| Feature | Details | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Girl child below 10 years | Long-term planning |
| Minimum Investment | ₹250 per year | Affordable for all |
| Maximum Investment | ₹1.5 lakh per year | Maximum tax benefit |
| Interest Rate | 7.6% (Q4 FY25) | Competitive returns |
| Maturity | 21 years from opening | Long-term growth |
| Partial Withdrawal | 50% after 18 years | Education expenses |
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a government-backed savings scheme specifically designed for the girl child. Parents or legal guardians can open this account for daughters below 10 years of age. The scheme offers attractive interest rates (typically 8-8.5% per annum), tax deduction under Section 80C, tax-free interest, and completely tax-free maturity. It's one of the best options for daughters' education or marriage expenses.
For FY 2025-26, SSY accounts can be opened at post offices or designated banks with minimum ₹250 deposit and maximum ₹1.5 lakh per year. The account matures when the girl turns 21, or you can withdraw 50% of balance after she turns 18 for higher education or marriage expenses. The interest rate is reviewed quarterly by the government and is usually one of the highest among small savings schemes. All contributions qualify for Section 80C deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh, interest is tax-free, and maturity amount is completely tax-free.
Our Sukanya Samriddhi calculator helps you see how much corpus you'll build by making regular contributions till maturity. For example, investing ₹12,500 per month (₹1.5 lakh annually) for a 1-year-old girl till she's 21 years old can build nearly ₹60-70 lakh corpus. This can fund her higher education, career expenses, or marriage. The triple tax benefit makes it better than many other options for long-term savings.
SSY should be part of your overall Section 80C tax planning strategy. You can combine it with other investments like PPF for your own retirement and SIPs for wealth creation. Remember, SSY has long lock-in (21 years or till 18 years with conditions), so it's best for very long-term goals. For other children or if daughter is above 10 years, consider other tax-saving options.
For SSY rules, account opening procedure, and withdrawal conditions, check the Post Office website at India Post official website or the Small Savings schemes portal which explains eligibility, documentation required, and partial withdrawal rules for Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
Parents or legal guardians can open an SSY account for a girl child below 10 years of age. Only one account per girl child is allowed.
Minimum investment is ₹250 per year, and maximum is ₹1.5 lakh per year. You can invest any amount between these limits.
Partial withdrawal of up to 50% of the balance is allowed after the girl child turns 18, for education expenses. Full maturity is at 21 years.
The interest rate is reviewed quarterly by the government. Current rate is 7.6% for Q4 FY 2024-25. It's generally competitive with other government schemes.
You can make up for missed investments in subsequent years. However, you need to pay a penalty of ₹50 per year for missed payments to keep the account active.