Kisan Vikas Patra
Introduction
In 1988, India Post, under the Ministry of Finance, launched the Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), a small savings certificate scheme, to encourage long-term investments and savings among the citizens. Initially, this scheme was introduced for farmers; however, it is now available for all. It proved to be a success in the early years of its launch, but after a committee, which was appointed by the Government of India under the leadership of Ms. Shayamala Gopinath, recommended that Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) could be misused for money laundering purposes, the scheme was closed in 2011.
Following that, in 2014, the government reintroduced the erstwhile popular small savings scheme with amendments such as compulsory PAN Card proof for investments >Rs. 50,000 and income proof (salary slips, bank statements, ITR documents, etc.) for deposits >10 lakh to curb any mismanagement. In addition, the scheme’s maturity period was increased to 124 months (i.e., 10 years and 4 months), with a minimum investment of Rs 1,000 and no upper limit.
Need for KVP
To augment the country’s domestic savings—that shrunk to 30% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012-13 from the peak of 36.8% in 2008—the government introduced the Kisan Vikas Patra scheme. Through this low-risk savings platform, the government aimed to boost financial independence of low-income investors from semi-urban and rural areas.
Policy Details
Certificate Types
According to the National Savings Institute, KVP certificates can be categorised as follows:
- In the ‘Single Holder’ type, a KVP certificate is issued to an individual under his name. Also, an individual can furnish a KVP certificate for a minor, wherein the certificate will be issued under the individual’s name
- In the ‘Joint A' type, a KVP certificate is issued to two adults investing jointly, wherein, upon maturity, the amount will be paid to both holders jointly or to the survivor
- In the ‘Joint B' type, a KVP certificate is issued to two adults investing jointly; however, in this case, when the investment matures, the amount will be paid to either one of the account holders or to the survivor
Eligibility
In this scheme, any Indian citizen who is above 18 years can invest and buy a certificate; however, it also allows minors, through aid of an adult, to invest and avail a KVP certificate. Moreover, the scheme does not have an age limit for investors and thereby, proving to be beneficial for senior citizens.
Documents Required
To avail benefits of the KVP scheme, citizens are required to submit the following documents:
- Identity proof for the KYC process (Aadhaar card/PAN/Voter ID card/Driving License/Passport)
- KVP application form
- Address proof
- Birth certificate
Kisan Vikas Patra Interest Rate
The Ministry of Finance regulates/decides the interest rates, which are not subject to market risks, on KVP investments. Also, the government reviews the interest every quarter and tweaks it frequently. As of April 01, 2020, the KVP interest rate was fixed at 6.9% compounded annually.
Kisan Vikas Patra Withdrawal Rules
Unlike numerous other long-term saving schemes, KVP allows investors to make premature withdrawals; however, it comprises certain limitations such as the scheme has a minimum lock-in period of 30 months or two and a half years. Any encashment before two and a half years could either invite penalty or lead to reduced interests.
KVP Progress
|
Consolidated KVP Savings Collections (2017-18) |
||
|
Institute |
Gross |
Net |
|
Department of Post |
Rs. 24,638.39 crore (US$ 3,822.87 million) |
Rs. 24,588.76 crore (US$ 3,815.17 million) |
|
Banks |
Rs. 28.66 crore (US$ 4.45 million) |
Rs. 28.46 crore (US$ 4.42 million) |
|
Total |
Rs. 24,667.05 crore (US$ 3,827.32 million) |
Rs. 24,617.22 crore (US$ 3,819.58 million) |
According to government data, between 2018 and 2019, 30.18 lakh KVPs were sold, with deposits worth Rs. 26,478.36 crore (US$ 3,788.57 million), while between 2019 and 2020, 21.43 lakh KVPs were sold, with investments of Rs. 19,730.16 crore (US$ 2,799.00 million). Under the KVP scheme, the outstanding balance stood at Rs. 123,736.61 crore (US$ 17,553.78 million), as of March 31, 2020; 8.02 crore certificates were registered until November 2020.
To promote digitalisation, the government discontinued physical KVP certificates and introduced e-mode certificates (w.e.f. 01.07.2016). In compliance to its policies, the Indian government ensured the availability of small savings schemes to investors through authorised commercial banks, wherein Bank of Baroda launched e-Kisan Vikas Patra on August 16, 2018. This facility is also available at the Union Bank of India and Axis Bank, with other key commercial banks joining the bandwagon in the near future.
Road Ahead
In September 2020, under the ‘Five Star Village’ scheme, India Post launched a campaign to promote all postal products and services available at village-level, with an aim to ensure that a minimum of 100 households are covered under postal products. Through this scheme, the government seeks to bridge the gap between public awareness and reach of postal products & services, especially in interior villages. The ‘Five Star Village’ scheme covers the following initiatives:
- Savings Bank Accounts, Recurrent Deposit Accounts and NSC (National Savings Certificates)/KVP (Kisan Vikas Patra scheme) certificates
- Sukanya Samridhi Accounts/PPF Accounts
- Funded Post Office Savings Account linked to India Post Payments Bank Accounts
- Postal Life Insurance Policy/Rural Postal Life Insurance Policy
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana Accounts/Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana Accounts
The ‘Five Star Village’ scheme was launched on a pilot basis in Maharashtra; based on the experience in the state, the scheme will be implemented nationwide.
The KVP scheme has emerged as one of the most trusted and investment-worthy scheme, post the regulatory amendments in 2014. The scheme not only provides a safe and secure investment avenue to small investors but also helps augment the savings rate in the country. Though most conservative investors prefer FD (Fixed Deposit) schemes, many are selecting and opting for alternative schemes. For such investors, KVP offers high returns as opposed to bank FDs and is considered a safe investment option, as the scheme is backed by the Government of India.
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