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Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA/SSY)

The highest-rate small-savings scheme — for a girl child's education and marriage.

8.2% p.a.EEE — fully tax-free

What is SSA?

Sukanya Samriddhi is a government scheme for a girl child, and it currently carries the highest rate of any small-savings scheme at 8.2%. A parent/guardian opens it for a girl under 10, deposits for 15 years, and the account matures 21 years after opening. Like PPF it is EEE — every rupee of deposit, interest and maturity is tax-free — which makes it a powerful, safe way to fund a daughter's higher education or marriage.

Interest rate
8.2% p.a. (compounded yearly)
Eligibility
Girl child below 10 years
Deposit
₹250 min · ₹1.5 lakh max per year, for 15 years
Maturity
21 years from opening (or on marriage after 18)
Tax
EEE — deposit (80C), interest & maturity all tax-free

Calculate

₹
₹250₹1,50,000

Max ₹1.5 lakh per year

% p.a.
1 % p.a.15 % p.a.

Government-set rate · Q2 FY2026-27 (Jul–Sep 2026). Reviewed each quarter.

Maturity value
₹71.82 L
after 21 years
You invest
₹22.50 L
Interest earned
₹49.32 L

Indicative only. Uses a level rate you can see above; a bank/post office may differ by a few rupees due to day-count, minimum-balance and compounding conventions. Rate as of Q2 FY2026-27 (Jul–Sep 2026), reviewed quarterly.

Rate verified (Q2 FY2026-27 (Jul–Sep 2026)) from Finance Ministry / National Savings Institute — small-savings rates, Jul–Sep 2026

SSA — The Complete Guide

19 questions answered — everything from eligibility and HUF/NRI rules to tax, withdrawals and edge cases.

The basics

What is the Sukanya Samriddhi scheme?
Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA), launched under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, is a government savings scheme exclusively for a girl child. A parent/guardian deposits for 15 years, the balance compounds at the highest small-savings rate, and it matures 21 years after opening — designed to fund a daughter's higher education and marriage.
Why does everyone call it the "best" small-savings scheme?
Because it combines the highest rate of any small-savings scheme (8.2% today) with full EEE tax-free status and a sovereign guarantee. Very few safe products offer all three. The catch: the money is locked for a long time and is meant for one specific purpose.

Interest & returns

What is the current interest rate?
Sukanya Samriddhi pays 8.2% per annum for the Jul–Sep 2026 quarter, compounded annually — the joint-highest small-savings rate (level with SCSS). Like all small-savings schemes the rate is reviewed every quarter.
Is 8.2% locked for the whole term?
No. The rate is reset every quarter by the government, so your effective return will move with future announcements over the ~21 years. Our calculator assumes a level 8.2% — treat the maturity figure as indicative.

Who is eligible

Who can open the account, and by when?
A parent or legal guardian opens it in the name of a girl child before she turns 10. The girl must be a resident of India. Only one account is allowed per girl.
For how many girls can a family open accounts?
Up to two girl children per family. A third account is allowed if the second birth results in twins/triplets, or if the first birth itself is twins/triplets (with the required certificate).
Can I open one for an adopted daughter?
Yes — a legally adopted girl child qualifies just like a biological daughter, provided she is below 10 at the time of opening and the legal adoption documents are in place.
What if the girl becomes an NRI later?
The account is for resident girls. If the girl becomes an NRI or changes citizenship after opening, the guardian must inform the bank/post office; interest stops from the date of the status change and the account is treated as closed from then.

Opening & deposits

Where and how do I open it?
At any post office or authorised bank branch, with the girl's birth certificate, the guardian's KYC (ID + address), and a photograph. A minimum of ₹250 opens the account.
What are the deposit limits?
Minimum ₹250 and maximum ₹1.5 lakh in a financial year (in multiples of ₹50). You can deposit in one shot or across the year. Any excess over ₹1.5 lakh is returned without interest.
How long do I have to deposit?
Deposits are made for 15 years from the opening date. After that, no fresh deposits are needed — the balance simply keeps earning interest until the account matures at 21 years.
What if I miss the minimum deposit in a year?
The account becomes a "default" account. You can regularise it by paying ₹250 for each defaulted year plus a ₹50 penalty per year. Even a defaulted account keeps earning interest at the scheme rate.

Tax treatment

What are the tax benefits?
Fully EEE: deposits qualify for Section 80C (old regime), and both the annual interest and the maturity amount are completely tax-free. This triple exemption is the same enjoyed by PPF and makes SSA extremely tax-efficient.

Withdrawals & maturity

When can I withdraw for education?
Once the girl turns 18 OR passes the 10th standard (whichever is earlier), up to 50% of the balance at the end of the preceding financial year can be withdrawn for her higher education, on producing admission/fee proof. It can be taken as a lump sum or in instalments over up to five years.
When does the account mature?
On completion of 21 years from the date of opening. The full balance with interest is paid, tax-free. Deposits are only required for the first 15 years; the remaining years continue to earn interest.
Can it be closed early for marriage?
Yes — premature closure is allowed for the girl's marriage, but only after she turns 18, and the request must be made within a window around the marriage (typically one month before to three months after), with an age-proof declaration.
Are there other premature-closure grounds?
Yes — on the unfortunate death of the account holder (girl), or on compassionate grounds such as a life-threatening illness of the girl or the death of the guardian, the account can be closed early with the balance paid to the beneficiary.

Good to know

Can the account be transferred?
Yes — it can be transferred free of cost anywhere in India (e.g. if the family relocates) between post offices and authorised banks. The account continues as the same account; ownership stays with the girl.
Who operates the account after the girl turns 18?
Once the girl attains majority (18), she can operate the account herself on submitting her KYC documents — it moves from the guardian's operation to hers.

Related tools & guides

Sukanya planner Child education planner PPF

Educational information only, not investment advice. Interest rates for government small-savings schemes are set by the Government of India and reviewed every quarter; bank FD/RD rates vary by bank and tenure. Figures are indicative — confirm the current rate and rules with the bank/post office before investing. Calculator results are for illustration purposes only. Actual returns may vary based on market conditions, fund performance, and other factors.

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