Best Government Schemes for Girl Child in 2026

4 Central Government Schemes for Girl Child

Here are the 5 best savings schemes for girl child in India in 2026, classified in categories such as savings and educational schemes: 

Central Government Savings Schemes for Girl Child

Below are the details of some saving scheme for girl child:

1. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)

   The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is one of the most popular schemes launched by the central government as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. The saving scheme for girl child aims to encourage long-term savings with an attractive interest rate of 8.2% per annum (Q2, 2026-27) along with tax benefits under the EEE status.

   Some key details of the scheme are as follows:

   • Launched on: 22 January 2015 under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP).
   • Eligibility criteria:
     • The account can be opened by parents or legal guardians for a girl child below 10 years of age.
     • Only one account per girl child is allowed.
     • A family can open accounts for a maximum of two daughters.
     • Parents or legal guardians operate the account until the child turns 18 years of age.
   • Benefits:
     • The Sukanya Samriddhi Account offers a high interest rate of 8.2% p.a.
     • The account matures when the child turns 21 years of age, helping parents create a long-term financial corpus.
     • The account can be prematurely closed in case of the marriage of the girl child upon turning 18.
     • Tax benefits on deposits of up to ₹1.5 lakh per year under Section 80C under the Old Tax Regime.
     • Interest earned is also tax-free under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act.
   • Documents required:
     • Girl child's birth certificate
     • Address proof
     • Passport-size photos
     • ID proof of the parent/legal guardian
   • Application steps:
     • Visit a post office or authorised bank branch. Currently, you can not apply online to open an SSY account.
     • Fill the form to open a Sukanya Samriddhi Account.
     • Submit the required documents for verification.
     • Deposit the initial amount to activate the account.
   Read more

Central Government Educational Schemes for Girl Child

Here are some of the best savings schemes for girl child for education and awareness purposes by the central government:

1. CBSE Merit Scholarship for Single Girl Child

   The CBSE Merit Scholarship for Single Girl Child is a special saving scheme for girl child introduced to encourage education among single girl children in India.

   Some key details of the CBSE Merit Scholarship for Single Girl Child are as follows:

   • Eligibility Criteria:
     • The student must be a single girl child in the family.
     • She must have passed Class 10 from a CBSE-affiliated school with 70% or more marks.
     • The student must continue her studies in Class 11 and Class 12 in a CBSE school.
     • Tuition fees must not exceed ₹2500 per month in Classes 11 and 12 during the academic year.
     • The gross parental/family income of the girl child should not exceed ₹8 lakhs in a year.
   • Benefits:
     • ₹1,000 monthly (earlier ₹500) scholarship support for two years, disbursed through ECS/NEFT payment methods.
     • The scholarship can be renewed for Class 12, provided the student secures 70% or more marks in Class XI.
   • Documents required:
     • Class 10 mark sheet
     • School certificate confirming single girl child status
     • Aadhaar card
     • Bank account details
     • Passport-size photographs
     • Copy of the admission fee receipt 
   • Application steps:
     • Visit the official CBSE scholarship portal.
     • Fill out the online scholarship application form.
     • Upload the required documents.
     • Submit the application and wait for the selection result.
   Read more
   Investment

   Secure

   

   Secure your child’s future with or without you

   Start Investing

   ₹10,000/Month

   & Get

   ₹1 Crore^*

   VIEW PLANS

   *Standard T & C Apply

2. AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students

   The AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students is a government-backed scholarship for female students enrolled in technical degree or diploma programs at AICTE-approved institutions. Under the scheme, an eligible female student can avail an annual scholarship of ₹50,000 through the Direct Benefit Transfer.

   Here are some key details about the scheme:

   • Eligibility criteria:
     • The girl student must be enrolled in the first year of a technical Degree/Diploma or second year of a technical Degree/Diploma through lateral entry in an AICTE-approved institution.
     • A maximum of two girl children per family are eligible for the scholarship.
     • The family income (from all the sources) of the girl child must not exceed ₹8 lakhs per annum in the current financial year.
   • Benefits:
     • Eligible female students receive ₹50,000 per year for every year of their education in the degree/diploma course.
     • The funds are transferred through the Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
   • Documents required:
     • Class 10th certificate
     • Class 12th certificate (for Degree level)
     • ITI certificate (for lateral entry at the Diploma level)
     • Diploma certificate (for lateral entry at the Degree level)
     • Bank passbook
     • Aadhaar Card
     • Passport-size photo
     • Family income certificate
   • Application steps:
     • Visit the National Scholarship Portal and register yourself
     • Log in to the application portal with your application ID and password, and set a new password
     • Go to the applicant’s dashboard and click on the application form
     • Fill out the details carefully 
     • Verify your credentials through DigiLocker
     • Upload the required documents and submit
   Read more

3. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

   The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme is a flagship campaign for the girl child introduced by the Government of India. The scheme was launched on 22 January 2015 and focuses on improving the status of girls by promoting education, preventing gender discrimination and improving the child sex ratio. The scheme does not offer any direct financial benefits to a girl child. The scheme is jointly managed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Education.

   Some key details of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign are as follows:

   • The scheme runs campaigns in all districts in India.
   • The BBBP campaign is fully funded by the central government.
   • The scheme involves community mobilisation and training for frontline workers for awareness about the value of the girl child.
   Read more

5 State Government Schemes for Girl Child Education

Various state government schemes in India provide targeted financial incentives and milestone payments to support a girl child’s education. Below are some of the best government schemes for girl child education offered by the state governments in India: 

1. Kanyashree Prakalpa

   The Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme, launched by the West Bengal government, aims at reducing child marriage across the state and promotes girl child education by providing Conditional Cash Transfers. The scheme received the UN Public Service Award in June 2017, recognising its impact in achieving its objectives.

   Key details of the West Bengal Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme are as follows:

   • Launched: In October 2013 by West Bengal's Women Development & Social Welfare Dept.
   • Eligibility criteria: 
     • Unmarried girls in West Bengal enrolled in school or an educational institution are eligible for the scheme.
     • The girl must be between 13 and 18 years old for the Annual Scholarship (K1).
     • The girl child must be between 18 and 19 years for the One-Time Grant (K2). 
     • The applicant should have a bank account opened in their name.
   • Benefits: 
     • Annual Scholarship (K1): ₹1,000/year for unmarried girls aged 13-18 in Class VIII or more for every year they remain in education.
     • One-Time Grant (K2): A one-time grant of ₹25,000 at age 18 for continuing education/training while being unmarried.
   • Documents required:
     • Birth certificate (for K2)
     • School certificate (for K1)
     • Family income certificate
     • Bank account details
   • Application steps:
     • Get the suitable Kanyashree Prakalp form based on your eligibility from your educational institution.
     • Fill out the application form and submit it along with the required documents.
     • Upon submission of the application, collect the acknowledgement receipt.
   Read more

2. Ladli Lakshmi Yojana

   The Ladli Lakshmi Yojana is a well-known policy for the girl child introduced by the Madhya Pradesh government. It provides financial support to girls at different stages of their lives so as to encourage the education and empowerment of girls.

   Some important details of Ladli Lakshmi Yojana are as follows:

   • Launched on: 1st April 2007.
   • Eligibility criteria:
     • The girl child born on or after 1st January 2006
     • Parents of the girl child should be natives of Madhya Pradesh and not income tax payers.
     • The applicant should be registered at the Local Anganwadi Centre.
     • Family planning was adopted after the birth of the second child. 
   • Benefits: 
     • An assurance certificate of ₹1,43,000 is issued in the name of the girl child.
     • ₹6000 is annually deposited for the five consecutive years in the Madhya Pradesh Ladli Laxmi Yojana Fund.
     • Scholarship amount in stages during the girl’s schooling years when they take admission:
       • in class 6th: ₹2,000/-
       • in class 9th: ₹4,000/-
       • in class 11th: ₹6,000/-
       • in class 12th: ₹6,000/-
     • An incentive amount of ₹25,000 (in two equal installments) in the first and last year of the course after taking admission to a graduate or professional course.
     • Final payment of ₹1 lakh on completion of 21 years of age (in case she continues her studies after 12th)
   • Documents required:
     • Samagra ID of the girl child
     • The family ID of the girl child 
     • Photo of the girl child with mother/father 
     • Family planning certificate (in case of a second girl child). 
   • Application steps:
     • Visit the Ladli Laxmi Yojana Portal.
     • Click on “Apply Now” and enter the required Samagra ID of the Girl and family 
     • Fill out the scheme application form.
     • Upload the required documents and submit the form.
   Read more

3. Kanya Sumangala Yojana

   The Kanya Sumangala Yojana is an initiative of the Uttar Pradesh government to provide young girls in Uttar Pradesh with financial assistance as they achieve different educational milestones in their lives. The total payout of the scheme is ₹25,000, which is distributed in six installments. 

   Some important details of Kanya Sumangla Yojana are as follows:

   • Launched On: 25 October 2019.
   • Eligibility criteria: 
     • The applicant’s family must be permanent residents of Uttar Pradesh with valid residency proof. 
     • Annual family income must not exceed ₹3 lakh.
     • The girl’s family must have a maximum of two children. 
   • Benefits:

     The payout of ₹25000 is distributed in 6 instalments as follows:

     • At birth: ₹5000
     • Completing 1 year of age with full immunisation: ₹2000
     • Admission to class 1: ₹3000
     • Admission to class 6: ₹3000
     • Admission to class 9: ₹5000
     • Admission to a minimum 2-year degree/diploma after class 12th: ₹7000
   • Documents required:
     • Latest photo of the girl child 
     • Affidavit in prescribed format.
     • Birth certificate.
     • Immunization card (at birth)
     • Admission certificates/proof of admission
     • 10th/12th certificate/mark sheet (for the last installment)
   • Application steps:
     • Go to the official website of MKSY of the Women and Child Development Department 
     • Register with your credentials 
     • Fill the form 
     • Add the required documents 
     • Verify all your details and submit the application
   Read more

4. Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana

   The Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana is an important govt scheme for the girl child launched by the Rajasthan government to support girls from birth to higher education. Like various other schemes on the list, this scheme distributes financial assistance in various life milestones, i.e from birth till the time she enrols in class 12. 

   Key details of Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana are as follows:

   • Launched on: 1st June 2016
   • Eligibility criteria:
     • The girl child must be a resident of Rajasthan.
     • Must be born on or after 1st June 2016 in a government or private medical institution registered with Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY). 
     • Applicant’s parents must have an Aadhar Card and a Bhamashah Card 
   • Benefits:
     • Financial assistance of up to ₹50,000 is provided in the following stages:

       Phase	Benefit Amount
       At the time of birth	₹2,500
       1 year after vaccination	₹2,500
       On admission to Class 1	₹4,000
       On admission to Class 6	₹5,000
       On admission to Class 10	₹11,000
       On admission to Class 12	₹25,000

     • Documents required:
       • Jan Aadhaar Card of parents
       • Birth certificate
       • Aadhaar card of the girl child
       • School admission proof
       • Bank account details
       • Passport size photograph
       • 12th class mark sheet (If applicable)
   Read more

5. Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana

   The Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana is a govt scheme for the girl child introduced by the Bihar government to support girls from economically weaker families. The scheme was recently merged with the Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana. 

   Some key details of Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana are as follows:

   • Launched: 2007-2008
   • Eligibility Criteria:
     • The girl must be a resident of Bihar.
     • The girl child must be born on or after November 22, 2007.
     • The scheme is for families living below the poverty line.
     • The birth of the girl child must be registered with the government.
     • The scheme provides benefits to a maximum of two girl children per BPL family. 
   • Benefits:
     • The government provides financial assistance of ₹2,000, which is invested as a fixed deposit.
     • The maturity value is payable to the girl child after she attains 18 years of age. 
   • Documents required:
     • Birth certificate
     • BPL certificate
     • Aadhaar card
     • Bank account details
   • Application steps:
     • Get the application form from the Women & Child Development Corporation or from the local designated government offices.
     • Fill out the application form and attach the required documents before submitting.
     • The financial benefit is transferred after verification of the submitted details.
   Read more

Conclusion

The government schemes for girl child are very important for their education, empowerment, and health. These saving scheme for girl child supports them by providing financial aid and better health care in their early years. Additionally, benefits from these schemes can be invested in a child plan for a better future for your girl child.