The minimum annual investment for the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana has been lowered to Rs 250 from Rs 1,000. The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a savings scheme for the girl child below the age of 10. The maximum annual contribution to the scheme is set at Rs 1,50,000.

Tenure

The account matures 21 years after opening or on the marriage of the girl child after the age of 18, whichever is earlier. Partial withdrawals up to 50% of the balance in the preceding financial year, can be made after the girl attains the age of 18.

Structure

Annual contributions to the account are made for 14 years from account opening. Thereafter the account only continues to earn interest.

Interest Rate

The interest on the scheme is paid by the government and is reviewed every quarter. The interest rate is currently set at 8.1%. This is higher than deposit rates of major banks and other popular savings schemes such as PPF. You can find the rates of other small savings schemes here.

Tax Benefits

The annual contribution to the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is tax deductible under Section 80 C. The interest on the account is tax-free.

Failure to pay minimum contribution

Failure to make the minimum annual contribution results in the account being made inactive. The account can be revived by paying the unpaid contributions and Rs 50 per year of missed contributions.

Staff Writer

This article is written by RupeeIQ editorial staff.

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