The ballast
Bonds & Fixed Income
Predictable cash flows for the part of your money that shouldn't surprise you.
Government-backed and institution-issued instruments with fixed or floating interest, including 54EC capital gain bonds, RBI floating rate bonds and Government of India securities. Useful for near-term goals, retirees, and parking capital-gains proceeds tax-efficiently.
Layer 2 of 6 in the access spectrum
Entry point
RBI bonds from ₹1,000
Tenure
Typically 5-7 years by instrument
Interest
Fixed or floating, not market-linked
Issuers
GoI/RBI, REC, IRFC, PFC, HUDCO
At a glance
RBI Floating Rate Savings Bond 2020 (Taxable)Government of India, through the RBI
- Coupon
- 8.05%*
- Tenure
- 7 years
- Minimum
- ₹1,000
- Status
- Open
REC Capital Gain BondRural Electrification Corporation Ltd
- Coupon
- 5.25%
- Tenure
- 5 years
- Minimum
- ₹20,000
- Status
- Open
IRFC Capital Gain BondIndian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd
- Coupon
- 5.25%
- Tenure
- 5 years
- Minimum
- ₹20,000
- Status
- Open
PFC Capital Gain BondPower Finance Corporation Ltd
- Coupon
- 5.25%
- Tenure
- 5 years
- Minimum
- ₹20,000
- Status
- Open
HUDCO Capital Gain BondHousing & Urban Development Corporation Ltd
- Coupon
- 5.25%
- Tenure
- 5 years
- Minimum
- ₹20,000
- Status
- Open
NHAI Capital Gain BondNational Highways Authority of India
- Coupon
- 5.00%
- Tenure
- 5 years
- Minimum
- Not offered
- Status
- Closed
*RBI bond: NSC rate plus 0.35%, reset every 1 January and 1 July; interest paid half-yearly. The capital gain bonds pay interest once a year and are Section 54EC bonds with a five-year lock-in and a ₹50 lakh cap per financial year.
How much tax does a 54EC bond save?
Enter the long-term capital gain from a property sale and see the invested amount, the tax saved and the interest the bonds pay.
Inputs
Result
- Tax saved on the invested gain
- ₹3,90,000
- Invested in 54EC bonds
- ₹30 lakh
- Within the ₹50 lakh cap
- Interest over five years
- ₹7,87,500
- Paid once a year, taxable
- Tax on the uninvested part
- Nil
Up to ₹50 lakh a financial year, invested within six months of the transfer; the bonds pay 5.25% a year for five years. Tax shown at 12.5% plus 4% cess for illustration; confirm the rate that applies to you with your chartered accountant.
How it works
Match the instrument to the need
Capital gain bonds for tax deferral, RBI floating rate bonds for rate protection, G-secs for long safe duration. Each solves a different problem.
Understand the lock-in
54EC bonds carry a 5-year lock-in; most bonds reward holding to maturity. We make sure the tenure fits your cash-flow calendar before you commit.
Ladder and hold
Staggered maturities turn a bond portfolio into a schedule of predictable payouts instead of one big reinvestment decision.
Who this is for
Investors with property or other capital gains seeking Section 54EC exemption
Retirees who want contractual interest rather than market returns
Conservative allocations inside a larger goal-based portfolio
Anyone laddering known future expenses against known payouts
The bond desk
Questions investors ask
No, a demat account is not mandatory for REC, IRFC, PFC or HUDCO capital gain bonds. You can hold them in physical form; you'll need your PAN, a self-attested address proof and a cancelled cheque with the application.
Section 54EC requires investing the long-term capital gain within six months of the transfer date, up to ₹50 lakh per financial year. The earlier in that window you invest, the sooner interest starts accruing.
No. The capital-gains exemption applies to the amount you invest, but the interest the bonds pay is taxable at your slab rate. No TDS is deducted on 54EC interest; RBI Floating Rate Savings Bond interest is taxable and subject to TDS rules. Form 15G/15H applies if eligible.
54EC bonds are locked for the full five years and are non-transferable; exiting early would also void the tax exemption. RBI Floating Rate Savings Bonds run seven years, with earlier redemption windows only for senior citizens, at a small interest penalty.
Risks and disclosures
Interest from most bonds is taxable at your slab rate.
Selling before maturity, where allowed, can mean a price below face value.
Corporate instruments carry issuer credit risk; ratings matter and can change.
Fixed-income instruments are subject to issuer, interest-rate and liquidity risk. Coupon rates shown are as published by the respective issuers for the current series and are subject to revision; always confirm the live rate on the issue form before investing. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and prevailing law; please consult your chartered accountant or tax professional before investing for a tax outcome.
Wondering if Bonds & Fixed Income belongs in your plan?
That depends on your goals, horizon and what you already hold: exactly the conversation we start with.
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