It was in the Budget 2023-24 that the country’s finance minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate. This savings scheme is designed specifically for women to empower them across the country and encourage them to save and invest for a secure future.
What is a Mahila Samman Savings Certificate?
The main aim of the government behind introducing the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate was to help women understand the importance of saving money and take a step towards a more financially independent future.
Under this scheme, women can deposit a maximum of ₹2 lakh for two years. This will eventually help them enjoy a fixed interest rate, ensuring that the investment is not only safe but will also help grow their savings!
Interest Rate on Mahila Samman Savings Scheme
Women have been able to avail of the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate through post offices and public sector banks across the country starting April 1, 2023. The scheme offers an attractive 7.5% annual interest rate. This interest is credited to the account every quarter and is paid out once the account is closed.
Key Features of the Mahila Samman Savings Scheme
To understand the savings scheme better, here is a look at all of its features:
Feature
| Details
|
Interest Rate
| A competitive interest rate of 7.5%. This is subject to periodic revision by the government.
|
Government-Supported
| Since it is backed by the government, the scheme is a low-risk investment option that offers high security.
|
Eligibility
| The scheme can only be used and an account can be opened under the scheme only by a woman or a girl child. If the girl is a minor, a guardian can also open an account for a minor girl.
|
Deposit Limits
| The minimum deposit is ₹1,000, which needs to be in multiples of ₹100.
The maximum deposit is ₹2 lakh across all accounts.
A second account can be opened after 3 months from the first one.
|
Maturity Period
| The account matures after 2 years, after which the entirety of the matured amount is paid to the account holder.
|
Tax Benefits
| Unless the interest exceeds ₹40,000 or ₹50,000 for senior citizens, there is no TDS deduction on interest earned. This is taken into account for a single financial year.
|
Withdrawal
| Investors can withdraw up to 40% of the balance after 1 year from the account opening date.
|
Required Documents for Mahila Samman Savings Scheme
Listed below are the documents required to start investing in the Mahila Samman Savings Scheme:
A filled-out MSSC Application Form
Pay-in slip with the deposit amount/cheque
Filled up KYC form for new account holders
Aadhaar Card
Voter ID
Driving License
PAN card
How to Open a Mahila Samman Savings Certificate at the Post Office
Here are the steps to open a Mahila Samman Savings Certificate at the post office:
First, download the ‘Application for Purchasing the Certificate’ from the Indian Post’s official website. Otherwise, you can obtain the form from your nearest Post Office as well.
Fill out all the important details like personal information, account type, post office address, payment method, payment method, personal information, etc.
Once you have filled out the application, review it thoroughly and submit the completed form with all the required documents at the post office.
After this is done, you need to deposit the amount using cash or cheque, i.e. the payment method you have listed in the form, at the post office.
Once everything is verified and processed, investors will receive a certificate that will act as a confirmation of their investment in the scheme.
How to Open a Mahila Samman Savings Certificate at Banks
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how you can open a Mahila Samman Savings Certificate at banks:
First, download the ‘Application for Purchasing the Certificate’ from a qualified bank’s official website. You can obtain the form from the nearest authorized public sector bank.
Fill out all the important details like personal information, account type, post office address, payment method, payment method, personal information, etc.
Next, you need to fill out the declaration and the details of the nominee, if any.
Once you have filled out the application, review it thoroughly and submit the completed form with all the required documents to the bank executive.
After this is done, you need to deposit the amount using cash or cheque, i.e. the payment method you have listed in the form.
Once everything is verified and processed, investors will receive a certificate that will act as a confirmation of their investment in the scheme.
List of Banks Offering Mahila Samman Savings Certificate
Most public sector and a few private sector banks have been authorised by the Ministry of Finance and Department of Economic Affairs to provide this scheme to the public. This authorisation was done through an e-gazette, announced on 27th June 2023.
Here is a list of all the banks that are offering the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate:
Bank of India
Central Bank of India
Canara Bank
Bank of Baroda
Union Bank of India
Punjab National Bank
Premature Withdrawal from Mahila Samman Savings Scheme
If investors ever feel the need to close their MSSC account before it matures, i.e. the 2-year term, listed below are a few situations in which this can be done:
In the event of the account holder’s death, the deposited amount will be returned but with interest paid only on the principal.
In case of compassionate grounds like the passing away of the guardian or if the account holder is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. In such cases, the account can be closed after the necessary documents are submitted.
Investors and account holders can close their accounts after 6 months of opening them without any specific reason. They will still end up earning 5.5% interest on their deposit.
Conclusion
The Mahil Samman Savings Scheme is a government-backed scheme in which women and the girl child can invest. It is a safe, risk-free and high-reward investment option that helps women build a financially independent future for themselves.