Tools To India
Women & ChildCentral schemeLaunched 2015

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana — Savings Scheme for a Girl Child

A government small savings scheme for a girl child under ten, currently paying one of the highest notified small savings rates, with fully tax-free interest and maturity.

Administered by Ministry of Finance — administered through India Post and authorised banks.

Last updated

Official source last verified 9 August 2026

At a glance

Current interest rate
8.2% a year, compounded yearly
Minimum deposit
₹250 in a financial year
Maximum deposit
₹1,50,000 in a financial year
Account opened for
A girl child below the age of 10
Tax treatment
Exempt-exempt-exempt — deposit, interest and maturity
Where to open
Any post office or authorised bank branch

Who this scheme is for

  • Parents or legal guardians of a girl child who is below ten years of age.
  • Families wanting a long-term, government-backed, tax-free savings pool earmarked for a daughter’s education or marriage.

Benefits

  • One of the highest interest rates among notified small savings schemes, currently 8.2% a year compounded annually.
  • Deposits qualify for deduction under section 80C, up to the overall ₹1.5 lakh limit, under the old tax regime.
  • Interest credited each year and the amount received at maturity are both entirely tax-free.
  • Government-backed, so there is no credit risk on the deposit.
  • The account is in the girl’s name, and she operates it herself once she turns eighteen.

Eligibility

  • The account may be opened for a girl child who has not attained the age of ten years.
  • It is opened and operated by a parent or legal guardian until the girl turns eighteen.
  • Only one account is permitted per girl child.
  • A family may open accounts for up to two daughters. Relaxations apply for twins or triplets in the circumstances set out in the scheme rules.

Documents required

  • Birth certificate of the girl child — mandatory
  • Identity and address proof of the parent or guardian, such as Aadhaar and PAN
  • Photograph of the girl child and of the depositor
  • The completed account opening form, available at the post office or bank
  • Where twins or triplets are involved, the medical certificate required by the scheme rules

How to apply

  1. Visit any post office or a branch of an authorised bank.
  2. Ask for the Sukanya Samriddhi account opening form and complete it in the girl child’s name.
  3. Attach the birth certificate along with identity and address proof of the parent or guardian.
  4. Make the initial deposit — a minimum of ₹250.
  5. Collect the passbook, which records every deposit and the interest credited each year.
  6. Deposits can subsequently be made in cash, by cheque, by demand draft or electronically where the bank or post office supports it.
National Savings Institute — small savings schemesThe official portal for this scheme.https://www.nsiindia.gov.in/(opens the official website in a new tab)India Post — post office savings schemesApply directly on the official portal.https://www.indiapost.gov.in/banking-services/savings(opens the official website in a new tab)

How long the account runs

The account requires deposits for fifteen years from the date of opening. It then continues to earn interest without further deposits until it matures, twenty-one years from the date of opening.

That six-year gap is often missed. Money left in the account after year fifteen keeps compounding at the notified rate without any further contribution, which is a meaningful part of the final maturity value.

How long the account runs
StageWhat happens
Years 1 to 15Deposits required — at least ₹250 and at most ₹1,50,000 each financial year
Years 16 to 21No further deposits needed; the balance continues to earn interest
At age 18The girl may operate the account herself; partial withdrawal for higher education becomes possible
Year 21The account matures and the full balance is paid out, tax-free

Withdrawal and premature closure

  • Partial withdrawal of up to half the balance at the end of the preceding financial year is permitted once the girl turns eighteen or passes the tenth standard, for higher education, on production of the admission or fee documents.
  • The account may be closed after the girl turns eighteen if she is getting married, with closure permitted in the window around the marriage date specified in the rules.
  • Premature closure is otherwise allowed only in defined circumstances such as the death of the account holder or on compassionate grounds specified in the scheme rules.
  • If the minimum ₹250 is not deposited in a financial year, the account becomes a default account. It can be regularised by paying the arrears along with the prescribed penalty for each defaulted year.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current Sukanya Samriddhi interest rate?
The scheme currently pays 8.2% a year, compounded annually — among the highest of the notified small savings rates. The rate is reviewed and notified quarterly by the Ministry of Finance and applies to the entire balance, not only to new deposits.
How much can I deposit each year?
A minimum of ₹250 and a maximum of ₹1,50,000 in a financial year. Deposits are required for the first fifteen years from opening. Falling below the minimum makes the account a default account, which can be regularised by paying the arrears with a penalty.
When does the account mature?
Twenty-one years from the date of opening. Deposits are only required for the first fifteen years; the balance then continues to earn interest for the remaining six years without any further contribution.
Is the interest taxable?
No. The scheme has exempt-exempt-exempt treatment: deposits qualify for section 80C under the old regime, the interest credited each year is tax-free, and the maturity amount is tax-free. Under the new regime the 80C deduction is unavailable, but the interest and maturity remain exempt.
How many accounts can one family open?
One account per girl child, and up to two accounts per family. Relaxations apply where twins or triplets are born, in the circumstances and on the documentation set out in the scheme rules.
Can the money be withdrawn early?
Partial withdrawal of up to half the previous year’s closing balance is allowed for higher education once the girl turns eighteen or completes the tenth standard. The account can be closed on her marriage after eighteen, within the window the rules specify. Other premature closure is permitted only in defined circumstances.

Official sources

Every figure on this page is traceable to the official source below. If a source has changed since the date shown, please tell us and we will correct it.