Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana 2026: Interest Rate, Rules and Maturity
The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), officially the Sukanya Samriddhi Account, is a Government of India savings scheme that parents open in a daughter’s name to build money for her education and marriage. For the October to December 2026 quarter, it pays 8.2% a year, the joint-highest rate among small savings schemes alongside the Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme.
The Finance Ministry kept every small savings rate unchanged from 1 October to 31 December 2026 in its review of 30 September 2026, as reported by The Economic Times, and Upstox News lists SSY at 8.2% in its table for the quarter. Below are the rules, the maturity maths, and the points parents most often get wrong.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana at a glance
| Feature | Rule |
|---|---|
| Interest rate (1 Oct to 31 Dec 2026) | 8.2% a year, compounded annually; reviewed every quarter |
| Who can open | A parent or legal guardian, for a girl below 10 years of age |
| Minimum deposit | Rs 250 a financial year; further deposits in multiples of Rs 50 |
| Maximum deposit | Rs 1,50,000 in a financial year (1 April to 31 March) |
| Deposit period | 15 years from the date of opening |
| Maturity | 21 years from the date of opening |
| Partial withdrawal | Up to 50% after the girl turns 18 or passes Class 10 |
| Number of accounts | One per girl; up to two per family, or three when twins or triplets are born |
| Tax | Deposit eligible for Section 80C; interest and maturity amount tax-free (EEE) |
These rules come from the India Post savings schemes leaflet and SBI’s Sukanya Samriddhi Account page, which is based on the Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, 2019 notified by the Finance Ministry on 12 December 2019.
What is the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana interest rate now?
The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana interest rate is 8.2% a year for 1 October to 31 December 2026. The rate for January to March 2027 is due from the next quarterly review, expected by the end of December 2026.
SSY and the Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme have both paid 8.2% for a long time, The Economic Times notes, and SBI’s scheme page cites the 8.20% rate as applying from 1 January 2024. Interest is compounded once a year. Unlike a fixed deposit, the rate is not locked in on the day you open the account. India Post notes that rates are revised every three months, so the return over 21 years depends on the rates notified along the way.
Who is eligible for Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
Any girl child below 10 years of age is eligible, and the account is opened in her name by her natural or legal guardian. Only one account is allowed per girl.
A family can open accounts for two daughters. SBI’s page adds the exception: three accounts are allowed if the second birth results in twin girls, or if the first birth itself results in three girls. A daughter with an SSY account can also have an NPS Vatsalya pension account, which suits longer retirement-style saving.
How to open a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account
You can open the account at any post office, or at an authorised bank; SBI, for example, offers it at all its branches. According to India Post, you need:
- A document showing the girl’s date of birth, usually her birth certificate.
- Address proof of the parent or legal guardian.
- A photograph.
- An initial deposit of at least Rs 250.
Banks and post offices will also ask for the guardian’s identity and KYC papers, so carry your Aadhaar card. If yours is worn out, here is how to order an Aadhaar PVC card. Deposits can be made in cash (up to Rs 50,000 a day at the post office), by cheque, or through India Post Payments Bank, and SBI lets you set up standing instructions through internet banking.
SSY calculator: how much will you get at maturity?
At 8.2%, depositing Rs 1.5 lakh at the start of every year for 15 years would grow to about Rs 71.8 lakh after 21 years. The table below shows other amounts.
| Yearly deposit | Total deposited (15 years) | Maturity value at 21 years | Interest earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rs 12,000 (Rs 1,000 a month) | Rs 1,80,000 | Rs 5,74,570 | Rs 3,94,570 |
| Rs 50,000 | Rs 7,50,000 | Rs 23,94,040 | Rs 16,44,040 |
| Rs 1,00,000 | Rs 15,00,000 | Rs 47,88,079 | Rs 32,88,079 |
| Rs 1,50,000 (maximum) | Rs 22,50,000 | Rs 71,82,119 | Rs 49,32,119 |
Illustrative only. Assumptions: one deposit at the start of each financial year for 15 years, no withdrawals, and 8.2% compounded annually for all 21 years. The real rate will change from quarter to quarter, so treat these as estimates rather than a promise. Spreading the same yearly amount across monthly deposits earns slightly less, because later deposits spend less time in the account.
What happens if you miss a deposit?
The account becomes irregular, but it can be revived. SBI says you pay a penalty of Rs 50 for each year missed, along with the minimum deposit of Rs 250 for each of those years.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana withdrawal rules
When can you withdraw from SSY?
You can withdraw up to 50% of the balance once the girl turns 18 or passes Class 10. SBI says the limit is 50% of the balance at the end of the previous financial year, for education or marriage.
Can the account be closed before 21 years?
Yes, in limited cases. India Post says the account can be closed for the girl’s marriage after she turns 18. SBI lists premature closure on the death of the account holder, or on compassionate grounds such as life-threatening illness, approved under a Central Government order.
Is Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana tax-free?
Yes. SSY has EEE status: deposits qualify for the Section 80C deduction, and both the interest and the maturity amount are tax-free. The 80C benefit only helps if you file under the old tax regime, but the tax-free interest applies either way.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana vs other small savings schemes
For a daughter’s long-term fund, SSY currently pays more than most alternatives. Here is how it compares this quarter, using the rates published by Upstox News:
| Scheme | Rate (Oct-Dec 2026) | Lock-in |
|---|---|---|
| Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana | 8.2% | 21 years (partial access at 18) |
| Public Provident Fund | 7.1% | 15 years |
| National Savings Certificate | 7.7% | 5 years |
| Post Office Monthly Income Scheme | 7.4% | 5 years |
If you want a regular monthly payout rather than a long-term fund, see our Post Office Monthly Income Scheme guide. For other benefits aimed at women and girls, see our roundup of new government schemes for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum amount for Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
Rs 250 a financial year. You can deposit more in multiples of Rs 50, up to Rs 1.5 lakh a year.
Do you have to deposit every month?
No. India Post says monthly deposits are not required; you only need at least Rs 250 in each financial year for the first 15 years.
Can I deposit at any post office?
Yes. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts run on core banking, and India Post says transactions can be done at any post office in India at no extra charge.
Sources: India Post savings schemes leaflet; SBI, Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, 2019; The Economic Times, rates for October-December 2026; Upstox News, small savings rates for October-December 2026. Rates change quarterly; check with your post office or bank before you invest. This is general information, not personal financial advice.
Featured image: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting / Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India (resized). An India Post awareness session on Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal.
