Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Interest Rate, Rules and Account
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a small savings account for a girl child. As reported, it earns 8.2 percent a year for October to December 2026. Here are the deposit limits, age rules, maturity and withdrawal rules.
- Interest rate
- 8.2% a year, Oct to Dec 2026 (as reported, 30 Sep 2026)
- Age limit
- Girl from birth until she turns 10
- Deposit
- Rs 250 to Rs 1,50,000 per financial year
- Deposit period
- Up to 15 years from opening
- Maturity
- 21 years from opening
- Where to open
- Post office or authorised bank branch
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (सुकन्या समृद्धि योजना), officially the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, is a savings account that parents or a legal guardian open in the name of a daughter. It was launched on 22 January 2015 under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, according to a PIB backgrounder from January 2025. Over 4.1 crore accounts had been opened as of November 2024, as per that PIB note.
If you are asking sukanya samriddhi yojana kya hai, the short answer is this: you deposit money every year for 15 years, the government sets the interest rate every quarter, and the account matures when it is 21 years old. This page explains the rules in plain words. To estimate how much your deposits could grow, use our Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana calculator.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana interest rate (October to December 2026)
The Finance Ministry reviews small savings rates every quarter. On 30 September 2026 it kept rates unchanged for the October to December 2026 quarter (Q3 of FY 2026-27), as reported by the Free Press Journal and StudyCafe. The sukanya samriddhi yojana interest rate for this quarter is 8.2 percent per annum, according to those news reports. We have not seen the official office memorandum for this quarter, so please confirm the rate at your post office or bank.
As reported, small savings rates have now been unchanged for 10 consecutive quarters. The last change was in January to March 2024. For comparison, the same reports list these rates for October to December 2026:
| Scheme | Rate, Oct to Dec 2026 (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Sukanya Samriddhi Account | 8.2% |
| Senior Citizens Savings Scheme | 8.2% |
| NSC | 7.7% |
| Kisan Vikas Patra | 7.5% (matures in 115 months) |
| Post Office Monthly Income Scheme | 7.4% |
| PPF | 7.1% |
| Savings deposit | 4% |
People often search for older rates such as the sukanya samriddhi yojana interest rate 2024 or 2025. Since rates were unchanged from early 2024 to late 2026 as reported, those quarters were also at 8.2 percent. Rates can change in any future quarter, so never treat today's rate as fixed for 21 years.
Eligibility and age limit
- Age limit: the account can be opened for a girl from birth until she turns 10 (PIB, January 2025).
- Residence: the girl must be resident in India from opening until maturity or closure (PIB). As per the Punjab National Bank SSA page, if her citizenship or residential status changes, interest stops from that date.
- Number of accounts: one account per girl, and a family can open accounts for a maximum of two girls, with exceptions for twins or triplets, as reported by Outlook Money (citing a DEA circular of 21 August 2024).
- Who operates it: from 1 October 2024, only natural parents or legal guardians can operate the account, as reported. Accounts opened by grandparents are treated as irregular and guardianship moves to the parent or legal guardian.
The guardian operates the account until the girl turns 18. After that she can operate it herself (PIB).
हिंदी में सारांश
सुकन्या समृद्धि योजना बेटी के नाम पर खोला जाने वाला बचत खाता है। समाचार रिपोर्टों के अनुसार अक्टूबर से दिसंबर 2026 तिमाही के लिए ब्याज दर 8.2 प्रतिशत सालाना है, जो लगातार 10 तिमाहियों से नहीं बदली। खाता बेटी के जन्म से 10 साल की उम्र तक माता-पिता या कानूनी अभिभावक खोल सकते हैं। एक वित्त वर्ष में कम से कम 250 रुपये और अधिकतम 1,50,000 रुपये जमा कर सकते हैं। जमा 15 साल तक होता है और खाता खुलने के 21 साल बाद परिपक्व होता है। 18 साल या 10वीं पास होने पर पढ़ाई के लिए 50 प्रतिशत तक निकासी हो सकती है। खाता डाकघर या अधिकृत बैंक शाखा में खुलता है। 1 अक्टूबर 2024 से दादा-दादी खाता नहीं चला सकते। ब्याज दर हर तिमाही बदल सकती है, इसलिए डाकघर या बैंक से पुष्टि करें।
Deposit limits, tenure and maturity
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Rs 250 per financial year |
| Further deposits | In multiples of Rs 50 |
| Maximum deposit | Rs 1,50,000 per financial year; any excess earns no interest and is returned |
| Deposit period | Up to 15 years from the date of opening |
| Maturity | 21 years from the date of opening |
All of the above is from the PIB backgrounder of January 2025. A popular search is post office sukanya samriddhi yojana monthly 1000. Paying Rs 1,000 a month means Rs 12,000 a year, which is well within the limits. You can pay monthly, in a few parts or once a year, as long as the yearly total is between Rs 250 and Rs 1,50,000.
If you miss the minimum deposit in a year, the account goes into default. According to the PNB SSA page, it can be revived by paying a penalty of Rs 50 per year of default plus the minimum deposit for each missed year.
How interest is calculated
According to the PIB backgrounder, interest is calculated for each calendar month on the lowest balance between the close of the 5th day and the end of the month, and is credited at the end of each financial year. The PNB page says interest is compounded annually. In simple words: a deposit made on or before the 5th of a month earns interest for that month, so depositing early in the month (or early in the financial year) helps a little. The SSY calculator page shows worked examples at 8.2 percent.
How to open a Sukanya Samriddhi account at the post office or bank
- Go to any post office or an authorised bank branch. Many banks offer it, for example PNB, and people often ask about SBI or HDFC Bank too. Ask the branch whether it is authorised to open SSY accounts.
- Carry the girl's birth certificate and the guardian's KYC. The exact document list is not confirmed in our sources, so ask the branch what it needs before you go.
- Fill the account opening form at the counter.
- Make the first deposit of at least Rs 250. Later deposits go in multiples of Rs 50, up to Rs 1,50,000 per financial year.
- Keep the passbook or account details safe and note the opening date. Maturity is 21 years from that date.
The account can be transferred anywhere in India, including from a post office to a bank and the other way (PIB; PNB). Some banks and India Post let you pay into the account online, but menus differ, so check with your branch. We do not list any app as official because our sources do not confirm one.
Partial withdrawal and premature closure
- Education withdrawal: up to 50 percent of the balance at the end of the previous financial year, once the girl turns 18 or passes Class 10, whichever is earlier. Proof such as an admission offer or fee slip is needed. One withdrawal a year, for up to five years, limited to actual fees (PIB).
- Marriage: premature closure is allowed if the girl is at least 18 on the date of marriage. Apply not earlier than one month before and not later than three months after the marriage (PIB).
- Compassionate grounds: closure for reasons such as a life-threatening illness of the account holder or death of the guardian, after documents, but not in the first five years (PIB).
- Death of the account holder: the account is closed and the balance with interest is paid to the guardian (PIB).
Tax benefits
According to the PNB SSA page, deposits up to Rs 1.5 lakh a year qualify for deduction under Section 80C, and the deposit, interest and maturity amount are tax-free, often called EEE. Whether you can claim 80C depends on the tax regime you choose; please check with a tax adviser.
Stay safe
This website is an independent guide. It is not a government website and it does not collect Aadhaar numbers, account numbers, application IDs, OTPs or any other personal data. Please do not send such details to us or to anyone who contacts you claiming to be from a scheme office.
- Never share an OTP, Aadhaar number or bank details with an unknown caller, SMS sender or WhatsApp contact.
- An SSY account is opened at a post office or authorised bank. You do not need an agent.
- Beware of fake websites, fake apps, fake approval letters and agents who promise money or benefits for a fee.
- As reported in news coverage of police warnings, fraudsters have sent fake APK files on WhatsApp promising scheme payments. Do not install apps from links. For cyber fraud, news reports cite the national cyber helpline 1930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana interest rate in 2026?
For the October to December 2026 quarter, the rate is 8.2 percent per annum, as reported by the Free Press Journal and StudyCafe on 30 September 2026. Reports say rates have been unchanged for 10 quarters. The Finance Ministry sets the rate every quarter, so check the current rate at your post office or bank before you plan, and do not assume it will stay the same for 21 years.
What is the age limit for Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
A parent or legal guardian can open the account for a girl from birth until she turns 10, according to the PIB backgrounder of January 2025. A family can usually open accounts for two girls, with exceptions for twins or triplets, as reported. The girl must stay resident in India until maturity or closure.
Can I deposit Rs 1,000 a month in the post office Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
Yes. Rs 1,000 a month is Rs 12,000 a year, which falls within the limit of Rs 250 to Rs 1,50,000 per financial year. Later deposits must be in multiples of Rs 50. Deposits continue for 15 years from opening, and the account matures after 21 years. Our calculator page shows an estimate for this amount.
Which documents are needed to open an SSY account?
Our sources mention the girl's birth certificate and the guardian's KYC documents, but the exact official list is not confirmed. Rules can vary slightly between the post office and banks, so call or visit the branch first and ask for its current checklist. Carry originals and photocopies to avoid a second visit.
When can money be withdrawn from Sukanya Samriddhi?
Up to 50 percent of the previous year's balance can be withdrawn for higher education once the girl turns 18 or passes Class 10, with proof such as an admission letter or fee slip. Full premature closure is allowed for marriage after 18, on certain compassionate grounds after five years, and on the death of the account holder, according to PIB.
Is Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana available in SBI and other banks?
According to PIB, the account can be opened at any post office or a designated commercial bank branch, and it can be transferred between them. Many people open it at large banks. Ask your branch whether it is authorised for SSY, and use the bank's own official channels for online payment.
Sources: PIB backgrounder, January 2025 · Free Press Journal, 30 September 2026 · StudyCafe, 30 September 2026 · Outlook Money, 10 September 2024 · Punjab National Bank SSA page. Checked 14 October 2026. Rules change: always confirm on the official portal.