- Why in news
- On 21 January 2026, PIB published a explainer on the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, which completes 11 years on 22 January 2026. It gives account and deposit figures as of December 2025.
- What it is
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government small savings scheme for the girl child. Parents or guardians open an account in her name to save for her education and marriage. The Government notifies the interest rate and guarantees the principal and interest.
- Launch
- SSY was launched on 22 January 2015 under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
- Who can open and where
- Parents or guardians can open an account for a girl child from birth until she turns 10, at a post office or a public or authorised private bank.
- Tax benefit
- Deposits qualify for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Don’t confuse with SSY vs Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: BBBP is the campaign on the sex ratio and girls' education. SSY is a savings scheme launched under it.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Encourages families to save early for a girl's education and marriage, which supports financial security for girls.
- Government-guaranteed returns make it a low-risk instrument that supports women's empowerment.
Problems
- Families with low or irregular incomes may find it hard to deposit every year for 15 years.
- Awareness and documentation requirements may limit access among poorer households.
Way forward
- Spread awareness through post offices, banks and schools, and ease documentation.
- Link the scheme with education and other girl-child schemes.
Put in your answer
SSY progress data: Over 4.53 crore accounts opened and deposits above ₹3.33 lakh crore as of December 2025.
- 2015Mains GS4 · Q14Ethical dilemma: handling village tension over sending girls to school and early marriage.
- 2016Mains GS2 · Q15Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and its implementation status.
- 1997Prelims Q84Match schemes like Mahila Samriddhi Yojana with their objectives, including rural women's savings promotion.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Standing small savings scheme for girls with features and numbers; explainer, nothing new decided today, so a card without a question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.