1. What is Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
In English:
The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government-backed savings scheme launched as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative, designed to encourage parents or legal guardians to save for the future education and marriage of their girl child.
हिंदी में:
सुकन्या समृद्धि योजना (SSY) एक सरकारी बचत योजना है, जो “बेटी बचाओ-बेटी पढ़ाओ” अभियान के अंतर्गत शुरू की गई है। इसका उद्देश्य माता-पिता या कानूनी अभिभावकों को अपनी बेटी के शिक्षा तथा विवाह के लिए बचत करने के लिए प्रेरित करना है।
2. Key Features of the Scheme
Eligibility / पात्रता
- The account must be opened for a girl child who is resident Indian and aged below 10 years at time of opening.
- Only one account per girl child. A family can open for up to two girl children; exceptions apply for twins/triplets in first/second birth order.
- Can be opened in Post Offices or designated banks.
Investment & Tenure / निवेश एवं अवधि
- Minimum deposit: ₹ 250 in a financial year.
- Maximum deposit: ₹ 1.5 lakh in a financial year.
- Deposits can be made for up to 15 years from the date of account opening.
- Matures after 21 years from the date of opening (or on marriage of the girl after she turns 18, whichever is earlier) under certain conditions.
Tax & Interest Benefits
- Deposits qualify for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
- Interest earned and maturity proceeds are tax‐free. (“EEE” status: Exempt-Exempt-Exempt)
3. Current Interest Rate / वर्तमान ब्याज दर
- As per the India Post Payments Bank/Post Office rates, the SSY interest rate from 01.01.2024 is 8.2% p.a., compounded annually.
- As per ClearTax update, for Oct-Dec 2025 quarter the rate is also 8.2%.
Note: Rates are subject to change quarterly by Government of India; always check latest notification.
4. How to Apply & Open an Account / आवेदन कैसे करें
In English:
- Visit a participating Post Office or authorised bank branch.
- Fill the application (Form 1) and submit required documents: birth certificate of the girl child, identity/address proof of guardian, KYC documents.
- Make the first deposit (minimum ₹ 250). Choose to deposit in multiples of ₹50.
- Maintain at least the minimum deposit each year (₹ 250) until 15 years of deposit period is over.
- After opening, you can transfer the SSY account across banks/Post Offices if needed.
हिंदी में:
- नजदीकी डाकघर या अनुमोदित बैंक शाखा में जाएँ।
- आवेदन फॉर्म भरें, निम्न दस्तावेज़ प्रस्तुत करें: बेटी का जन्म प्रमाणपत्र, अभिभावक की पहचान/पता प्रमाण आदि।
- प्रथम जमा राशि करें (न्यूनतम ₹ 250) और जमा राशि ₹50 के गुणक में हो सकती है।
- हर वित्तीय वर्ष में कम-से-कम न्यूनतम राशि जमा करें ताकि खाता सक्रिय बना रहे।
- यदि चाहें तो बैंक/डाकघर के बीच खाता ट्रांसफर किया जा सकता है।
5. What are the Benefits? / लाभ
In English:
- Attractive interest rate (8.2% currently) which is higher than many fixed savings schemes.
- Government-backed, safe investment for the future of girl child.
- Triple tax benefit: deduction on deposits, tax-free interest, tax-free maturity.
- Long term horizon helps build a sizable corpus for education or marriage of the girl child.
- Partial withdrawal allowed after girl turns 18 (or passes class 10) for higher education/marriage up to 50% of balance.
हिंदी में:
- आकर्षक ब्याज दर – वर्तमान में लगभग 8.2% – जो कि अन्य बचत योजनाओं की तुलना में बेहतर है।
- सरकार द्वारा समर्थित योजना, इसलिए निवेश सुरक्षित है।
- ट्रिपल टैक्स लाभ: जमा राशि पर कटौती (80C), ब्याज और परिपक्वता राशि पर टैक्स नहीं।
- लंबी अवधि वाला निवेश: बेटी की शिक्षा या विवाह के लिए पर्याप्त राशि जुटाने में मदद।
- बेटी 18 वर्ष की आयु प्राप्त करने के बाद उच्च शिक्षा या विवाह हेतु 50% तक आंशिक निकासी की अनुमति।
6. Things to Keep in Mind / महत्वपूर्ण बातें
- If minimum deposit (₹ 250) is not made in any financial year, account will be considered in default, and penalty (₹ 50 per year) applies.
- Deposits are allowed only up to 15 years from account opening. After that you cannot deposit further but the account continues to earn interest until maturity.
- Premature closure allowed only under special cases (marriage of girl after 18, death of account holder, etc) and may lead to lower interest.
- Since rates may be revised, always check the latest notification from the government or Post Office official site.
7. Useful Links / उपयोगी लिंक्स
- Official scheme page by National Savings Institute: https://www.nsiindia.gov.in/InternalPage.aspx?Id_Pk=89
- Post Office savings schemes interest rate page: https://www.indiapost.gov.in/banking-services/saving
8. Conclusion / निष्कर्ष
Investing in the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a smart way to secure your daughter’s future—be it for her higher education or marriage. With a strong interest rate, tax advantages, and the backing of the government, SSY offers a disciplined savings route. यह योजना बेटी के उज्जवल भविष्य के लिए सुरक्षित और लाभ-प्रद विकल्प है।
यदि आप इस योजना को लेकर आगे की गणना करना चाहें (मिसाल के लिए, कितनी राशि जमा करनी है, 21 वर्ष बाद कितना मिलेगा), तो हम एक मात्रा-मूलक मॉडल तथा कैलक्युलेटर भी बना सकते हैं। चाहें तो वो भी कर सकते हैं।