Mahila Samman Savings Certificate: All you need to know

Mahila Samman Savings Certificate can be applied by women for personal investments or by guardians for minor girls.

The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate is a one-time savings scheme for women announced by the central government in budget 2023. The scheme is valid till March 2025 and aims to empower women by increasing their participation in investments. It offers a maximum deposit facility of up to Rs 2,00,000 in the name of women or girls for two years at a fixed interest rate. 

 

Key features of the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate

 

Government-backed: The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate is a government-backed initiative, which means that there is no credit risk for investors.

 

Eligibility: Only girls or women can hold this certificate. It can be opened by either a woman herself or the guardian of a minor girl.

 

 

Deposit limits: Deposits can be made starting from Rs 1,000 in increments of Rs 100, up to a maximum of Rs 2,00,000 per account. A second account can be opened after three months.

 

Maturity period: The certificate matures in two years, with the maturity amount payable at the end of this period.

 

Partial withdrawal: Account holders can withdraw up to 40 per cent of the balance after one year from the opening date.

 

Tax benefits: The investment made under the plan is not eligible for a tax saving benefit under Section 80C of the Income-tax Act, 1961. However, interest earned under the plan is taxed.

 

Interest rate: This scheme has a fixed interest rate of 7.5 per cent p.a. The interest will be credited quarterly and paid at the time of closure of the account. 

 

Documents required for opening a Mahila Samman Saving Certificate account:

 

Duly-filled application form: Complete all required fields accurately and ensure all necessary information is provided.

 

KYC form for new account holders: Fill out the KYC form

 

Proof of Identity (any KYC document):

 

Aadhaar card

 

Voter ID card

 

Driving licence

 

PAN card

 

Pay-in-slip with the deposit amount/cheque

 

Premature closure conditions for Mahila Samman Savings Certificate:

 

Closure after six months: The account can be closed after six months from the opening date without providing any specific reason. In such instances, an interest rate of 5.5 per cent will be applicable on the principal amount.

 

Closure due to account holder's death: In the event of the account holder’s death, the account can be closed. In such a case, the interest will be paid on the principal amount.

 

Extreme compassionate grounds: Closure may be permitted on extreme compassionate grounds, such as:

 

Life-threatening illness of the account holder.

 

Death of the guardian, supported by relevant documentation. In such a case, the interest will be paid on the principal amount.

 

How to open a Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Account

 

Women and guardians of a girl child can open this account at post offices and qualified scheduled banks. 

 

Here is how you can invest in this scheme:

 

Visit your nearest post office or bank. 

 

Fill out the account opening form. This form is available at the counter or can be downloaded from the website.

 

If you are a new account holder, you must also submit the KYC form.  

 

You must provide KYC documents such as your Aadhaar card, PAN, address proof, etc. 

 

Deposit investment amount by cash or cheque. 

 

Finally, after submitting the filled-up form and making the payment, the post office or bank will issue a scheme certificate.