Goal calculator · CPI inflation 4.82% (August 2026, MoSPI)
Goal Calculator 2026: SIP for Child Education, Marriage & House Down Payment
By Pratik Bajoria, Chartered Accountant & NISM-certified Research Analyst · Updated 3 October 2026 · inflation data: MoSPI CPI for August 2026
A goal calculator works backwards from a future expense — a child's college fees, a wedding, or the down payment on a house — to the monthly SIP you need today. Inflation matters most: India's CPI inflation was 4.82% in August 2026, with education services at 3.73% (MoSPI press release), against the RBI's 4% target with a 2%–6% band (RBI). Returns used below are assumptions for illustration, not forecasts.
Monthly SIP needed (flat)
₹19 K
Inflation table: what ₹1 lakh of today's cost becomes
| Years | 4% inflation | 6% inflation | 8% inflation | 10% inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | ₹1,21,665 | ₹1,33,823 | ₹1,46,933 | ₹1,61,051 |
| 10 years | ₹1,48,024 | ₹1,79,085 | ₹2,15,892 | ₹2,59,374 |
| 15 years | ₹1,80,094 | ₹2,39,656 | ₹3,17,217 | ₹4,17,725 |
| 18 years | ₹2,02,582 | ₹2,85,434 | ₹3,99,602 | ₹5,55,992 |
| 20 years | ₹2,19,112 | ₹3,20,714 | ₹4,66,096 | ₹6,72,750 |
| 25 years | ₹2,66,584 | ₹4,29,187 | ₹6,84,848 | ₹10,83,471 |
Read across for your goal: at 8% a year, costs roughly double every 9 years, so a ₹25 lakh course today is about ₹99.90 lakh when a newborn reaches 18. The latest CPI print (4.82%) is one year's change — use a range, not a point.
Child education goal calculator
| Cost today | Years | Future cost | SIP @ 10% | SIP @ 12% | 10% step-up start @ 12% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹10.00 lakh | 10 | ₹21,58,925 | ₹10,452 | ₹9,292 | ₹6,398 |
| ₹25.00 lakh | 15 | ₹79,30,423 | ₹18,976 | ₹15,717 | ₹9,132 |
| ₹25.00 lakh | 18 | ₹99,90,049 | ₹16,497 | ₹13,051 | ₹6,930 |
| ₹50.00 lakh | 15 | ₹1,58,60,846 | ₹37,951 | ₹31,434 | ₹18,265 |
| ₹50.00 lakh | 18 | ₹1,99,80,097 | ₹32,994 | ₹26,103 | ₹13,861 |
For a daughter, the Sukanya Samriddhi calculator shows a government-backed option (8.2% for Oct–Dec 2026) that can sit alongside an equity SIP. Shift the education corpus to debt over the last 3 years before admission.
Marriage goal calculator
| Budget today | Years | Future cost | SIP @ 7% (debt) | SIP @ 10% | SIP @ 12% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹10.00 lakh | 5 | ₹13,38,226 | ₹18,584 | ₹17,139 | ₹16,224 |
| ₹20.00 lakh | 5 | ₹26,76,451 | ₹37,167 | ₹34,277 | ₹32,447 |
| ₹20.00 lakh | 10 | ₹35,81,695 | ₹20,573 | ₹17,340 | ₹15,416 |
| ₹30.00 lakh | 10 | ₹53,72,543 | ₹30,860 | ₹26,011 | ₹23,124 |
| ₹30.00 lakh | 15 | ₹71,89,675 | ₹22,552 | ₹17,203 | ₹14,249 |
For a 5-year goal the 7% (debt / deposit) column is the realistic one; the equity columns suit 10+ years.
House down payment calculator
Banks lend only part of a property's value under RBI loan-to-value limits, so you pay the rest plus stamp duty and registration yourself. Saving for a 20% down payment, with property prices assumed to rise 5% a year and the money kept in lower-risk investments earning an assumed 7%:
| Property price today | Years | Down payment then | Monthly saving | Loan then (80%) | EMI @ 7.5%, 20 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹50.00 lakh | 3 | ₹11,57,625 | ₹28,823 | ₹46.31 lakh | ₹37,303 |
| ₹50.00 lakh | 5 | ₹12,76,282 | ₹17,724 | ₹51.05 lakh | ₹41,127 |
| ₹80.00 lakh | 5 | ₹20,42,051 | ₹28,358 | ₹81.68 lakh | ₹65,802 |
| ₹1.00 crore | 5 | ₹25,52,563 | ₹35,447 | ₹1.02 crore | ₹82,253 |
| ₹1.00 crore | 7 | ₹28,14,201 | ₹25,907 | ₹1.13 crore | ₹90,684 |
Check the EMI side with the home loan EMI calculator — it has current SBI, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank rates and a prepayment table. Keep the down-payment fund out of equity if you plan to buy within 3–5 years.
Flat SIP vs step-up SIP vs lumpsum
₹25 lakh education cost today, 15 years, 8% inflation, assumed 11% return:
Or invest a lumpsum of about ₹16,57,493 today. The flat SIP puts in ₹31,10,935 over 15 years for a goal of ₹79,30,423.
Goal calculator formula
Future cost = C × (1 + i)^n · SIP = (Future cost − existing × (1 + R)^n) ÷ [((1 + r)^(12n) − 1) ÷ r × (1 + r)]
- C = cost today, i = inflation, n = years
- R = assumed annual return, r = R ÷ 12 (SIP paid at the start of each month)
Which investments suit which goal horizon
| Time to goal | Typical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 years | Savings, FDs, RDs, liquid / short-duration debt funds | Capital safety matters more than return |
| 3–7 years | Mix of debt and hybrid / equity funds | Some growth, limited drawdown risk |
| 7+ years | Mostly equity mutual fund SIPs, shifting to debt near the date | Time to ride out market falls |
Compare safe options in the SIP vs FD vs PPF guide. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks; read all scheme-related documents carefully.
Frequently asked questions
How does a goal calculator work?
It inflates today's cost of the goal to the year you need the money — future cost = cost today × (1 + inflation)^years — subtracts what your existing savings will grow to, and then finds the monthly SIP (or one-time lumpsum) that would reach the gap at an assumed return. All returns are assumptions; equity returns are not guaranteed.
What inflation rate should I use for child education?
India's CPI inflation for August 2026 was 4.82% and the education-services sub-index rose 3.73% year on year (MoSPI, base 2024=100). One year's print is not a long-run rate, and private college fees can rise much faster than the index, so many planners test 7%–10% for education. This page shows scenarios from 4% to 10% so you can see the range rather than rely on one number.
How much SIP is needed for ₹25 lakh of education cost 15 years from now?
If the course costs ₹25 lakh today and fees rise 8% a year, it will cost about ₹79,30,423 in 15 years. At an assumed 11% return, that needs a SIP of about ₹17,283 a month, or about ₹9,876 to start if you raise the SIP 10% every year. Illustration, not a forecast.
How much should I save monthly for marriage in 10 years?
For a ₹20 lakh wedding budget in today's money at 6% inflation, you need about ₹35,81,695 in 10 years — about ₹17,340 a month at an assumed 10% return. Move the money to lower-risk debt funds or deposits in the last 2–3 years.
Should I use equity for a goal less than 5 years away?
Usually not. Equity can fall 20%–40% in a bad year and may not recover before a short deadline. For goals under about 3–5 years, deposits, RDs or debt funds are more suitable even though the expected return is lower; use equity mainly for goals 7+ years away and shift to safer assets as the date approaches.
What is a step-up SIP and why use it for goals?
A step-up SIP raises the monthly amount by a fixed percentage every year, in line with salary growth. It lets you start smaller: for the education example above, a 10% yearly step-up cuts the starting SIP by roughly 40%. Try different step-ups in the step-up SIP calculator.
Educational tool only — not investment, tax or legal advice. Figures are formula-based illustrations using the stated assumptions; actual outcomes depend on notified rates, rules and your specific facts. Verify with official sources or a qualified professional before acting. Findost (findost.io) and PaisaGuru by Findost are not affiliated with Findoc, FinDost, or other similarly named brands. PaisaGuru is the AI wealth concierge of Findost.