There is no separate post office boy child scheme; parents open the regular schemes in their son's name, with themselves as guardian. The most popular choice is a PPF account, which some postal circles promote as Ponmagan or Selva Magan, followed by RD for monthly saving and NSC or KVP for lump sums.
This page compares them with numbers for a child's timeline, explains the guardian rules, and lists the documents. For daughters, Sukanya Samriddhi is the special scheme.
At a glance
Boys only scheme
NoneMost chosen
PPF in the child's nameWho operates
Parent as guardian until 18; child from 10 for some accountsPonmagan
Regional name for PPF promotionDocuments
Birth certificate, parent's KYC
Post office boy child scheme options, compared
Ponmagan and Selva Magan: what these names mean
Ponmagan Podhuvaipu Nidhi is a name used in the Tamil Nadu postal circle to promote PPF accounts for boys, as a counterpart to the scheme for girls. Selva Magan is a similar local name. They are not separate schemes with their own rate; the account opened is an ordinary PPF at 7.1%, with the same rules everywhere. So the Ponmagan scheme interest rate is simply the PPF rate.
Planning by your son's age
A son is 3. The parents open a PPF in his name and deposit ₹50,000 a year. By the time he is about 18, the account matures at roughly ₹13.56 lakh, tax free. Separately, an RD of ₹2,000 a month started when he is 13 returns about ₹1.43 lakh at 18, handy for admission fees.
Run your own numbers on the PPF calculator and the RD calculator.
Guardian rules and what the child can do
- A parent or legal guardian opens and operates the account for a minor.
- From age ten a boy may run his own savings account, RD, TD, NSC, KVP and an MIS capped at ₹3 lakh.
- At 18, the account converts to the child's own name after updating KYC.
- Only one PPF per child; parents cannot open two PPFs for the same child.
Documents for a baby boy or new born
Bring the child's birth certificate, the parent's Aadhaar and PAN, and photographs of both. Many post offices also ask for the child's Aadhaar if issued. A new born can have a PPF or RD opened the same week as the birth certificate is issued.
Tax when saving in a minor's name
Interest earned on investments made from the parent's money in a minor's name is added to the parent's income for tax, except PPF interest, which is tax free anyway. A small exemption per child applies under the old regime. That makes PPF the cleanest choice for a son's long term fund.
Common questions about the post office children scheme
Parents asking for a post office children scheme, a scheme for baby boy, or the best post office scheme for a boy child in Karnataka or any other state get the same answer: there is one set of national schemes, and the choice depends on time horizon. For girls, see Sukanya Samriddhi on its own dedicated site; for all goals, see the best post office scheme ranking.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a special post office scheme for a boy child?
No. Parents use PPF, RD, NSC or KVP in the son's name.
What is the Ponmagan scheme?
A regional promotional name for a PPF account opened for a boy. It earns the normal PPF rate.
Top pick for a baby boy at the post office?
PPF for long term tax free growth, with RD for shorter goals.
Can a 10 year old boy open his own post office account?
Yes, a savings account and several other schemes, operated by himself.
What documents are needed for a boy child scheme?
Birth certificate, the parent's Aadhaar and PAN, and photos.
Can grandparents open a scheme for a grandson?
Only if they are the legal guardian. Otherwise a parent opens the account, and grandparents can gift money into it.