You can make partial withdrawals from your PPF account after completing 5 financial years.
The maximum amount you can withdraw is 50% of the balance at the end of the 4th year preceding the year of withdrawal or the balance at the end of the previous year, whichever is lower.
Only one partial withdrawal is permitted in a financial year.
PPF accounts can be closed prematurely after 5 years for specific reasons like higher education or treatment of serious ailments.
You can take a loan against your PPF account from the 3rd financial year until the 6th year.
The PPF account matures after 15 years, but can be extended in blocks of 5 years indefinitely.
You can withdraw the entire amount after the 15-year maturity period.
Withdrawals from PPF are tax-free under Section 10(11) of the Income Tax Act.
Many banks now offer online withdrawal facilities for PPF accounts.
Proper documentation, including the PPF passbook and withdrawal form, is required for making withdrawals.