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Every parent dreams of securing their daughter’s education and marriage expenses. To help families achieve this goal, the Government of India launched the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) in 2015. The scheme, introduced under the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative, continues to be one of the most rewarding and tax-efficient long-term savings plans for girl children in India.

Currently, the government is offering an 8.2% annual interest rate for the October–December 2025 quarter — one of the highest returns among small savings schemes.

What Is the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a government-backed savings scheme designed to promote financial security for the girl child. Parents or legal guardians can open an SSY account in the name of a girl aged 10 years or below.

The account allows annual deposits between ₹250 and ₹1.5 lakh. The investment period lasts for 15 years, but the account remains active for 21 years from the date of opening. During this time, the balance continues to earn interest even after the investment period ends.

This makes SSY an excellent option for long-term wealth creation, ideal for meeting future goals like higher education or marriage.

How Much Can You Earn?

Let’s consider an example.
If parents open an SSY account when their daughter is 5 years old and invest ₹1.5 lakh annually for 15 years, they would have contributed a total of ₹22.5 lakh.

At the current 8.2% average annual interest rate, the total corpus after 21 years could grow to around ₹70 lakh.

However, it’s important to remember that inflation affects the real value of money. Assuming an average inflation rate of 6% per year, ₹70 lakh in 2046 would be worth roughly ₹20–22 lakh in today’s terms — still a significant amount of financial support for your child’s future.

Who Can Open an SSY Account?

The rules for opening an SSY account are simple and inclusive:

• It can be opened only for a girl child below 10 years of age.

• Only one account is allowed per girl.

• A family can open up to two accounts if they have two daughters.

• In the case of twins or triplets, additional accounts can be opened under special provisions.

The account can be opened at any authorized bank or India Post branch across the country.

Account Rules and Maintenance

To keep the account active, a minimum deposit of ₹250 per year is mandatory.
Failure to do so will mark the account as “defaulted.” To reactivate it, the depositor must pay the pending amount plus a penalty of ₹50 per year within the 15-year deposit window.

The SSY account can be operated only by parents or legal guardians. Grandparents can manage the account only if they are officially recognized as legal guardians. If not, the account must be transferred to the child’s rightful guardian.

Tax Benefits and Safety

One of the biggest advantages of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is its tax-free status under the old tax regime.
The principal amount, interest earned, and maturity proceeds are all exempt from tax under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

Since it’s a government-backed scheme, the investment is completely safe and guaranteed, unlike market-linked products. This makes it particularly suitable for conservative investors seeking stable long-term growth.

What Happens If the Girl Marries Early?

If the girl gets married before turning 21, the account will be closed prematurely as per government guidelines. The full maturity amount, including accumulated interest, will be paid out to the account holder at that time.

Why You Should Consider SSY

With its high interest rate, sovereign guarantee, and triple tax exemption, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana stands out as one of India’s most attractive savings schemes for families with daughters.

Regular investment not only instills financial discipline but also ensures that parents are well-prepared for future expenses without relying on loans or risky investments.

For parents planning ahead, SSY is a safe, structured, and goal-oriented way to build a financial cushion for their daughter’s bright future.