Saturday 31 January 2015

Sukanya Samriddhi Account / Yojana - Highest fetching interest scheme across all schemes


Disclaimer :- The infrormation is compiled by Akula.Praveen Kumar, Marketing Executive, Medak HO, AP Circle. Author of blog does not accepts any responsibility in relation to the accuracy, completeness, usefullness or otherwise of the contents.


Sukanya Samriddhi Account/Yojana is a Small Savings Special deposit Scheme for girl child. This scheme is specially designed for girl’s higher education or marriage needs.


Highest fetching interest scheme across all schemes.


The Scheme launched for the welfare of the girl child, to save and educate the girl child.


http://sapost.blogspot.in/


·           Who can open the account? – Sukanya Samriddhi a/c (or Khata) can be opened on a girl child’s name by her natural (biological) parents or legal guardian.
·           What is the Age limit? – SSA can be opened in the name of a girl child from the birth of the girl child till she attains the age of ten years.
·           How many accounts can be opened? – A depositor may open and operate only one account in the name of same girl child under this scheme. The depositor (or) guardian can open only two SSA accounts. There is one exception to this rule. The natural or legal guardian can open two or three accounts if twin girls are born as second birth or triplets are born in the first birth itself.
·           How to open a SSA account? Accounts in name of the girl child can be opened in post offices or in any branch of a commercial bank that is authorized by the Central Government to open an account under this scheme rules.
·          What is the minimum deposit to open the account? – The account may be opened with an initial deposit of one thousand rupees. The minimum contribution in any financial year is Rs 1000. Thereafter the contributions can in multiples of one hundred rupees.
·          What is the maximum deposit amount? – a minimum of one thousand rupees shall be deposited in a financial year but the total money deposited in an account on a single occasion or on multiple occasions shall not exceed Rs 1.5 Lakh in a financial year.
·          Deposits in an account may be made till the child completes fourteen years, from the date of opening of the account.
·           Is there any penalty? – If minimum (Rs 1000 pa) amount is not deposited, the account will be treated as an irregular account. This can be regularized/renewed on payment of Rs 50 per year as penalty. Along with this, the minimum specified subscription for the year (s) of default should be paid.
·          What is the mode of deposit? – The deposits in Sukanya Samruddhi scheme can be made in the form of Cash or Demand Draft or Cheque. Where deposit is made by cheque or demand draft, the date of encashment of the cheque or demand draft shall be the date of credit to the account. The cheque or DD should be drawn in favour of the postmaster of the concerned post office or the Manager of the concerned bank.The depositor (parents or guardian) has to write the account holder’s name (child’s name) and the account number on the backside of the instrument.
·          What is the Rate of Interest on Sukanya Samriddhi Account? – The applicable rate of interest on SSA for the financial year 2014-2015 is 9.1%. This is one of the highest rates of interest offered by Government on small savings scheme
·          Is interest rate fixed or variable? – The rate of interest is not fixed and will be notified by the central government on a yearly basis.
·           The account can be transferred anywhere in India if the girl shifts to a place other than the city or locality where the account stands.
·            Is Premature withdrawal allowed? – 50 % (half of the fund) of the accumulated amount in SSA can be withdrawn for girl’s higher education and marriage after she attains 18 years of age. The account’s balance at the end of preceding financial year is used for the calculation.
·           Can the girl child operate the account? On attaining age of ten years, the account holder that is the girl child may herself operate the account, however, deposit in the account may be made by the guardian or parents.
·          Is premature closure allowed? In the event of death of the account holder, the account shall be closed immediately on production of death certificate. the balance at the credit of the account shall be paid along with interest till the month preceding the month of premature closure of the account , to the guardian of the account holder.
·         The scheme would mature on completion of 21 years of the girl child, from the date of opening of the account, with an option of keeping the account till marriage.
·           Can the girl child continue the account after her marriage? – The operation of the account shall not be permitted beyond the date of the girl’s marriage.
·            What are the required documents to open Sukanya Samriddhi Account? – Birth certificate of the girl child has to be produced. The depositor (parents or guardian) has to submit his/her identity and address proofs.
·          On opening an account, the depositor shall be given a pass book. It will have date of birth of the girl child, date of opening of account, account number, name and address of the account holder and the initial amount deposited. The depositor has to present the passbook to the post office or bank at the time of depositing/receiving the interest/on maturity.

Tax Benefits on Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme

The amount that is deposited under Sukanya Samriddhi Account will be eligible for income tax exemption under Section 80C of Income Tax Act, 1961.
At present, only the contribution of up to Rs 1.5 lakh toward Sukanya Samridhi Yojana is eligible for tax deduction under Section 80C. But discussions are on to also exempt the interest income and withdrawal amount. We can expect a formal announcement on this in the coming Union Budget 2015-16.

(Issue of making interest income and withdrawal exempt from taxation can be done by Department of Revenue (DoR) through legislative amendments. The matter is under examination of DoR)


Sukanya Samriddhi Account vs Public Provident Fund (PPF)

Both Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA) and Public Provident Fund (PPF) aims to seed the savings habit but both schemes have their own pros and cons.
Stressing on the girls role in making the India competitive and prosperous nation, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has today launched a new small savings account for the girl child “Sukanya Samriddhi Account” as an integral part of the “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao” campaign.

Sukanya Samriddhi Account was initially introduced by Shri Arun Jaitely in his maiden budget speech but has been officially launched today by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He has handed over bank account details to five girls under the “Sukanya Samridhi Yojna” (girl child prosperity scheme).
Sukanya Samridhi Yojna is a special deposit scheme for girl child only but one another popular scheme to benefit child (irrespective of girl or boy) is Public Provident Fund (PPF).

Let’s see the difference between Sukanya Samriddhi Account and Public Provident Fund (PPF)

Sukanya Samriddhi Account vs Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Points of Difference
Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA)
Public Provident Fund (PPF)
For whom
Only for Girl Child.
For every Indian Citizen.

Age Limit
From the birth till she attains age of 10 years.
No age limit.



By whom
By the girl child who has attained the age of 10 years or by the natural or legal guardian.
By the Individual but by the natural or legal guardian for the minor child.

Where to open
Post office and nationalized banks but not private banks.
Post office and nationalized banks, including private banks.


Number of Account
One account for each girl child, maximum up to 2 or 3 accounts if twin girls are born in the second birth or triplets are born in the first birth.
Each Individual can hold only one account in his name.

Minimum Contribution
    Rs.1,000
Rs.500

Maximum Contribution
   Rs.1.5 lakhs in all accounts.
Rs.1.5 lakhs in all accounts.
Interest Rate
9.1% per annum for fiscal year 2014-15.
8.70% per annum for fiscal year 2014-15.

Tax Benefit on the Contribution
Contributed Amount will be deductible u/s 80C.
Contributed Amount will be deductible u/s 80C.

Tax Benefit on the interest earned
At present no tax benefit is announced for the interest earned. A mere sum of Rs.1,5o0 will be deductible u/s 10(32) .
Interest Earned is tax free under PPF.

Time Period of contribution
Minimum tenure of contribution is 14 years from the date of opening of account.
Minimum 15 years and then in blocks of 5 years.


Maturity
21 years from the date of opening of account.
15 years from the fiscal year of opening of account.


Penalty
Rs.50 per year if minimum contribution is not made.
Rs.50 per year if minimum contribution is not made.

Mode of Deposit
Cash or Demand Draft or Cheque
Cash or Demand Draft or Cheque


Premature Withdrawal
Allowed up to 50% for the girl’s higher education and marriage after she attains 18 years of age
No premature withdrawal is allowed except in case of death of the account holder.



Loan
No loan can be taken on the SSA balance.
Loan can be taken from the third year of opening of account to the sixth year.

Taxation on Maturity
No tax will be levied on the maturity amount.
No tax will be levied on the maturity amount.

Note:

1.      Interest rate under both the schemes will be notified each year by the Government.
2.      Interest will be compounded yearly under both schemes.
3.      Loan on the PPF balance is restricted to 25% of the balance at the end of 2nd year.
4.      At present interest earned on SSA account is taxable in the hands of guardian but it may get tax rebate in the upcoming budget.

5.       Contributed amount get deduction u/s 80c up to Rs.1.5 lakhs including all other eligible investments.


Saturday 24 January 2015

21st AIC of NAPE C ....

21ST All India Conference of National Association of Postal Employees Group C was held at Bhilai, Chhattisgarh from 20.01.2015 to 22.01.2015. Near about 1000 delegates from all over the country attended the Conference. The main agenda of the conference was to discuss the matter relating to 7th Pay Commission , Problems of CBS software , Introduction of new services, new technology, Mechanization on the department, Cadre Restructuring, Re-verification of membership in 2015.  

General Secretary Sh.D.Kishan Rao addressing the delegates informed that Central Govt. is planning to privatize Postal Department and has already formed Task Force which has suggested to the Govt. that Postal department should be divided into 5 parts and al will be governed by corporate sector. The 5 sectors are Banking, Insurance, Mails, Business Development and Logistics Posts. General Secretary has informed that if the suggestions of task force implemented it will be a major setback for the postal employees. The Govt is planning to invite FDIs in Railways and privatize other Central Govt. departments also. General Secretary has told that all the Central Govt Employees Trade Unions will have no option other than to move ahead for INDEFINITE STRIKE in the month of May 2015 including Railway Employees Unions also.  

Large Delegation from Punjab Circle also participated in the conference under leadership of Saurabh Mittal Circle President Punjab Circle. Sh.Saurabh Mittal addreses the conference told that re-verification of membership is coming in the month of April 2015 and efforts should me made to increase the membership in favour of National Union. Sh.Dharam Pal Singh Divisional Secretary Jalandhar Division and Sh. Chandan Kalra Vice President attended the Conference from Jalandhar Division. Sh.Dharam Pal Singh while addressing the conference told that no proper infrastructure is available for proper working of Core Banking Systems in Post Offices. Computers are old having slow speed, no ups backup is available, server speed is very slow. He also raises the point that no recruitment has been made under sports quota for the last 10 years in Punjab Circle and posts are lying vacant.

 The Conference ended with huge success and election of new office bearers of Central Head Quarters was also head in which Sh. Rajat Dass (Kolkatta), Sh.D.Kishan Rao (Hyderabad) and Sh.Sribhagwan (Delhi) has been elected as President, General Secretary and Financial Secretary respectively unanimously.

Sh. Harish Sharma P.A Sec 60 Mohali has been elected as CHQ Office Bearer from Punjab Circle.

NAPE C Jalandhar Division Wishes and Congratulation to Sh.Harish Sharma....









Saturday 3 January 2015

SB orders issued in 2014 by Directorate

Directorate has issued following SB orders in the year 2014. Please take out the prints and keep for reference and record. 
  1. SB ORDER 01/2014 : CLICK HERE
  2. SB ORDER 02/2014 : CLICK HERE
  3. SB ORDER 03/2014 : CLICK HERE
  4. SB ORDER 04/2014 : CLICK HERE
  5. SB ORDER 05/2014 : CLICK HERE
  6. SB ORDER 06/2014 : CLICK HERE
  7. SB ORDER 07/2014 : CLICK HERE
  8. SB ORDER 08/2014 : CLICK HERE
  9. SB ORDER 09/2014 : CLICK HERE
  10. SB ORDER 10/2014 : CLICK HERE
  11. SB ORDER 11/2014 : CLICK HERE
  12. SB ORDER 12/2014 : CLICK HERE
  13. SB ORDER 13/2014 : CLICK HERE