Calculator
The same monthly investment, run through all three 80C-eligible options — compare the numbers before you compare the tradeoffs.
Same ₹10,000/month for 15 years produces very different corpora across the three — see below.
ELSS Corpus
₹50,45,760
Assumed 12% return, market-linked
PPF Corpus
₹32,16,241
Government-fixed rate, EEE tax-free
NPS Corpus
₹41,02,639
Default 50/30/20 allocation — see the NPS calculator to customize
Total Invested
₹18,00,000
There's no single better option — they trade off differently. ELSS has the shortest lock-in (3 years) and highest long-run return potential but full market risk. PPF is government-guaranteed with a 15-year lock-in and no market risk. NPS is market-linked like ELSS but with a much longer lock-in (until 60) and a mandatory annuity portion at exit. Compare the numbers here, then weigh the lock-in and risk tradeoffs that matter to you.
Yes — ELSS, PPF, and NPS (under Section 80CCD(1) within the overall 80C limit, plus an extra ₹50,000 under 80CCD(1B)) all qualify for tax deduction under the old regime, up to the respective statutory limits.
This comparator uses a representative 50% Equity / 30% Corporate Bonds / 20% Government Securities mix so all three columns use one clear default. Visit the dedicated NPS calculator to customize your own allocation and return assumptions.
ELSS, PPF, and NPS all reduce your taxable income under Section 80C (NPS gets an extra ₹50,000 under 80CCD(1B)), but they differ enormously in lock-in period, risk, and expected return. This calculator runs each through the tool that already models its own real rules — the mutual-fund SIP engine for ELSS, the PPF calculator for PPF, the NPS calculator for NPS — so the comparison reflects each option's actual mechanics, not a simplified average.
Disclaimer: ELSS and NPS returns shown are based on editable assumptions, not guarantees — actual market returns will differ. This is not investment advice; consider your own risk tolerance and lock-in requirements before choosing.
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