8 Things you must know, before you start preparing for UPSC 2016

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s chief regulating body which is responsible for conducting a number of competitive exams to recruit for various civil service vacancies for the government of India.

IAS (Indian Administrative Service) or the (CSE) Civil Services Exams are conducted in two phases and they are UPSC prelims and UPSC Mains. The Prelims exam consists of objective type questions, while the mains is of descriptive and essay type answering. If you have planned to appear for UPSC 2016 exams then here are key 8 things that you should know.

1. Know the UPSC Exam Dates

Exam Name	Notification Date	Last Date to Apply	Exam Date
SCRA	3 Oct, 2015	30 Oct, 2015	10 Jan, 2016
CDS (I)	7 Nov, 2015	4 Dec, 2015	14 Feb, 2016
CISF AC(EXE) LDCE	12 Dec, 2015	8 Jan, 2016	13 Mar,2016
NDA & NA (I)	2 Jan, 2016	29 Jan, 2016	17 Apr, 2016
IES/ISS	16 Jan, 2016	12 Mar, 2016	13 May,2016
CGSE/GE	4 Mar, 2016	4 Mar, 2016	13 May, 2016
ESE	27 Feb, 2016	25 Mar, 2016	27 May,2016
CMS	5 Mar, 2016	1 Apr, 2016	12 Jun, 2016
CAPF (AC)	12 Mar, 2016	8 Apr, 2016	26 Jun, 2016
CSE Prelims(CSAT)	23 Apr, 2016	20 May, 2016	7 Aug, 2016
NDA & NA (II)	18 Jun, 2016	15 Jul, 2016	18 Sep, 2016
CDS (II)	16 Jul, 2016	12 Aug, 2016	23 Oct, 2016
IFS Main	–	—	12 Nov, 2016
CSE Main	–	—	3 Dec, 2016
SO	10 Sep, 2016	7 Oct, 2016	17 Dec, 201

*The exam dates are subject to change as per UPSC guidelines, so keep an eye on the dates as it may be changed in the new notification released by the UPSC.

2. Why IAS? / PI quotient

Before stepping into the preparation of one of the toughest exams in the nation, do take a step back and ask yourself why and take a personal interview evaluate your PI quotient. This would help you have a clearer mindset throughout your preparation. The personality test is where your candidature would be measured against your performance.

3. The subsets of IAS

The IPS, IRS, IFS fall under the aegis of theIAS exam and the cutoff to get recruited in the services mentioned above is decided after the conduction of the exam.

IPS­ Indian Police Service

IRS­ Indian Revenue Service

IFS­ Indian Foreign Service

A proper understanding of what your target is, will streamline your preparation and keep you focused better.

4. How do you think you can contribute?

The final is the personality test, being an IAS officer places you with the nation’s finest. Ask yourself where is that you can prove your caliber, what changes can you bring. Your plan of contribution need not to be monumental but it should set you apart, as this will give you an edge over all the other applicants in the interview session.

5. Yes! IAS preparation is incredibly demanding

It is not an overrated fact that IAS the nation’s toughest competitive exam and it demands intensive preparation and practice. There is no generalized format or answer for the most commonly asked questions’ how many hours does an IAS aspirant need to put in every day. It will differ from person to person. So let us look at it from general perspective.

Time Required:

10-­12 months of aggressive preparation is a must. Four out of every ten Indians (21­-32 years) aspire to become an IAS officer. Only 5% of that massive number actually makes the cut. The reason is no rocket science; it is only because of the kind of preparation they resort to. A slow and delayed preparation is equivalent to no preparation. The 5% who make it go all guns blazing into their IAS prep are the one who put an effective and ideal number of hours in preparation every day.

One should also understand that it is not about quantitative preparation and what required is qualitative. It is about the completion of your short term target. In an ideal situation, you should target two subjects every day. If you really are an UPSC aspirant then you should start preparing for exams right from your school days as the syllabus contains mostly of 6th to 12th standard books and keep making notes and sit for 10-­12 hours before a year of the exam.

Don’t sit mugging for long hours take short breaks in between and always remember the right coaching; the right books; and the right motivation will make you crack the exam at ease.

6. Outline the syllabus and Design your preparation

Heard of the biological process “catabolism” where you break down the original components into their by­products, do the same with your IAS syllabus. Find out about what topic you would have an edge and  the topics you would need help in. Do it for all the subjects. You have now marked your territory; the bulk of the syllabus wouldn’t scare you at all. Also, this is an excellent confidence building exercise.

7. Objectifying the syllabus

Most of the IAS aspirants feel that the bulk of IAS syllabus deters them. No doubt, the syllabus is huge, but remind yourself that it is something that you have already studied before. Let’s take a quick look at the definition for ‘Divide and Conquer’. It basically means that you divide the population in this case the subjects into manageable chunks and that makes it impossible for them to come together (dividing them) and fight against the sovereign authority (conquering them). Let’s subject IAS to it.

Theory Papers: History, Economy, Polity, Geography, Optional subject (Demands a lot of your time!) Aptitude Test: CSAT (Demands a fragment of your time, more of your intelligence!)

8. Enjoy your preparation

Undeniably, UPSC preparation is a lengthy process, but you won’t find it easy if you don’t enjoy your preparation. Preparing for UPSC doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice all your hobbies, make sure to keep abreast your hobbies as it will make your preparation more fun. Don’t give up music especially if you are a music lover and there are people who study while listening to music and if you are one among them then definitely you make your learning more interesting and enjoyable. If you are passionate about anything make sure to keep it abreast during your UPSC preparation as this will keep you lively.

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Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is a government agency in India, established in 1991 under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, that manages the Software Technology Park scheme. It is an export oriented scheme for the development and export of computer software, including export of professional services. 

The STP Scheme provides various benefits to the registered units, which includes:

1. 100% foreign equity, 
2. tax incentives, 
3. duty-free import, 
4. duty-free indigenous procurement, 
5. CST reimbursement, 
6. DTA entitlement, 
7. deemed export etc.

STPI has played a seminal role in India having earned a reputation as an information technology superpower. STP units exported software and information technology worth Rs. 215264 crore in FY 2010-11. The state with the largest export contribution was Karnataka followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. STPI has a presence in many of the major cities of India including the cities of Bangalore, Mysore, Trivandrum, Bhilai, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Pune, Guwahati, Noida, Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolkata, Kanpur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Patna, Rourkela, Ranchi, Gandhinagar-Gujarat, Surat, Imphal, Shillong, Nashik etc.

STPI centers provide variety of services, which includes:

1. High Speed Data Communication, 
2. Incubation facility, Consultancy, 
3. Network Monitoring, 
4. Data Center, 
5. Data Hosting etc. 
6. provides physical hosting for the National Internet Exchange of India
7. regulating the STP scheme

The tax benefits under the Income Tax Act Section 10A applicable to STP units has expired since March 2011. While the Government has chosen not to extend the Sec 10A benefits against the demand by the IT units, most of the STP registered SME units shall be affected, who now will have to pay Income Tax on profits earned from exports.

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Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994

Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to stop female foeticides and arrest the declining sex ratio in India. The act banned prenatal sex determination.

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Inter-State Council

Fulfilling its commitment of Common Minimum Programme, the Government set up a Commission on Centre-State Relations on FRIDAY, 27th APRIL 2007/VAISAKHA 7, 1929 to look into the new issues of Centre-State relations keeping in view the changes that have been taken place in the polity and economy of India since the Sarkaria Commission had last looked at the issue of Centre-State relations over two decades ago. 

The Commission was chaired by Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India. Shri Dhirendra Singh and Shri Vinod Kumar Duggal, both former Secretary to the Government of India, Prof. (Dr.) N.R. Madhava Menon, former Director, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal and National Law School of India, Bangalore and Dr. Amaresh Bagchi, Emeritus Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi were the other members of the Commission. Secretary, Inter-State Council served as the Secretary of the Commission.

The Commission examined and reviewed the working of the existing arrangements between the Union and States, various pronouncements of the Courts in regard to powers, functions and responsibilities in all spheres including legislative relations, administrative relations, role of governors, emergency provisions, financial relations, economic and social planning, Panchayati Raj institutions, sharing of resources including inter-state river water etc. The Commission made a number recommendations in its seven volume report presented to Government on 30 March 2010. 

The main recommendations of the Commission regarding the Inter-State Council and its secretariat were as under: 

1. The Inter-State Council need to be substantially strengthened and activised as the key player in intergovernmental resolutions. It must meet at least thrice in a year on an agenda evolved after proper consultation with States.
2. The ISC must be empowered to follow up the implementation of its decisions for which appropriate statutory provisions should be made. The Government will be well advised to evolve an appropriate scheme to utilize the full potential of ISC in harmonizing Centre-State relations which has become urgent in the changed circumstances. Issues of governance must as far as possible be sorted out through the political and administrative processes rather than pushed to long drawn adjudication in the Court.
3. Inter-State Council appears to be the most viable, promising, Constitutional mechanism to be developed for the purpose provided it is properly restructured and duly empowered. Once ISC is made a vibrant, negotiating forum for policy development and conflict resolution, the Government may consider the functions for the National Development also being transferred to the ISC. 
4. The Council should have functional independence with a professional Secretariat constituted with experts on relevant fields of knowledge supported by Central and State officials on deputation for limited periods. 
5. ISC should have an organizational and management structure which different from the Government departments and flexible enough to accommodate management practices involving multidisciplinary skills conducive to federal governance under the Constitution.
6. Given the Constitutional and quasi-judicial tasks, the Council should have experts in its organizational set up drawn from the disciplines of Law, Management and Political Science besides the All India Services.
7. The Secretary of ISC should be designated ex-officio Secretary of the Department of States reporting directly to the Union Home Minister who is to be ex-officio Deputy Chairman of the Council. 

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Main Recommendations of Punchhi Commission

Related Article:
Centre State Relations
Inter-State Council

There should be an amendment in Articles 355 and 356 to enable the Centre to bring specific trouble- torn areas under its rule for a limited period.

I. The commission has proposed "localizing emergency provisions" under Articles 355 and 356, contending that localized areas-either a district or parts of a district - be brought under Governor's rule instead of the whole state. Such an emergency provision should however not be of duration of more than three months.

II. The commission however supports their right to give sanction for the prosecution of ministers against the advice of the state government.

III. To make an amendment in the Communal Violence Bill to allow deployment of Central forces without the state's consent for a short period. It has proposed that state consent should not become a hurdle in deployment of central forces in a communal conflagration. However, such deployment should only be for a week and post-facto consent should be taken from the state.

IV. Among the significant suggestions made by the Commission is, lying down of clear guidelines for the appointment of chief ministers. Upholding the view that a pre-poll alliance should be treated as one political party, it lays down the order of precedence that ought to be followed by the governor in case of a hung house:

• Call the group with the largest prepoll alliance commanding the largest number;
• The single largest party with support of others;
• The post-electoral coalition with all parties joining the government; and last
• The post electoral alliance with some parties joining the government and remaining including Independents supporting from outside.

V. The panel also feels that governors should have the right to sanction prosecution of a minister against the advice of the council of ministers. However, it wants the convention of making them chancellors of universities done away with.

VI. As for qualifications for a governor, the Punchhi commission suggests that the nominee not have participated in active politics at even local level for at least a couple of years before his appointment. It also agrees with the Sarkaria recommendation that a governor be an eminent person and not belongs to the state where he is to be posted.

VII. The commission also criticizes arbitrary dismissal of governors, saying, "the practice of treating gov­ernors as political football must stop".

VIII. There should be critical changes in the role of the governor - including fixed five-year tenure as well as their removal only through impeachment by the state Assembly. It has also recommended that the state chief minister have a say in the appointment of governor.

IX. Underlining that removal of a governor be for a reason related to his discharge of functions, it has proposed provisions for impeachment by the state legislature along the same lines as that of Presi­dent by Parliament. This, significantly, goes against the doctrine of pleasure upheld by the recent Supreme Court judgment.

X. Endorsing an NCRWC recommendation, it says appointment of governor should be entrusted to a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and chief min­ister of the concerned state. The Vice-President can also be involved in the process.

XI. Unlike the Sarkaria report, the Punchhi report is categorical that a governor be given fixed five-year tenure. The Punchhi Commission report also recommends that a constitutional amendment be brought about to limit the scope of discretionary powers of the governor under Article 163 (2). Governors should not sit on decisions and must decide matters within a four-month period.

XII. The creation of an overriding structure to maintain internal security along the lines of the US Home­land Security department, giving more teeth to the National Integration Council.

XIII. For the National Integration Council (NIC), the commission has proposed that it should meet at least once a year. In case of any communal incident, it has said that a delegation of five members of the Council, who would be eminent persons, should visit the affected area within two days National debate and submit a fact-finding report.

XIV. The commission, however, rejects a suggestion from some stakeholders as well as the Liberhan Commission that the NIC be accorded constitutional status.

XV. The commission has also studied new set-ups like the National Investigation Agency, and recommended procedures to ensure smooth co-operation of the states in terror investigations entrusted to NIA. One can say that the extreme politicization of the post of Governor must be decried and certain specific norms for the appointment and removal have to be evolved.

XVI. The recent ruling of the Supreme Court has indicated that the sanctity of this constitutional post should be preserved. In democracy, nobody can have absolute power in the name of smooth administration and good governance. The administrative apparatus has to be in the line of the constitution, which was prepared by the people of the country and amended by the elected representative of the people of India. The 'doctrine of pleasure' has to be understood in this light.

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Vishaka Guidelines

Guidelines and norms laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Vishaka and Others Vs. State of Rajasthan and Others(JT 1997 (7) SC 384)

HAVING REGARD to the definition of ‘human rights’ in Section 2 (d) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, TAKING NOTE of the fact that the present civil and penal laws in India do not adequately provide for specific protection of women from sexual harassment in work places and that enactment of such legislation will take considerable time, It is necessary and expedient for employers in work places as well as other responsible persons or institutions to observe certain guidelines to ensure the prevention of sexual harassment of women.

Duty of the Employer or other responsible persons in work places and other institutions

It shall be the duty of the employer or other responsible persons in work places or other institutions to prevent or deter the commission of acts of sexual harassment and to provide the procedures for the resolution, settlement or prosecution of acts, of sexual harassment by taking all steps

required.

Definition

For this purpose, sexual harassment includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) as:

a) Physical contact and advances;

b) A demand or request for sexual favours;

c) Sexually coloured remarks;

d) Showing pornography;

e) Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature

Where any of these acts is committed in circumstances where-under the victim of such conduct has a reasonable apprehension that in relation to the victim’s employment or work whether she is drawing salary, or honorarium or voluntary, whether in government, public or private enterprise such conduct can be humiliating and may constitute a health and safety problem. It is discriminatory for instance when the woman has reasonable grounds to believe that her objection would disadvantage her in connection with her employment or work including recruiting or promotion or when it creates a hostile work environment. Adverse consequences might be visited if the victim

does not consent to the conduct in question or raises any objection thereto.

Preventive Steps

All employers or persons in charge of work place whether in public or private

sector should take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment. Without

prejudice to the generality of this obligation they should take the following

steps:

A. Express prohibition of sexual harassment as defined above at the work place should be notified, published and circulated in appropriate ways.

B. The Rules/Regulations of Government and Public Sector bodies relating to conduct and discipline should include rules/regulations prohibiting sexual harassment and provide for appropriate penalties in such rules against the offender.

C. As regards private employers, steps should be taken to include the aforesaid prohibitions in the standing orders under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.

D. Appropriate work conditions should be provided in respect of work, leisure, health and hygiene to further ensure that there is no hostile environment towards women at work places and no employee woman should have reasonable grounds to believe that she is disadvantaged in connection with her employment.

Criminal Proceedings

Where such conduct amounts to a specific offence under the Indian Penal Code or under any other law, the employer shall initiate appropriate action in accordance with law by making a complaint with the appropriate authority.

In particular, it should ensure that victims or witnesses are not victimized or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment. The victims of sexual harassment should have the option to seek transfer of the perpetrator or their own transfer.

Disciplinary Action

Where such conduct amounts to misconduct in employment as defined by the relevant service rules, appropriate disciplinary action should be initiated by the employer in accordance with those rules.

Complaint Mechanism

Whether or not such conduct constitutes an offence under law or a breach of the service rules, an appropriate complaint mechanism should be created in the employer’s organisation for redress of the complaint made by the victim. Such complaint mechanism should ensure time bound treatment of complaints.

Complaints Committee

The complaint mechanism, referred to above, should be adequate to provide, where necessary, a Complaints Committee, a special counsellor or other support service, including the maintenance of confidentiality. The Complaints Committee should be headed by a woman and not less than half of its member should be women. Further, to prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels, such Complaints Committee should involve a third party, either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment.

The Complaints Committee must make an annual report to the Government department concerned of the complaints and action taken by them. The employers and person in charge will also report on the compliance with the aforesaid guidelines including on the reports of the Complaints Committee to the Government department.

Worker’s Initiative

Employees should be allowed to raise issues of sexual harassment at a workers’ meeting and in other appropriate forum and it should be affirmatively discussed in Employer-Employee Meetings.

Awareness

Awareness of the rights of female employees in this regard should be created in particular by prominently notifying the guidelines (and appropriate legislation when enacted on the subject) in a suitable manner.

Third Party Harassment

Where sexual harassment occurs as a result of an act or omission by any third party or outsider, the employer and person in charge will take all steps necessary and reasonable to assist the affected person in terms of support and preventive action.

The Central/State Governments are requested to consider adopting suitable measures including legislation to ensure that the guidelines laid down by this order are also observed by the employers in Private Sector.

These guidelines will not prejudice any rights available under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. 

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Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA)

Features of Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA):

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  10 years.  ( As per SB Order No. 2/2015 : The Girl child who is born on or after  02.12.2003 can open account )

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.

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