BBBP
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) is India's most high-profile campaign for girl children, launched on 22 January 2015 by PM Modi in Panipat — a district in Haryana that had one of India's worst Child Sex Ratios (CSR). It is not a single scheme but a multi-ministry, multi-instrument national mission with three pillars: Save, Survive, and Educate.
**Three Pillars of BBBP:**
**Pillar 1 — Beti Bachao (Save the Girl Child):** Enforcing the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, which prohibits sex determination tests for sex selection. District collectors conduct raids on illegal sex determination clinics. PCPNDT enforcement has been the most tangible, measurable output — over 3,000 cases registered annually.
**Pillar 2 — Beti Padhao (Educate the Girl Child):** State and district-level campaigns to keep girls in school — scholarships, school infrastructure (separate toilets for girls), conditional cash transfers for attendance, and community mobilisation. The NSP (National Scholarship Portal) and NMMS scholarship are linked schemes.
**Pillar 3 — Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY):** The financial backbone — a dedicated savings scheme for girl children offering 8.2% interest p.a. (highest among government small savings), Section 80C deduction, and completely tax-free maturity. Parents open an SSY account for daughters up to age 10, deposit ₹250–₹1.5 lakh per year, and the corpus matures when the girl turns 21 (or is partly withdrawn at 18 for higher education).
**The Child Sex Ratio Challenge:**
India's CSR (girls per 1,000 boys aged 0–6) was 918 in 2011 (Census). The national goal is 950+. BBBP is credited with improving CSR in many districts — Haryana's CSR improved from 879 (2012) to 916 (2019–21 NFHS-5). The campaign also targets the deeply entrenched practice of female foeticide through community awareness.
**BBBP District Expansion:**
Initially launched in 100 districts with CSR below 918. Expanded to 640 districts in 2022 — national coverage — because gender discrimination is not limited to specific districts.
**Mission Shakti Integration (2021):**
BBBP is now integrated under the Mission Shakti umbrella (the overarching women empowerment mission of the WCD Ministry), alongside Sambal (protection) and Samarthya (empowerment) components.
Key Objectives
- Prevent gender-biased sex selective elimination of girl children — enforce PCPNDT Act.
- Ensure survival and protection of girl children from birth through childhood.
- Promote education and participation of girl children — reduce dropout rates.
- Change societal attitudes about girl children through sustained community campaigns.
- Provide long-term financial security for girls through Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
Benefits
Eligibility
- All girl children in India — no income restriction for BBBP campaign benefits
- For Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: girl child up to 10 years of age at time of account opening
- Parents or legal guardians can open SSY account for up to 2 girl children (3 in case of twins/triplets)
- SSY account can be opened at any post office or bank
- Minimum annual deposit for SSY: ₹250 to keep account active
- SSY account matures when girl turns 21 (partial withdrawal allowed at 18 for education)
- SSY: accounts cannot be opened after girl child turns 10 years
- Maximum 2 SSY accounts per family (1 per girl child, max 2 girls) — 3 accounts only for multiple births
How to Apply
BBBP campaign: no individual application — benefits are community/institutional level
For Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) account:
Step 1: Visit any post office or authorised bank branch (SBI, PNB, Canara, HDFC, ICICI, etc.)
Step 2: Fill SSY account opening form
Step 3: Submit girl child's birth certificate, parent/guardian Aadhaar and PAN
Step 4: Make minimum initial deposit of ₹250
Step 5: Account passbook issued — make deposits annually (minimum ₹250, maximum ₹1.5 lakh)
Step 6: Account operates for 15 years from opening; matures when girl turns 21
Step 7: At age 18, up to 50% can be withdrawn for higher education
Required Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current interest rate for Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana in 2025?
The SSY interest rate for Q1 FY 2025–26 (April–June 2025) is 8.2% per annum, compounded annually. The rate is set by the Government and reviewed every quarter. SSY consistently offers one of the highest interest rates among government savings schemes — higher than PPF (7.1%), NSC (7.7%), and bank FDs.
Can I open more than one SSY account for my daughters?
Yes — one SSY account per girl child, maximum two accounts per family. If you have three daughters or twin/triplet girls, you can open three accounts with a court order or birth certificate proof of multiple births.
What is the minimum and maximum I can deposit in SSY per year?
Minimum: ₹250 per year (to keep account active). Maximum: ₹1,50,000 per year. Deposits must be made for 15 years from account opening. The account continues to earn interest after the 15-year deposit period until maturity at the girl's age 21 — so the total earning period can be up to 21 years.
Can I withdraw SSY money before the girl turns 21?
Partial withdrawal is allowed after the girl turns 18 — up to 50% of the balance at the end of the preceding financial year. This is specifically for higher education expenses (admission fee, tuition). Full premature closure is allowed on marriage after age 18. The account automatically matures (full withdrawal) when the girl turns 21.
Does Beti Bachao Beti Padhao give cash to families with girl children?
BBBP itself does not give direct cash to families — it is a campaign and advocacy programme. However, it is linked to Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (savings scheme) and state-level conditional cash transfer schemes. If you are looking for cash benefits for your daughter, check your state's scheme: Kanya Sumangala (UP ₹15,000), Ladli Laxmi (MP ₹1.43 lakh), Rajshri Yojana (Rajasthan ₹50,000), or Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree (Maharashtra ₹50,000).
Is the SSY maturity amount taxable?
No. SSY is an EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) scheme: the annual deposit qualifies for Section 80C deduction (up to ₹1.5 lakh), the interest earned is exempt from tax (Section 10), and the maturity amount (principal + interest) is completely tax-free. This makes SSY one of India's most tax-efficient savings instruments.
How can I check my SSY account balance?
Balance check options: (1) India Post: log in to indiapost.gov.in with your account number; (2) Bank accounts: use the bank's net banking or mobile banking app (SSY is available in all major banks); (3) Passbook update: visit your post office or bank branch and update the passbook; (4) Some banks provide SMS alerts on interest crediting.
Can I transfer my SSY account from one post office to another (if we relocate)?
Yes — SSY accounts are transferable across any post office or bank branch in India, free of charge. Submit a transfer request at your current post office/bank with a relocation proof. The account history and balance transfer completely — no loss of interest or benefits.