Fincash » Mutual Funds India » Mahila Samman Saving Certificate Scheme
Table of Contents
The government has hailed Budget 2023-24 as an inclusive and powerful package and stated that it is a vision for Amrit Kaal. According to the finance minister, Ms Nirmala Sitharaman, the budget includes such programs and initiatives that will reach more people in society and increase women's Financial Literacy.
Keeping this progress in mind, one of the programs that were spoken about in the budget was the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate, which is a one-time small savings program that will be accessible for two years till March 2025. Let’s figure out more about the overview, benefits and eligibility of this program in this post.
The program would provide women and girls of all ages with a deposit Facility of up to Rs 2 lakh for a two-year term.
If a woman changes domicile, she can withdraw the money without incurring any fees and effortlessly move her Savings Account from one location to another. In addition to providing financial advantages, the program encourages women to take charge of their finances and make informed decisions, which promotes financial literacy and gives them more authority. The program aids in encouraging women to work in finance and increases their representation in financial institutions. This way, Mahila Samman Bachat Patra Yojana 2023 is a positive move to empower women and advance financial literacy.
Here are the benefits of the Mahila Samman Saving Certificate:
Talk to our investment specialist
The scheme offers a 7.5% fixed rate
annually, which is typically higher than most Fixed Deposit and other popular Small Saving Schemes. However, the responses to the interest rate provided by the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate program have been conflicting. Some have stated that the interest rate is sufficient to encourage women to save money, but others have suggested that it could have been higher. The interest rate provided for the period is higher than the rates supplied by virtually every Bank, and it provides savings while outpacing Inflation.
Consider Investing Rs. 2,000,000 in the program for two years; you would receive a Fixed Interest Rate of 7.5% per year. As a result, you will receive Rs. 15,000 on the principal amount in the first year and Rs. 16,125 in the second. After two years, you will have received Rs. 2,31,125 (Rs. 2,00,000 for the initial investment plus Rs. 31,125 for interest).
The plan will accept investments starting on April 1, 2023. Only cash or cheques can be used to make the deposit.
Here is the list of documents required for the Mahila Samman Saving Certificate Scheme:
The process for purchasing a Mahila Samman Savings Certificate is as follows:
The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate program offers interest rates higher than those offered by National Savings Certificate (NSC) and Provision Pension Fund (PPF), which are now 7.1% and 7%, respectively. The existing schemes have a substantially longer tenure than the new system. While NSC is a five-year plan with no withdrawals other than in extraordinary circumstances, like the investor's death or a court order for it, PPF is a 15-year savings option that offers partial withdrawals after seven years.
Here's how the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate differs from PPF, NSC, SCSS, and SSY:
Criteria | Mahila Samman Savings Certificate | PPF | NSC | SCSS | SSY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eligibility | Women and girls | Any Indian citizen | Any individual including, Non-Resident Indians (NRI) | Senior citizens aged 60+ | Girl child less than ten years of age |
Interest Rate | 7.5% | 7.1% | 7% | 8% | 7.6% |
Tenure in years | 2 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 21 years from account opening or when the child attains 18 years of age |
Limit Deposit | Max. Rs.2 lakh | Rs 500 to Rs 1.5 lakh | Rs. 100 + | Rs. 1000 to Rs. 30 lakh | Rs. 250 to Rs. 1.5 lakh |
Premature Withdrawal | Allowed | Partial withdrawal post 7 years | Sometimes allowed | Closable anytime | Sometimes allowed |
Tax Benefit | Not disclosed | Exempt-Exempt-Exempt (EEE) under Section 80C | Up to Rs.1.5 lakh Deduction under Section 80C | Up to Rs.1.5 lakh deduction under Section 80C | Exempt-Exempt-Exempt (EEE) under Section 80C |
The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate, which was put forth in the budget, encourages saving and provides a higher interest rate than the Industry standard over a shorter period. However, a larger interest rate would have benefited the two-year savings plan. Yet, it is a good initiative to allow women across the country to save more and learn the benefits of investments.