Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Calculator — Full Maturity Math for a Daughter Born in 2025
Last verified: April 2026, against Sukanya Samriddhi Account Rules 2019 (latest amendment 2023) and the Q1 FY 2025-26 small-savings rate notification.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana pays 8.2% — the highest sovereign rate available in India today, and one of the only EEE (exempt-exempt-exempt) instruments still around. For a daughter born in 2025, a maxed-out SSY built up over the next 14 years can deliver a corpus of ₹70+ lakh at maturity — entirely tax-free. This guide gives you the year-by-year math, deposit schedule, and the trade-offs versus alternatives like PPF + ELSS.
Quick eligibility & key numbers
| Eligible | Girl child below age 10 at account opening; only resident Indians |
|---|---|
| Account opener | Parent or legal guardian (one account per girl child; max 2 daughters; 3rd allowed if 2nd birth is twins) |
| Interest rate (Q1 FY 25-26) | 8.2% (set quarterly by Ministry of Finance) |
| Annual deposit | Min ₹250, Max ₹1,50,000 (in multiples of ₹50) |
| Deposit period | 15 years from account opening |
| Account matures | 21 years from opening (or marriage of girl after she turns 18) |
| Tax status | EEE — contribution under 80C, interest tax-free, maturity tax-free |
| Where to open | Post offices, authorised banks (SBI, ICICI, HDFC, Axis, etc.) |
The maturity math — daughter born in 2025
Assume the account opens in 2026 (when the daughter is 1) and matures in 2047 (21 years from account opening; she’ll be 22). Maximum ₹1.5 L deposit each of the first 15 years (2026-2040), no deposit needed in years 16-21 (corpus continues earning interest).
Scenario A: ₹1,50,000 deposit each year for 15 years
| Year | Cumulative deposits | Cumulative interest (8.2%) | Year-end balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹12,300 | ₹1,62,300 |
| 5 | ₹7,50,000 | ~₹1,57,000 | ~₹9,07,000 |
| 10 | ₹15,00,000 | ~₹6,75,000 | ~₹21,75,000 |
| 15 (last contribution) | ₹22,50,000 | ~₹17,75,000 | ~₹40,25,000 |
| 18 | ₹22,50,000 | ~₹28,80,000 | ~₹51,30,000 |
| 21 (maturity) | ₹22,50,000 | ~₹46,40,000 | ~₹68,90,000 |
Total invested: ₹22.5 L. Maturity value: ~₹68.9 L. Tax-free interest earned: ~₹46.4 L. The 6 years of pure compounding (years 16-21, no contributions) more than double the corpus from the contribution-end value — that’s the EEE compounding magic.
Scenario B: ₹1,50,000 in year 1, then ₹1,000/month going forward
For families who can’t sustain ₹1.5 L/year, smaller annual amounts still produce meaningful corpus. ₹12,000/year (₹1,000/month) over 15 years = ₹1.8 L invested → ~₹5.4 L at maturity. ₹50,000/year over 15 years = ₹7.5 L invested → ~₹22.5 L at maturity.
Where SSY beats / loses to alternatives
SSY vs PPF — direct comparison
If you already have a PPF maxed out at ₹1.5 L/year, you have to choose: route the ₹1.5 L into SSY or into PPF. Both are EEE, both sovereign-rated. SSY pays 1.1 percentage points more (8.2% vs 7.1%). Over 21 years, that 1.1 percentage point gap on ₹1.5 L/year × 15 years = ~₹14 L of additional corpus.
SSY’s edge: Higher rate. Earmarked for the girl child — she’s the beneficiary at maturity. Cannot be diverted by parents to other goals.
PPF’s edge: Open to anyone — the parent can use the funds. 15-year maturity instead of 21. Renewable in 5-year blocks.
The right play for a parent maxing both: SSY for the girl-child education-and-marriage corpus, PPF in your own name for general purposes. Both contribute to your ₹1.5 L 80C cap (combined) — see 80C ranking.
SSY vs ELSS — return vs certainty
ELSS (equity MF, see SIP guide) historically delivers ~12% CAGR. ₹1.5 L/year for 15 years at 12% = ~₹61 L (post-LTCG ~₹56 L). Add 6 years compounding at 12% = ~₹110 L (post-LTCG ~₹95 L).
SSY: ~₹68.9 L at 21 years, fully tax-free. ELSS: ~₹95 L at 21 years, post-tax.
ELSS wins on expected return by ~₹26 L over 21 years. But ELSS doesn’t guarantee anything — a bad 21-year window could deliver 9% CAGR (giving ~₹55 L post-tax, less than SSY). For a child-specific long-horizon corpus, the right play is usually 50-70% SSY/PPF + 30-50% equity SIPs in the parent’s name (for tax efficiency and flexibility).
Withdrawal and closure rules
Partial withdrawal at 18
Up to 50% of the previous year’s balance can be withdrawn after the girl turns 18, for higher-education or marriage. Documentary proof of admission (or marriage card) required. The withdrawal can happen in five annual instalments.
Premature closure
Allowed in three cases:
- Death of the account holder (girl) — full corpus paid to nominee
- Marriage of the girl after age 18 — corpus paid to her
- Extreme circumstances (life-threatening illness of guardian, death of guardian) — closure with declaration
Voluntary premature closure (not for the above reasons) is allowed only after 5 years, but interest will be paid only at the post-office savings rate (4%) — effectively a penalty.
Account discontinuation
If the minimum ₹250 isn’t deposited in any year, the account becomes “discontinued.” Reactivation: pay ₹50 penalty + minimum ₹250 for each defaulted year.
Practical opening and operation tips
- Open early. The 21-year maturity clock starts at account opening, not at the daughter’s age. Opening in year 1 vs year 5 of her life means 4 extra years of compounding. For a daughter born in 2025, open in 2025-26 ideally.
- Deposit before April 5. Same as PPF — interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and the end of each month. Annual lump-sum deposit on April 1 maximises interest.
- Bank vs post office. Functionally identical. Banks offer net-banking-driven deposits and statement view. Choose what’s convenient.
- Track the rate. SSY rate is reset quarterly. The historical range has been 7.6% to 9.2%. Build planning math at 8% to be safe.
- Don’t lock everything into SSY. Maturity at 21 sets the use-by date. If your daughter has different plans (study at 22, marry at 30), the timing might be off. Mix with parent-name PPF and equity SIPs for flexibility.
Linked deep-dives
- Section 80C ranking — where SSY fits
- PPF vs EPF vs VPF — for parent’s own retirement corpus
- SIP guide — equity for the long-horizon part of child corpus
- Old vs New Tax Regime — does SSY’s 80C deduction even apply?
- Retirement Corpus Calculator
FAQs
Can I open SSY for two daughters?
Yes — one account per girl child, maximum two girls per family (three if the second is twins). Each account has its own ₹1.5 L annual deposit limit, but the parent’s combined 80C bucket (₹1.5 L) doesn’t expand.
What happens if my daughter becomes NRI before maturity?
Latest rules (2019 + 2023 amendments): account closes if the girl becomes NRI or relinquishes Indian citizenship. Interest is paid only till the previous quarter’s end and the corpus is paid out.
Is SSY interest really tax-free in the new tax regime?
SSY interest is tax-free in both regimes. The 80C deduction on the contribution is available only in the old regime — but the maturity proceeds remain tax-exempt regardless.
Can I deposit in SSY through SIP-style monthly contributions?
Yes. Many banks let you set up standing instructions to credit a fixed monthly amount. Best practice: deposit in the first 5 days of each month for maximum interest credit.
What’s the minimum to open the account?
₹250. Minimum annual contribution to keep active is also ₹250.
Is SSY safer than equity MFs?
Yes — SSY is sovereign-backed (Government of India). Equity MFs carry market risk. The trade-off is return: ~8% guaranteed in SSY vs ~12% historical average (with volatility) in equity. For child-specific corpus, the rule of thumb is to keep at least the “must-have” portion (basic education funding) in SSY/PPF and the “nice-to-have” upside in equity.
Sources & references
- Department of Posts — SSY official scheme page
- Sukanya Samriddhi Account Rules, 2019 (with 2023 amendments)
- Ministry of Finance — quarterly small-savings rate notifications
Last verified: April 2026. SSY interest rate is reviewed quarterly; we update after each notification.
