Maturity amount · Interest earned · Year-wise growth · EEE tax benefits · Smart Insights
Disclaimer: SSY interest rate of 8.2% p.a. is as notified by the Ministry of Finance for Q1 FY 2026-27 (April–June 2026). Rate is reviewed quarterly; actual returns may vary if the rate changes. Calculations use annual compounding as per SSY scheme rules. Deposits are accepted for 15 years; account matures after 21 years from account opening. Minimum yearly deposit ₹250 · Maximum ₹1,50,000. Tax benefits (EEE) are as per prevailing Income Tax Act provisions — consult a tax advisor for personalised advice.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government-backed small savings scheme launched under the "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" initiative, designed specifically to help parents and guardians build a long-term, tax-free corpus for a girl child's education and marriage. An account can be opened for a girl child from birth up to the age of 10, and it offers one of the highest interest rates among government-backed savings instruments in India.
Set her current age (0–10 years) using the slider or quick presets from Newborn to 10 years.
Type your planned yearly deposit or use quick presets from ₹250 up to the ₹1.5L annual max.
Set the year the account was, or will be, opened to anchor the 15-year deposit and 21-year maturity timeline.
Check the Account Timeline and Year-wise Growth Schedule to see the balance build through deposit and growth-only years.
SSY maturity is calculated using annual compounding, applied across two distinct phases — the 15-year deposit period and the subsequent growth-only period until the 21-year maturity:
| Variable | Meaning | How to find it | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | Yearly deposit amount (Years 1–15 only) | The amount you plan to deposit each financial year (₹250–₹1,50,000) | ₹50,000 |
| r | Annual SSY interest rate (government-declared) | Current quarter's notified rate | 8.2% → 0.082 |
| Deposit window | Years in which new deposits are accepted | First 15 years from account opening | 15 years |
| Maturity | Total tenure until the account matures | 21 years from account opening | 21 years |
Inputs: D = ₹50,000/year | Rate = 8.2% p.a. | Deposits = Years 1–15 | Maturity = Year 21
The six "growth-only" years between Year 15 and Year 21 are easy to overlook but contribute a substantial share of the final maturity value, since the full accumulated balance — by then much larger than the early-year balance — continues compounding without any further deposits required.
Because an SSY account can only be opened before the girl child turns 10, and matures 21 years after opening, the age at which the account is opened directly determines how long the money compounds before it's needed — typically for higher education or marriage expenses in her late teens or twenties.
| Child's Age at Account Opening | Maturity Year (Child's Age) | Years of Compounding |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0 yrs) | Age 21 | 21 years |
| 3 years | Age 24 | 21 years |
| 5 years | Age 26 | 21 years |
| 10 years (latest eligible) | Age 31 | 21 years |
Up to 50% of the balance at the end of the preceding financial year can be withdrawn once the girl turns 18, or has passed Class 10, specifically for higher education expenses.
The account can be closed any time after the girl turns 18, up to one month before or three months after her marriage date, with the full balance paid out tax-free.
If not closed earlier for marriage, the account automatically matures and pays out the full balance 21 years after the date it was opened.
Only one SSY account is allowed per girl child, and a family can open accounts for a maximum of two girl children — with an exception for twins/triplets in certain birth-order scenarios.
SSY deposits qualify for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, up to a combined limit of ₹1,50,000 per financial year across all Section 80C instruments (SSY, PPF, ELSS, EPF, life insurance premiums, and others held by the parent/guardian).
| Income Tax Slab | Max SSY Deposit | Approx. Tax Saved (80C, Old Regime) |
|---|---|---|
| 5% slab | ₹1,50,000 | ₹7,500 + cess |
| 20% slab | ₹1,50,000 | ₹30,000 + cess |
| 30% slab | ₹1,50,000 | ₹45,000 + cess |
| Instrument | Eligibility | Lock-in / Maturity | Returns |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSY | Girl child, age 0–10 | 21 years from opening | Fixed, govt-set — typically the highest among small savings schemes |
| PPF | Any resident individual | 15 years, extendable | Fixed, govt-set, slightly lower than SSY historically |
| Child ULIP / Child Plan | Any child, via insurer | Varies by plan | Market-linked, with insurance charges reducing net return |
| Equity SIP (in child's name/goal) | Any age (parent-operated) | No lock-in, flexible | Market-linked, historically higher but variable |
SSY's main advantage is the combination of a high, guaranteed, government-backed rate with complete tax exemption — a combination unmatched by any other instrument specifically designed for a girl child's future. Its main limitation is eligibility (girl child, age 0–10 only) and the long 21-year horizon, which suits education/marriage planning but is less flexible than a SIP for other goals.
SSY maturity is calculated using annual compounding in two phases: for the first 15 years, each year's deposit is added to the running balance, and the total compounds at the notified annual rate; for years 16 through 21, no further deposits are accepted, but the accumulated balance continues compounding at the same rate until the account matures 21 years after it was opened.
A parent or legal guardian can open an SSY account for a girl child from birth up to the age of 10 years. Only one account is permitted per girl child, and a family can open accounts for a maximum of two girl children, with an exception for cases of twins or triplets in specific birth-order scenarios.
An SSY account matures 21 years from the date it was opened, or earlier if the account is closed upon the girl's marriage after she turns 18. Deposits are accepted only for the first 15 years; the balance continues to earn interest for the remaining years until maturity even without further deposits.
You must deposit a minimum of ₹250 per financial year to keep the account active, and a maximum of ₹1,50,000 per financial year, for the first 15 years from account opening. Deposits can be made as a single lumpsum or in multiple instalments through the year, subject to the annual cap.
Yes — SSY enjoys EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) status: the deposit is deductible under Section 80C (old tax regime only), the interest earned every year is completely tax-free, and the final maturity or withdrawal amount is also fully tax-free, regardless of which tax regime the parent or guardian has chosen for their own income.
Yes — a partial withdrawal of up to 50% of the balance at the end of the preceding financial year is permitted once the girl turns 18, or after she has passed Class 10, specifically for higher education expenses. This withdrawal can typically be taken as a lumpsum or in instalments over up to five years, subject to providing proof of admission or fee requirements.
The SSY account can be closed any time after the girl turns 18, from one month before to three months after her marriage date, with the full accumulated balance paid out completely tax-free. If the account is not closed for marriage, it continues until its regular 21-year maturity from the date it was opened.
If the minimum ₹250 yearly deposit is not made, the account is classified as "discontinued," but it isn't lost — it can be revived any time within 15 years of account opening by paying the missed minimum deposits along with a small penalty for each year of default, after which it continues normally.
For a girl child under 10, SSY typically offers a higher interest rate than PPF along with the same EEE tax-free status, making it the stronger choice specifically for her education or marriage goals. PPF remains useful as a separate, more flexible retirement-focused account for the parent, since it isn't restricted by the child's age or gender. Many families use both together as part of a broader financial plan.
An SSY calculator using the correct two-phase annual compounding (15 years of deposits plus 6 years of growth-only compounding) and the current government-notified rate should closely match your passbook for consistent yearly deposits. Since the SSY rate is reviewed every quarter and can change, a calculator using today's rate for the full 21-year projection is necessarily an estimate of the final outcome.
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