Mahila Samman Savings Certificate: Have you invested in the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme (MSSC)? There’s good news for women investors. The government has made a major change to this scheme.
Now, account holders can withdraw money using the Electronic Clearance Service (ECS). Although new deposits under this scheme were stopped after March 31, 2025, existing investors can benefit from this new facility.
What Were the Earlier Withdrawal Options?
Earlier, there were only three ways to withdraw money under the MSSC scheme:
Cash – within the allowed limit
Transfer to Post Office Savings Account (POSA)
Postmaster Cheque
But there was no option to send money directly to any bank outside the post office network. This created issues for women who did not have a post office-linked bank account.
Now Money Can Be Transferred via ECS
On June 12, 2025, the government issued a circular allowing ECS (Electronic Clearance Service) for MSSC withdrawals.
This means investors can now transfer money directly to their bank accounts even if the account is not linked to the post office.
Women who have invested in the scheme should visit the nearest post office and update their ECS details. This will make the process faster and more convenient.
Withdrawal Options Now Available
Cash (within the allowed limit)
Credit in POSA
Postmaster Cheque
Direct Transfer via ECS
This new change makes it easier for women to access their funds. They no longer need to collect cheques or cash from the post office.
Withdrawal Rules
Up to 40% of the investment can be withdrawn after 1 year of account opening.
In case of death or serious illness, the account can be closed early and the full 7.5% interest will still apply.
If the account is closed after 6 months without any reason, the interest reduces by 2%, becoming 5.5%.
About the MSSC Scheme
The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate was launched by the central government to help women build financial security. It has a maturity period of 2 years.
Interest Rate: 7.5% per year (fixed for 2 years)
Minimum Investment: ₹1,000
Maximum Investment: ₹2 lakh per woman
Eligibility: Only women and girls could invest in this scheme.
