What is Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a government savings scheme for a daughter's future. It pays 8.2% per annum, compounded annually (Q2 FY 2026-27, July to September 2026), which is the joint-highest small-savings rate in India. The tax treatment is fully exempt at every stage: deposits qualify under 80C in the old regime, and both the interest and the maturity amount are tax-free.
The Scheme Rules
You can open an account for a girl child below 10, with a maximum of two accounts per family (twins are an exception). You deposit between ₹250 and ₹1.5 lakh per financial year, but only for the first 15 years of the account. The account matures 21 years from opening, and in years 16 to 21 it keeps earning interest with no fresh deposits needed. After the girl turns 18, up to 50% of the balance can be withdrawn for her education, and the account can be closed for her marriage.
What the Numbers Look Like
Deposit ₹1.5 lakh at the start of each year for 15 years at 8.2%, and the account grows to roughly ₹71 to 72 lakh at maturity in year 21, from about ₹22.5 lakh deposited. All of the gain is tax-free. The rate resets quarterly, so your actual maturity depends on future announcements.
How Timing Affects Your Return
Open the account early, because the 21-year clock runs from the opening date, not from her age. An account opened when she is 1 matures when she is 22, right around higher-education or marriage expenses. Deposit before 5 April each year, or before the 5th of the month if you deposit monthly, since SSY credits interest on the lowest balance between the 5th and month-end, just like PPF. When she turns 18, the account's operation transfers to her.
How SSY Fits in a Child's Education Plan
SSY's guaranteed, tax-free 8.2% makes it the natural anchor of a daughter's education corpus. Its limits are the deposit cap and the lock-in until she turns 18. A structure many parents use: SSY for around 60% to 70% of the goal, and an equity SIP for the rest, moving the SIP gains into safe instruments as the education date approaches. If you want the same tax treatment without the girl-child restriction, PPF offers it at 7.1%.