Section 80C: Every ₹1.5L Investment Option Compared

Section 80C lets you deduct up to ₹1.5L from taxable income (Old regime). At 30% slab, that's ₹46,800 instant tax saved. But not all 80C investments are equal — picking wrong can lock up your money for 15 years at sub-7% returns.

Full comparison

• PPF: 7.1%, 15Y lock, EEE tax, government safety
• ELSS: 11-13% historical, 3Y lock, equity volatility, ₹1.25L LTCG exempt
• EPF: 8.25%, retirement-bound, EEE tax, mandatory if salaried
• NPS Tier-1: 9-11% market-linked, retirement-bound, EET (60% lump sum)
• NSC: 7.7%, 5Y lock, interest taxable
• SCSS: 8.2% (seniors only), 5Y, quarterly payout
• Tax-saving FD: 6.5-7.5%, 5Y lock, interest taxable
• ULIP: 4-8% real, 5Y lock, EEE if premium <₹2.5L/yr
• Life insurance premium: only if cover ≥10× annual premium

What we'd pick (under 40, salaried)

1) Max EPF contribution. 2) ELSS via SIP for the rest. 3) Skip ULIP and endowment — buy term + invest in MF separately. PPF is great for risk-averse savers but won't beat ELSS over 15 years.