Sukanya Yojana eligibility, documents required

Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA) or the Sukanya Yojana, the government-backed savings scheme, has been especially customised for designated long-term investment for a maximum of two girl children in a family. The Sukanya Samriddhi Account has to be opened by the parent or guardian of the girl child on behalf of her following which the girl can take complete authority of the account after attaining the age of 10 years. 

However, a maximum of three Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts can be opened only if the firstborn or the second born are twin girls. In Sukanya Samriddhi Account, a person has to deposit a minimum of Rs 250 and in multiples of Rs 100 thereafter up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh in a particular year. 

Interest rate 2019 :-

The interest rate offered on Sukanya Samriddhi Account is fixed at 7.9 per cent on all accounts opened between July 1, 2018, and September 30, 2018.

Income tax benefits :-

The parents or legal guardians of the girl child can claim income tax benefits of up to Rs 1.5 lakh under Section 80C in a respective financial year and, further, the interest earned on the amount deposited during the tenure and the corpus withdrawn at the completion of lock-in period is tax-free.

Documents required :-

In order to open a Sukanya Samriddhi Account at a bank or post office, an individual is required to submit the Sukanya Samriddhi Account opening form, the beneficiary’s (girl child) birth certificate, address proof of the guardian or parents of the beneficiary and ID proof of the guardian or parents of the beneficiary.