In today's world, raising a child, especially ensuring quality education and financial security for a daughter, often comes with significant expenses. To ease this burden and encourage savings for girls’ futures, the Indian government introduced the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) in 2015 under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative.
This government-backed small savings scheme allows parents to build a dedicated fund for their girl child through regular yearly or monthly deposits — while also availing tax benefits under the old tax regime. For the October to December 2025 quarter, SSY offers an interest rate of 8.2%, among the highest across small savings instruments.
All we know about the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
The account can be opened for a girl child aged 10 years or below.
Minimum yearly deposit: ₹250
Maximum yearly deposit: ₹1.5 lakh
Deposits can be made for 15 years from the date of opening.
The account matures after 21 years.
If the girl marries before 21 years, the account is closed.
Backed by sovereign guarantee and tax benefits, SSY remains one of the safest long-term investments for a girl child’s education and marriage expenses.
Eligibility and rules for the account
To open an SSY account, the girl must be below 10 years of age. The scheme is meant to help parents or guardians systematically save for her higher education and marriage.
What limitations will you face?
- Only one account per girl child is allowed.
- A family can open up to two accounts for two different daughters.
- In special cases such as twins or triplets, more than two accounts can be opened under specific conditions.
- Annual deposit rules:
A minimum deposit of ₹250 per financial year is mandatory to keep the account active.
Failure to deposit this amount results in the account becoming “defaulted.”
A defaulted account can be revived by paying the pending minimum deposit plus a penalty of ₹50 per year of default, within 15 years of opening the account.
Who can operate the account?
As per the Department of Posts’ circular (dated August 21, 2024), only the girl’s natural parents or legal guardians can manage the SSY account.
If an account is opened by grandparents or others who are not legal guardians, it must be transferred to the rightful guardian — either the parents or a court-appointed legal guardian.
How much can you expect after 21 years?
If parents invest ₹1.5 lakh every year starting when their daughter is five years old, the total contribution over 15 years will be ₹22.5 lakh. At an average interest rate of 8.2%, this investment could grow to nearly ₹70 lakh by the time the account matures in 2042.
However, it’s important to consider inflation. Assuming an average inflation rate of 6% per year, the purchasing power of ₹70 lakh in 2046 would be roughly equivalent to ₹20–22 lakh in today’s terms.
Why SSY remains a wise choice
While inflation may erode some of the returns over two decades, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana continues to stand out for its risk-free returns, tax exemptions, and government backing — making it one of the most reliable long-term savings plans for parents planning their daughter’s future.
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