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Gold vs Sukanya Samriddhi — tradition or a guaranteed government scheme?

Many Indian families still buy gold steadily for a daughter's wedding. Sukanya Samriddhi is a government scheme built for exactly that goal instead — tax-free, guaranteed, and specifically restricted to a girl child's future. Compare both on the same monthly amount.

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Gold Calculator vs Sukanya Samriddhi15-year comparison

Opens Compare Lab pre-loaded with both, in your own currency — adjust any input and the chart updates instantly.

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How each one actually works
Gold

Physical or digital gold, valued by weight at the prevailing market price, plus making charges and GST on physical purchases.

PROS
Globally liquid — can be sold almost anywhere, quickly
Tends to hold or gain value during market stress, a useful hedge
No counterparty risk on physical gold
CONS
No income or yield — return comes purely from price appreciation
Making charges and GST reduce the effective return on physical gold
Storage and security are a real practical concern

Best for: A smaller diversifying allocation (typically 5–15% of a portfolio) as an inflation and crisis hedge, not a primary growth holding.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

A government scheme specifically for a girl child, with a higher interest rate than PPF, contributions required for 15 years, and maturity at 21 years from account opening.

PROS
Typically the highest rate among government-backed schemes
Fully tax-free, same EEE status as PPF
Specifically designed for education/marriage goals for a daughter
CONS
Only available for a girl child, with an account-opening age limit
Longer effective horizon than PPF (matures at 21 years)
Contribution required for the first 15 years to keep the account active

Best for: A guaranteed, tax-free fund built specifically for a daughter's education or marriage goal.

Questions
Isn't gold the traditional choice for this goal?

It has been historically, largely because Sukanya Samriddhi didn't exist before 2015 — it's worth comparing both now on the actual numbers rather than defaulting to tradition alone.

Can I do both — some gold and some Sukanya Samriddhi?

Yes, and many families do — Sukanya Samriddhi for the guaranteed, tax-free core, and a smaller ongoing gold purchase for the wedding jewelry itself, which serves a different purpose than a pure investment return.

Where do these numbers actually come from?

The same calculation engine that powers our standalone calculators and Compare Lab — nothing here is a separate or simplified estimate. Every assumption (rate, tenure, tax) is visible and adjustable once you open the comparison with your own numbers.

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All figures are illustrative projections based on the assumptions you select, not guaranteed returns. Validate tax and scheme rules before making financial decisions.