Open SSY at age 0, deposit ₹1,50,000/year for 15 years at 8.2%. Total invested = ₹22.5 lakh. After 21 years, maturity = ₹71.82 lakh (tax-free). Interest earned = ₹49.32 lakh — more than 2x your investment. At age 18, 50% (₹26.1 lakh) withdrawable for higher education. At 6% inflation, purchasing power = ₹22.6 lakh. For education costs inflating at 10%, supplement with equity SIP using our Education Cost Calculator.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a Government of India-backed savings scheme launched in 2015 under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign to promote the financial welfare of the girl child. With the highest interest rate among government small savings schemes at 8.2% (compounded annually), EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) tax status, and a 21-year maturity designed to align with the girl child's education and marriage milestones, SSY is one of the most attractive long-term savings instruments for Indian parents.
This SSY Calculator India projects the exact maturity amount, year-by-year growth during both the 15-year deposit period and the 6-year post-deposit growth period, the 50% partial withdrawal available at age 18 for higher education, Section 80C tax benefit, and the inflation-adjusted real return. The inflation perspective matters because education costs in India inflate at 10-12% annually — significantly higher than SSY's 8.2% — which means SSY alone may not fully fund higher education. Use our Education Cost Calculator and Inflation Calculator for the complete picture.
Where P is the annual deposit, r is the annual interest rate (8.2% = 0.082), deposits are made for 15 years, and the balance compounds for an additional 6 years (total 21-year maturity). Interest is calculated on the minimum balance between the 5th and last day of each month, credited annually at financial year end.
| Annual Deposit | Total Invested (15 yrs) | Interest Earned | Maturity (21 yrs) | Purchasing Power (6% inf) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹250 (minimum) | ₹3,750 | ₹8,172 | ₹11,922 | ₹3,519 |
| ₹12,000 (₹1K/mo) | ₹1,80,000 | ₹3,92,270 | ₹5,72,270 | ₹1,68,919 |
| ₹50,000 | ₹7,50,000 | ₹16,34,460 | ₹23,84,460 | ₹7,03,830 |
| ₹1,00,000 | ₹15,00,000 | ₹32,68,920 | ₹47,68,920 | ₹14,07,660 |
| ₹1,50,000 (maximum) | ₹22,50,000 | ₹49,03,380 | ₹71,53,380 | ₹21,11,490 |
| Period | SSY Rate | PPF Rate | SSY Premium Over PPF | Real Return (6% CPI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2024 – Mar 2026 | 8.2% | 7.1% | +1.1% | +2.1% |
| Apr 2023 – Mar 2024 | 8.0% | 7.1% | +0.9% | +1.9% |
| Jan 2023 – Mar 2023 | 7.6% | 7.1% | +0.5% | +1.5% |
| Apr 2020 – Dec 2022 | 7.6% | 7.1% | +0.5% | +1.5% |
| Jul 2019 – Mar 2020 | 8.4% | 7.9% | +0.5% | +2.3% |
| Apr 2018 – Jun 2019 | 8.5% | 8.0% | +0.5% | +4.3% |
| Feature | SSY | PPF | NSC | FD (5-yr) | ELSS Mutual Fund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interest / Return | 8.2% | 7.1% | 7.7% | 6.5-7.5% | 12-15% (market) |
| Tax Status | EEE (fully tax-free) | EEE (fully tax-free) | 5th yr interest taxable | Fully taxable | LTCG 12.5% above ₹1.25L |
| Lock-in | 21 years | 15 years | 5 years | 5 years | 3 years |
| Section 80C | Yes (₹1.5L) | Yes (₹1.5L) | Yes (₹1.5L + interest) | Yes (₹1.5L) | Yes (₹1.5L) |
| Eligibility | Girl child under 10 | Any Indian resident | Any Indian resident | Anyone | Anyone |
| Risk | Zero (Govt backed) | Zero (Govt backed) | Zero (Govt backed) | Very Low | Market risk (high) |
| Real Return (6% inf) | +2.1% | +1.0% | ~+1.6% | Negative (after tax) | +4-7% (after tax) |
| Best For | Girl child long-term | General long-term | 5-yr tax saving | Short-term safety | Wealth creation + tax |
SSY gives the highest guaranteed return among all debt instruments with the added advantage of EEE tax status. For maximum benefit: invest ₹1.5 lakh in SSY for your daughter, ₹1.5 lakh in PPF for yourself, and supplement with SEBI-regulated equity SIP for the education inflation gap. Compare all options: NSC Calculator, FD Calculator, Mutual Fund Calculator, EPF Calculator, and NPS Calculator. For full 80C optimization, use our Tax Savings Calculator and compare tax regimes with our Income Tax Calculator. Plan for the girl child's marriage costs and track inflation via our Purchasing Power Calculator and Historical CPI Data.
The current Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana interest rate is 8.2% per annum for Q4 FY 2025-26 (January to March 2026), compounded annually. The rate is reviewed and revised quarterly by the Ministry of Finance based on Government Security (G-sec) yields. SSY currently offers the highest interest rate among all government small savings schemes — higher than PPF (7.1%), NSC (7.7%), and Post Office FD (7.5%). The rate at the time of each deposit applies for that financial year's interest calculation. Interest is calculated on the minimum balance between the 5th and last day of each month, and credited at the end of each financial year.
If you invest the maximum ₹1,50,000 per year for 15 years in SSY at 8.2% interest, your total investment will be ₹22,50,000 (₹22.5 lakh). The maturity amount after 21 years will be approximately ₹71.82 lakh. This means you earn ₹49.32 lakh in tax-free interest — more than double your investment. The entire maturity amount is tax-free under the EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) status. If you invest ₹1,00,000 per year, the maturity amount is approximately ₹47.88 lakh. Even the minimum deposit of ₹250 per year grows to approximately ₹7,975 at maturity.
The SSY account has a 21-year maturity period from the date of opening. However, deposits are required only for the first 15 years — after that, the accumulated balance continues to earn interest at the prevailing rate for the remaining 6 years without any additional deposits. The account matures when the girl child turns 21 (if opened at birth) or later depending on the age at account opening. For example, if the account is opened when the girl is 5 years old, it matures when she turns 26. A minimum of ₹250 must be deposited annually to keep the account active during the 15-year deposit period.
SSY enjoys the rare EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) tax status — the most favorable tax treatment available in India. Exempt at Investment: Annual deposits up to ₹1.5 lakh qualify for Section 80C deduction under the old tax regime. Exempt at Growth: Interest earned annually is completely tax-free under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act. Exempt at Maturity: The entire maturity amount (principal plus interest) is tax-free. No TDS is deducted at any stage. This triple exemption makes SSY's effective post-tax return of 8.2% significantly better than taxable instruments like FDs (effective 5.7% after 30% tax) or even RDs. Only PPF shares this EEE status, but at a lower 7.1% rate.
SSY offers 8.2% while PPF offers 7.1% — a 1.1% difference that compounds dramatically over 15-21 years. On ₹1.5 lakh annual investment: SSY gives ₹71.82 lakh in 21 years while PPF gives ₹40.68 lakh in 15 years (or ₹66.58 lakh in 21 years with extension). SSY wins on returns. However, PPF has advantages: available to everyone (SSY only for girl children under 10), allows partial withdrawal from year 7 (SSY from age 18), and no gender restriction. Both have EEE tax status. The optimal strategy: open SSY for your daughter AND invest in PPF for yourself — maximizing both returns and tax savings under Section 80C.
Yes, partial withdrawal up to 50% of the balance at the end of the previous financial year is allowed for the girl child's higher education after she has completed 10th standard or turned 18 years old (whichever is earlier). You must submit: withdrawal application, university admission letter or offer of admission, and stamped fee receipt or fee demand letter. The withdrawal can be made as a lump sum or in yearly installments (maximum 5 years). This makes SSY a practical education funding tool. For premature closure, it's only allowed for marriage (after the girl turns 18) or in case of death of the account holder or life-threatening illness.
At the current SSY rate of 8.2% and average CPI inflation of 6%, the real return is approximately 2.1% per year (Fisher equation). This is higher than most fixed-income instruments: FD gives -1% real return (after tax), RD gives -1% real return (after tax), and even PPF gives only 1% real return. However, for expenses like education (which inflates at 10-12%), SSY's 8.2% return falls short — your ₹71.82 lakh SSY maturity may not fully cover education costs that have been inflating at 10%+. Consider supplementing SSY with equity SIP for the education gap. Use our Education Cost Calculator and Inflation Calculator.
Eligibility: The girl child must be a resident Indian citizen under 10 years of age at the time of account opening. Parents or legal guardians can open the account. Maximum two SSY accounts are allowed per family (one per girl child), with an exception for twin/triplet girls. The account can be opened at any India Post office or authorized banks including SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and others. Documents required: girl child's birth certificate, parent/guardian ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN), address proof, and photographs. The minimum initial deposit is ₹250.
Disclaimer: SSY interest rates are subject to quarterly revision by the Government of India. The rate of 8.2% is current as of FY 2025-26 and may change. Calculations assume a constant rate throughout the 21-year tenure for illustration purposes; actual returns will vary with rate revisions. This calculator is for financial planning purposes only. Consult a SEBI-registered financial advisor for personalized investment advice and your post office or bank branch for scheme-specific queries.