Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government scheme specifically for the girl child. A parent or guardian opens an SSY account in the name of a girl below 10 years of age. The scheme offers one of the highest interest rates among all NSS schemes and is fully EEE — exactly like PPF.
The account matures when the girl turns 21, or can be closed earlier for marriage after she turns 18. Partial withdrawal of up to 50% is allowed when she turns 18 for higher education expenses.
For parents with daughters, SSY is the single best savings instrument available — higher rate than PPF, same tax benefits, and a clear purpose.
Who Should Invest?
- Parents or guardians of girl children below 10 years of age
- Anyone who wants to build a dedicated corpus for a daughter's education or marriage
Key Features
- EEE tax status — contribution, interest, and maturity all tax-free
- Highest rate among NSS schemes (currently 8.2%)
- Section 80C deduction on contributions
- Maximum: ₹1.5 lakhs/year per girl child
- Up to 2 accounts per family (one per girl child), 3 in case of twins
- Partial withdrawal (50%) allowed after girl turns 18 for education
- Account matures when girl turns 21, or closes at marriage after 18
Watch Out For
- Only girl children below 10 can be beneficiaries — check age eligibility
- Minimum ₹250/year must be deposited to keep account active
- Long lock-in (up to 21 years) — only money you won't need for that period
Compare All NSS Schemes
See how SSY compares to all other National Savings Schemes in one table.
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