Goal planning calculator

Enter what the goal costs today, the years to it, the inflation a year and the return expected on the investment. The page returns the future cost, the monthly SIP needed, a one-time sum that would reach the same cost, and the total paid in through the SIP. A SIP, or systematic investment plan, is a fixed amount invested every month.

Future cost is the cost today multiplied by (1 + inflation) raised to the number of years. Monthly SIP is the future cost divided by what ₹1 put in at the start of every month would grow to by the goal date at the monthly rate. The monthly rate is the yearly return divided by 12. The one-time sum is the future cost divided by (1 + return) raised to the number of years.

The page opens with a goal costing ₹20,00,000 today, 10 years away, with 6% inflation and a 12% return. The future cost is ₹20,00,000 × 1.06 to the power 10, which is ₹35,81,695. The monthly SIP that grows to that sum in 120 months is ₹15,416, and one sum invested today would need to be ₹11,53,210. Changing one input shows the effect: five more years lowers the monthly SIP, as does a higher return or slower inflation.

The Reserve Bank of India works to a consumer price inflation level of 4%, with a tolerance band of 2% to 6%. The government kept this framework for 1 Apr 2026 to 31 Mar 2031. The calculator accepts inflation from 1% to 15% a year, so any rate can be tested, and costs such as education or medical care can rise faster than the general index.

Inflation and return are held steady for the whole period, while real markets move year to year. Taxes, fund expenses and exit charges are not deducted. The SIP is assumed to run without a break at the same amount every month. The result is arithmetic on the inputs entered, not a forecast of any fund's return.