There are limits on the amount of money that you can withdraw from the account.

As per the PPF scheme rules, a person can withdraw lower of the following:
a) 50 per cent of the balance available at the end of fourth year immediately preceding the year of withdrawal; or
b) 50 per cent of the balance stood at the end of the preceding year

For instance, if your PPF account was opened during the financial year 2011-12 and if you visit the branch any day during FY2017-18 to apply for a loan, then the amount you are eligible will be calculated as:

If there is any loan taken by the subscriber earlier which remains unpaid at the time of withdrawal, then it will be subtracted from the withdrawal amount he/she is eligible for. Further, this facility is available only once a year.

Premature closure of PPF account
As per earlier rules, a PPF account could not be closed before maturity of 15 years. However, the government, by amending the Public Provident Fund Act in 2016, has allowed premature closure if either of these conditions are met:

a) The account must have completed five financial years and,
b) The amount is required for the treatment of serious ailments or life-threatening disease of the account holder, spouse, dependent children or parents, or,
c) For higher education of account holder or in case of a minor account holder.