Work backward from a corpus goal using SIP, PPF, EPF and NPS planning.
Break The Goal
Separate existing savings, monthly contributions and years remaining.
Use conservative return assumptions for important goals.
Example: if you already have ₹10 lakh invested and 20 years to go, that amount alone could grow to about ₹67 lakh at an assumed 10% a year, leaving a much smaller gap for monthly contributions to fill. Write down each assumption so next year's review compares like with like.
What ₹1 Crore Needs Each Month
Through a SIP at an assumed 10% annual return, reaching ₹1 crore takes about ₹23,900 a month for 15 years, ₹13,100 for 20 years or ₹7,500 for 25 years. At an assumed 12%, those become about ₹19,800, ₹10,000 and ₹5,300.
Starting earlier matters more than chasing a higher return: the 25-year plan at 10% needs less than a third of the 15-year monthly amount.
Check The Target Against Inflation
₹1 crore 20 years from now won't buy what ₹1 crore buys today. At 6% inflation, it has the buying power of about ₹31 lakh in today's money. Set the target from expected retirement expenses, not a round number.
Mix Buckets
EPF/PPF-style savings can add stability; SIP/NPS-style investments add market-linked growth potential.
Asset allocation should fit risk and time horizon.
PPF: ₹1.5 lakh a year at 7.1% grows to about ₹40.7 lakh in 15 years and about ₹1.03 crore in 25 years with extensions, if the rate holds. EPF: contributions at the ₹25,000 wage ceiling put about ₹3,917 a month into EPF, which at 8.25% projects to about ₹37 lakh over 25 years before pay rises.
NPS: ₹10,000 a month at an assumed 10% for 25 years projects to about ₹1.33 crore, but non-government subscribers must use at least 20% of the corpus to buy an annuity, so only part is available as a lump sum.
Taxes Change The Picture
Equity fund gains on units held for more than 12 months are taxed at 12.5% above ₹1.25 lakh a year, so a SIP corpus is worth a little less after tax when you withdraw. PPF maturity is tax-free, EPF is generally tax-free after five years of continuous service, and NPS withdrawals are tax-free up to 60% of the corpus.
Review Annually
Increase contributions with income growth and rerun the estimate every year.
Raising a SIP a little each year can shorten the time needed noticeably. Use the SIP Calculator for the monthly amount, the PPF Calculator for the fixed-income part and the NPS Calculator for the pension and annuity split.