Q: What is a SIP calculator and how does it work?

A SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) calculator estimates how much your regular monthly investments will grow over time using compound interest. You enter: (1) monthly investment amount, (2) expected annual return rate, and (3) investment period. The formula used is FV = P × [((1+r)^n – 1) / r] × (1+r), where P is the monthly SIP amount, r is the monthly return rate (annual rate ÷ 12), and n is the number of months. For example, ₹5,000/month at 12% for 10 years grows to approximately ₹11.6 lakhs on an investment of ₹6 lakhs — a gain of ₹5.6 lakhs from compounding.

Q: How much SIP do I need to invest to get ₹1 crore?

To accumulate ₹1 crore, the monthly SIP amount depends on your time horizon and expected returns. At 12% annual returns: 10 years requires ~₹43,000/month; 15 years requires ~₹20,000/month; 20 years requires ~₹10,000/month; 25 years requires ~₹5,300/month; 30 years requires only ~₹2,800/month. This shows the power of starting early — starting 10 years earlier nearly halves the required monthly investment. Use the StockViz SIP Calculator to find the exact amount for your target.

Q: What is CAGR and how is it calculated?

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) measures the mean annual growth rate of an investment over a specified period, assuming profits are reinvested. Formula: CAGR = (Final Value / Initial Value)^(1/years) – 1. Example: if ₹1 lakh grew to ₹3.2 lakhs in 5 years, CAGR = (3.2)^(1/5) – 1 = 26.2%. CAGR is the standard metric to compare investment returns across mutual funds, stocks, and fixed income — because it smooths out year-to-year volatility.

Q: How to calculate home loan EMI in India?

EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment) formula: EMI = P × r × (1+r)^n / ((1+r)^n – 1), where P = loan principal, r = monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100), n = loan tenure in months. Example: a ₹30 lakh home loan at 8.5% for 20 years: r = 8.5/12/100 = 0.00708, n = 240 months. EMI = 30,00,000 × 0.00708 × (1.00708)^240 / ((1.00708)^240 – 1) = approximately ₹26,035/month. Total payment = ₹62.5 lakhs on a ₹30 lakh loan — ₹32.5 lakhs as interest. Use the EMI calculator above for instant results.

Q: What is the PPF interest rate in 2026 and what will ₹1.5L/year give me?

The PPF (Public Provident Fund) interest rate is set by the Government of India each quarter. As of 2026, the PPF interest rate is 7.1% per annum, compounded annually. If you invest the maximum ₹1.5 lakh per year for 15 years at 7.1%: total investment = ₹22.5 lakhs; maturity value ≈ ₹40.7 lakhs; interest earned ≈ ₹18.2 lakhs. PPF interest is tax-free under Section 10(11) of the Income Tax Act. Use the PPF calculator to see exact year-by-year projections.

Q: What is the difference between SIP and lumpsum investment?

SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) means investing a fixed amount every month — it benefits from Rupee Cost Averaging (buying more units when prices are low, fewer when high) and the discipline of regular investing. Lumpsum means investing a large one-time amount. Lumpsum outperforms SIP when markets go up steadily after your investment. SIP outperforms lumpsum in volatile markets. For most Indian retail investors, SIP is recommended because it reduces timing risk and fits salaried income patterns. Use both calculators on StockViz to compare which approach meets your goals faster.

Q: How is HRA tax exemption calculated in India?

HRA (House Rent Allowance) tax exemption under Section 10(13A) is the minimum of three amounts: (1) actual HRA received from employer; (2) 50% of basic salary for metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata) or 40% for non-metro; (3) actual rent paid minus 10% of basic salary. Example: Basic = ₹6L/year, HRA received = ₹2.4L, Rent paid = ₹3L, metro city. The three limits: ₹2.4L, ₹3L (50% of 6L), ₹2.4L (3L – 0.6L). Exemption = minimum = ₹2.4L tax-free. Use the HRA calculator for instant results with your actual numbers.

Question 1

How much SIP do I need to accumulate ₹1 crore? +

Answer

At 12% annual returns, the required monthly SIP to reach ₹1 crore:

10 years: ~₹43,000/month
15 years: ~₹20,000/month
20 years: ~₹10,000/month
25 years: ~₹5,300/month
30 years: ~₹2,800/month

Starting 10 years earlier nearly cuts your required monthly investment in half — this is the power of compounding. Use the SIP calculator above to enter your exact target and timeline.

Question 2

What is the EMI formula used by banks in India? +

Answer

All banks use the standard reducing-balance EMI formula:

EMI = P × r × (1+r)ⁿ ÷ ((1+r)ⁿ – 1)

Where P = loan amount, r = monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100), n = tenure in months.

Example: ₹30 lakh home loan, 8.5% pa, 20 years → EMI ≈ ₹26,035/month. Total outflow = ₹62.5L on a ₹30L loan.

Question 3

What is the PPF interest rate in 2026? +

Answer

The PPF interest rate in 2026 is 7.1% per annum, compounded annually, as set by the Government of India. PPF interest is completely tax-free under Section 10(11) of the Income Tax Act.

Investing the maximum ₹1.5 lakh/year for 15 years at 7.1% yields ≈ ₹40.7 lakhs on a total investment of ₹22.5 lakhs — fully tax-free.

Question 4

How is CAGR calculated? What does it mean? +

Answer

CAGR = (Final Value ÷ Initial Value)^(1/years) – 1

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) tells you the equivalent steady annual return of an investment that may have fluctuated year to year. It's the industry standard for comparing mutual funds, stocks, and FDs.

Example: ₹1 lakh grew to ₹3.2 lakhs in 5 years → CAGR = (3.2)^(0.2) – 1 = 26.2% per year.

Question 5

What is SWP and how does the SWP calculator work? +

Answer

SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan) lets you withdraw a fixed amount monthly from a mutual fund corpus while the remainder continues to earn returns. It's the opposite of SIP — ideal for retirement income.

The calculator shows: how long your corpus will last, total withdrawn, remaining corpus over time. For example, a ₹1 crore corpus at 8% return with ₹50,000/month withdrawals will last over 35+ years.

Question 6

How is HRA tax exemption calculated in India? +

Answer

HRA exemption under Section 10(13A) = minimum of:

Actual HRA received from employer
50% of basic salary (metro) or 40% (non-metro)
Actual rent paid – 10% of basic salary

Example: Basic = ₹6L, HRA = ₹2.4L, Rent = ₹3L, metro city → Limits: ₹2.4L, ₹3L, ₹2.4L → Exemption = ₹2.4L.

Question 7

Are these calculators free? Do I need to login? +

Answer

All 10 calculators on StockViz are completely free — no login, no subscription, no ads. Just open the page and calculate. Results are instant and all computation happens in your browser with no data sent to any server.

India's Best Free Financial Calculators — Plan Smarter

SIP & Lumpsum Calculators

EMI Calculator (Home, Car, Personal Loan)

PPF & FD Calculators

CAGR Calculator

Retirement & SWP Calculators

HRA & Inflation Calculators

Frequently Asked Questions