ((1 + r/4)^(4n) − 1) / (1 − (1 + r/4)^(−1/3))
Example: ₹5,000/month RD at 7% p.a. for 3 years → Maturity ≈ ₹2,00,175 (deposited ₹1,80,000, interest ₹20,175).
Best RD Interest Rates India 2026
| Bank | General Rate | Senior Citizen Rate |
|---|---|---|
| SBI | 6.5–7.0% | 7.0–7.5% |
| HDFC Bank | 6.5–7.25% | 7.0–7.75% |
| ICICI Bank | 6.7–7.1% | 7.2–7.6% |
| Post Office | 6.7% | 6.7% |