<h1>India Raises Interest Rates on State Provident Funds and Special Deposit Schemes to 8.8% for 2012-13.</h1> The Government of India has increased the interest rates for the financial year 2012-13 for State Provident Funds (GPF) and Special Deposit Schemes (SDS) applicable to non-government Provident, Superannuation, and Gratuity funds from 8.6% to 8.8%, effective April 1, 2012. This revision affects various funds, including the General Provident Fund (Central Services), Contributory Provident Fund (India), All India Services Provident Fund, State Railway Provident Fund, General Provident Fund (Defence Services), Indian Ordnance Department Provident Fund, Indian Ordnance Factories Workmen's Provident Fund, Indian Naval Dockyard Workmen's Provident Fund, Defence Services Officers Provident Fund, and Armed Forces Personnel Provident Fund.