Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana 2026: Benefits, Interest & Rules

In today’s world, whether it’s your daughter’s higher education or her wedding, expenses are constantly rising. In such a situation, every parent’s dream is to give their daughter the best life, but you know that without proper financial planning, this is difficult. This is where the government-created Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) comes in.

Let me tell you, this scheme isn’t just a savings account; it’s a gift from the Government of India that gives daughters financial independence. You get much higher interest than with a bank FD or RD, and the best part is that your money is 100% safe. If you also want to secure and build a large fund for your daughter, this guide will be very helpful, so be sure to read it to the end.

What is the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is part of the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign run by the Indian government, which is specifically designed with the future expenses of the girl child in mind. It is a long-term small savings scheme where you can invest a little each year to easily accumulate a substantial sum for your daughter’s expenses by the time she turns 21.

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government-backed scheme that is opened for daughters under the age of 10. It offers an attractive interest rate of 8.2% (for the current quarter) and also provides a tax deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Its maturity period is 21 years.

The biggest feature of this scheme is its ‘EEE’ (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) status. This means that the money you deposit, the interest you earn, and the maturity amount are all completely tax-free.

What is the eligibility to open an SSY account?

Before Sukanya Samriddhi Account opening, it’s very important to know some basic rules. So, let’s understand them easily in a simple table format:

Criteria	Details
Daughter’s age	Under 10 years (from birth to 10 years)
Who can open it?	Parents or Legal Guardian
Residency	Only Indian citizens (this is not for NRIs)
Number of Accounts	Only one account per daughter (Max 2 accounts per family)
Exception Case	In the case of twins or triplets, there can be more than two accounts.

Please note: If your daughter is over 10 years old, you will not be able to open this account. So open the account as soon as possible to take advantage of the compounding. You can easily open this account at any Post Office or authorized commercial bank like SBI, ICICI, HDFC, or any other bank.

For this, you just have to fill out a simple form and bring your daughter’s birth certificate with you. If you think that saving 250 rupees a month won’t do anything, then you are completely wrong! Because a small start is what grows into a fund worth lakhs in the future.

Here, you can visit the Government of India’s National Savings Institute website to check the official circulars and interest rate history, which fully confirms the authenticity of this scheme.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Interest Rate 2026 and Calculation

When making any investment, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is, “What will the return be?” As for the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana interest rate for 2026, it is currently around 8.2%. The government reviews it every quarter, every three months, but for the past few years, it has been the highest-yielding scheme compared to all other small savings schemes.

You get the tremendous benefit of compounding. This means that the interest you earn is also earned on the interest itself.

SSY Calculator: How Much Money Will You Get in 15 Years?

Let’s understand this with a simple calculation. If you invest ₹1,00,000 every year, i.e., about ₹8,333 per month, then after depositing money for 15 years, what returns will you get at maturity in 21 years?

Investment Details	Amount (Estimated)
Yearly Deposit	₹1,00,000
Total Investment (15 Years)	₹15,00,000
Estimated Interest (8.2%)	~₹29,80,000
Total Maturity Value (at 21 Years)	~₹44,80,000

Note: These figures may fluctuate slightly when interest rates change.

Want to check the exact maturity amount for your daughter? You can use our Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Calculator and in just 2 seconds find out how much return you’ll get on your investment at maturity.

Here’s the key point: you only have to deposit money for 15 years, but you’ll continue to receive interest for the full 21 years.

Amazing Benefits of SSY You Should Know

Not only does it offer high interest, but the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana also has several other benefits that make it the first choice for parents:

• Triple Tax Benefit (EEE): First, the money you deposit (up to ₹1.5 Lakh) is eligible for a tax deduction. Second, the interest you earn is completely tax-free. Third, you don’t have to pay any tax on the maturity amount.
• Guaranteed Returns: This scheme is from the Government of India, so it is not affected by stock market fluctuations. Your money remains completely safe here.
• Affordability: You can start investing with a minimum of ₹250 per year. If you ever face financial difficulties, you can deposit a smaller amount; the maximum limit is ₹150,000 per year.
• Future Lock-in: The money is locked in the daughter’s name, ensuring it is used only for her education or marriage.

Step-by-Step: How to Open an SSY Account?

The process of opening an account is very simple. For this, you can go to any Post Office or an authorized bank near your home, such as SBI, PNB, ICICI, Axis, etc.

Steps to open an account:

• Get the Form: Get the SSY Application Form from a bank or post office.
• Attach Documents: Attach photocopies of the documents listed below with the form.
• Make Deposit: Make the first deposit by cash, check, or draft, starting with a minimum of ₹250.
• Receive Passbook: After everything is verified, you will receive a passbook that will record all your transactions.

Required Documents Checklist:

• Daughter’s Birth Certificate (Mandatory).
• Parent/Guardian’s Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card).
• Address Proof (Ration card, Voter ID, or electricity bill).
• Passport-size photos of the daughter and parent.

Withdrawal and Maturity Rules: When Can You Withdraw Money?

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a long-term scheme, so its withdrawal rules are a bit strict to ensure the girl’s corpus remains safe. However, the government has provided some relaxations for the girl’s higher education, which are as follows:

• Partial Withdrawal Rules for SSY (for Education): When the girl turns 18 or passes the 10th standard, you can withdraw up to 50% of the balance for her higher education. For this, you need to show admission confirmation or a fee slip.
• Full Maturity (21 Years): After 21 years from the date of opening, the account matures and the entire amount, along with interest, is paid to the daughter.
• Closure for Marriage: If the daughter is 18 years old and getting married, you can have the account closed before it matures. For this, you must submit an application one month before or up to three months after the wedding.

Common Doubts and Mistakes You Should Avoid

Many people open an account, but due to these small mistakes, their account gets ‘Defaulted’. So, let’s find out which mistakes you should avoid:

• Forgetting the Minimum Deposit: It is very important to deposit at least ₹250 every year. If you don’t, your account will be frozen. To reactivate it, you have to pay a ₹50 penalty.
• Exceeding the Maximum Limit: Do not deposit more than ₹1.5 Lakh in a year, because no interest is paid on the extra amount and it is only refunded.
• Address Change: If you get transferred to another city, don’t worry! You can easily transfer your SSY account to any Post Office or Bank branch in India without any charges.

Conclusion: Get Started Today!

Friends, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is not just an investment; it’s the foundation for your daughter’s dreams. With an 8.2% interest rate and tax benefits, it’s one of the best schemes on the market. If you haven’t opened the account yet, go to your nearest Post Office or bank today and make your daughter’s future bright with a small savings.

Frequently Asked Questions