Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Account 2026: Interest Rate, Rules & Forms

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a prominent government-backed savings scheme launched by the Government of India in January 2015 under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. Designed to secure the financial future of a girl child, parents or legal guardians can open this account at any Post Office or designated bank branch across the country.

The current SSY interest rate is fixed at 8.2% per annum for the October-December 2026 quarter (Q3 FY 2026-27), offering the highest return among all small savings schemes run by the government. Over 4.75 crore accounts have been successfully opened nationwide, providing a reliable investment platform with full tax-free benefits on deposits, interest, and maturity amounts.

Key Details of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana 2026

Feature	Details
Scheme Name	Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
Launched By	Government of India (January 22, 2015)
Campaign	Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Current Interest Rate	8.2% per annum (Compounded Yearly)
Minimum Deposit	₹250 per financial year
Maximum Deposit	₹1.5 lakh per financial year
Deposit Period	15 years from account opening
Maturity Period	21 years from account opening
Target Beneficiary	Girl child below age 10
Official Website	nsiindia.gov.in

Important Dates & Quarter Rates

Event / Period	Date / Rate
Scheme Launch	January 22, 2015
Q3 FY 2026-27 Rate Review	September 30, 2026
Q3 FY 2026-27 Interest Rate	8.2% per annum

Eligibility Criteria

To successfully open and maintain a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:

• Age Limit: The girl child must be below 10 years of age at the time of account opening.
• Residency: The girl child must be an Indian resident at the time of account opening.
• Account Limits: Only one account is permitted per girl child, with a maximum limit of two accounts per family (an exception is made for twins or triplets with medical proofs).
• Operation: A parent or legal guardian manages the account until the girl child turns 18 years old, after which she can operate it independently.

Fee and Deposit Structure

The scheme operates on a flexible yet disciplined deposit model. An account can be opened with a minimum initial deposit of ₹250. Subsequent deposits can be made in multiples of ₹50, subject to a maximum cap of ₹1.5 lakh in a single financial year. Deposits are required to be made for a tenure of 15 years from the date of account inception. If the minimum annual deposit of ₹250 is missed, the account is categorized as a default account, though updated rules ensure it continues to earn the full scheme interest rate until maturity.

Selection and Maturity Rules

Partial withdrawals up to 50% of the balance at the end of the preceding financial year are permitted once the girl child turns 18 or passes the 10th standard, meant specifically for higher education or marriage expenses. The account matures completely after 21 years from the opening date, releasing the entire corpus along with accumulated interest. Premature closure is strictly restricted and permitted after 5 years only under exceptional circumstances such as the death of the account holder or severe life-threatening illnesses.

How to Apply and Open an Account

Although fully online account opening is not available, interested guardians can complete the registration process offline by following these steps:

1. Visit the nearest Post Office or an authorized designated bank branch (such as SBI, PNB, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, or Axis Bank).
2. Request and fill out the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Account Opening Form (Form 1) with accurate child and guardian details.
3. Attach essential documents including the girl child's birth certificate, guardian's identity proof (Aadhaar or PAN), address proof, and passport-size photographs.
4. Make the initial contribution ranging from a minimum of ₹250 up to ₹1.5 lakh via cash, cheque, or demand draft.
5. Obtain the official passbook issued by the bank or post office upon successful verification.