| Parameter<\/td> | Children mutual funds<\/td> | Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana<\/td><\/tr> |
| Eligibility<\/td> | The account can be for a girl or boy child<\/td> | The account must only be in the name of a girl child<\/td><\/tr> |
| Age limit<\/td> | No minimum age requirement. However, the maximum age limit is 18 yrs.<\/td> | The minimum age requirement is three months. The maximum age limit is 10 yrs.<\/td><\/tr> |
| Number of accounts<\/td> | No restriction on the number of accounts that can be opened.<\/td> | A maximum of two accounts can be opened for a family with two or more daughters.<\/td><\/tr> |
| Who manages the account<\/td> | Parents or legal guardians<\/td> | Parents or legal guardians till the girl child turns 18 yrs old. Post that, she can take control of the account.<\/td><\/tr> |
| Returns<\/td> | No fixed interest rate as it depends on market fluctuations.<\/td> | Fixed \u2013 currently, it is 7.6% per annum.<\/td><\/tr> |
| Investment limit<\/td> | No limit<\/td> | Rs. 1.5 lakh per year<\/td><\/tr> |
| Risk<\/td> | Its dependency on market fluctuations makes it riskier than Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.<\/td> | Risk-free as sovereign guarantees back the scheme<\/td><\/tr> |
| Lock-in period<\/td> | Usually, it is a minimum of 5 yrs or until the child turns 18 yrs, whichever is earlier.<\/td> | 21 yrs from the date of opening the account<\/td><\/tr> |
| Premature withdrawal<\/td> | Allowed, but exit load can increase up to 4%.<\/td> | Allowed in case the child dies, is no longer a citizen of India, or is facing difficulties for survival like in the case of a parent or guardian.<\/td><\/tr> |
| Maintenance cost<\/td> | The AMC charges a fee called expense ratio every year.<\/td> | No maintenance cost.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n |