The sukanya samriddhi yojana age limit for opening is simple: the girl must be younger than 10 on the day her account is opened. Other ages matter later too: 18 for running the account and for withdrawals, and the account's 21st anniversary, when it matures.
Our site explains the scheme independently and is not run by any government body. Only post offices and authorised bank branches open these accounts, and their staff have the final word on any age question. Speak to them early when a birthday cut-off is near.
Sukanya samriddhi yojana age limit for opening
The scheme says the account can be opened for a girl child "who has not attained the age of ten years" on the date of opening. So the maximum age is just under 10. Once she has had her tenth birthday, the account can no longer be opened for her.
There is no separate minimum age in the scheme. The only practical requirement is her birth certificate, which the branch asks for as proof of age. So the starting age can be as early as you have that certificate in hand.
| Girl's age on the opening day | Can the account be opened? |
|---|---|
| A few months old | Yes, with her birth certificate |
| 5 years | Yes |
| 9 years and some months | Yes, if she has not turned 10 yet |
| 10 years or more | No |
If her tenth birthday is close, get the papers ready now. See our documents and opening steps.
Minimum age, maximum age and entry age
People search for this rule in many ways, so here it is in one place. The sukanya samriddhi yojana minimum age for opening is not fixed by the scheme, so there is no minimum age limit beyond having a birth certificate. The sukanya samriddhi yojana maximum age for opening is just under 10. In other words, the sukanya samriddhi yojana entry age, starting age or eligible age is anything from birth up to the day before her tenth birthday. That is the whole sukanya samriddhi yojana age eligibility rule.
The age limit applies on the opening date only. Once the account is open, it continues even after she crosses 10. A Hindi version of the sukanya samriddhi yojana age limit rule is in our Hindi section.
Why an earlier start makes a difference
Many parents assume that opening late shortens the scheme. It does not. Deposits run for 15 years and maturity comes 21 years from the opening date, whatever her age. What changes is her age on the day the money becomes available.
The amount does not depend on her age either. For example, Rs 10,000 paid in at the start of each year builds up to roughly Rs 4,78,808 by maturity, assuming 8.2% holds for the whole period. That is the same whether she was a baby or nine years old at opening. You put in Rs 1,50,000 and the rest, Rs 3,28,808, is interest. Because the Government revises the rate quarterly, your actual result will not match exactly. Try your own numbers in our calculator.
Worked examples: her age at each stage
Because the clock starts on the opening date, you can work out her approximate age at each stage by adding years to her age at opening. The figures below are rounded to whole years:
| Age at opening | Deposits end (about) | Account matures (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0) | 15 | 21 |
| 3 | 18 | 24 |
| 6 | 21 | 27 |
| 9 | 24 | 30 |
A girl whose account was opened when she was 9 still gets the full 21-year account. She will simply be older, about 30, when it matures. Between the end of deposits and maturity, no new money goes in, but interest keeps being added every year.
What changes when she turns 18
Age 18 is the second key milestone. Three things happen around it:
- She takes over the account. The guardian is in charge until her 18th birthday; from then she manages it personally after handing in her own papers.
- Education withdrawal opens up. Money for higher studies can be partly drawn from the account at 18, or earlier if she has already cleared Class 10.
- Marriage closure becomes possible. Early closure for her wedding is permitted, as long as she has turned 18 by the wedding.
So a girl who passes Class 10 at 16 could use the education withdrawal before she turns 18, with an admission offer or fee slip.
Education withdrawal and the age rule
The education withdrawal is capped at half (50%) of what the account held when the last financial year closed. It is made on Form-3 with proof such as an admission offer or a fee slip. Families may draw it as a lump sum, or as yearly instalments (a maximum of one each year, over 5 years at most), never more than the real fees and charges.
The age condition is the earlier of two events: turning 18, or passing Class 10. A daughter who finishes Class 10 early does not have to wait for her 18th birthday. Full details on withdrawals are on our withdrawal rules page.
Marriage, maturity and the girl's age
Some older articles say the account matures when the girl turns 21. That is not how the current scheme works. Under the 2019 Scheme, maturity falls 21 years after the account was opened, not on her 21st birthday.
Premature closure for marriage is allowed with these conditions:
- she must be 18 or older on the marriage date;
- she submits a declaration, notarised and on non-judicial stamp paper, plus age proof;
- the request is made no earlier than one month before and no later than three months after the marriage.
Partial withdrawal for marriage is not part of the current rules. Marriage is a reason to close the account, not to withdraw part of it.
Questions people ask
What is the age limit for sukanya samriddhi yojana?
The girl must be below 10 years old on the day the account is opened. There is no separate minimum age, but her birth certificate is required.
Can I open the account for a newborn?
Yes. The scheme sets no minimum age. Once you have her birth certificate, both post offices and authorised banks accept it.
My daughter is 10. Is there any way to open an account?
No. The scheme allows opening only while she is still under 10 on the opening date. Other savings options may suit her, but they are outside this scheme.
Does the account mature when my daughter turns 21?
No. It matures 21 years after the account was opened. If you opened it when she was 6, it matures when she is about 27.
At what age can money be withdrawn for education?
From 18, or sooner if she has passed Class 10. Half of the balance as of the last year-end, at most, can be taken for fees.
Who operates the account after the girl turns 18?
She does. From 18 she manages it on her own, after giving the branch her KYC papers.
Sources we checked
- Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, 2019 (India Post PDF) IndiaPost.gov.in
- Scheme text reproduction (Taxguru) taxguru.in
- Maturity value checkpoints (ClearTax calculator) cleartax.in
- Scheme launch and resident girl child (News On AIR) newsonair.gov.in
We read these sources for this guide. Rules can change after we check them, so confirm anything important on the official portal or at your local office.