Higher education in India — and abroad — is inflating faster than general prices. The earlier you start, the smaller the monthly amount you'll need, because compounding does the heavy lifting.
Step 1 — estimate the future cost
Take today's cost of the course and inflate it to when your child will need it (education inflation often runs ~8–10%). A degree costing ₹15 lakh today could be ₹35–40 lakh in 15 years.
Step 2 — the monthly SIP
Working backwards, building ₹50 lakh in 15 years takes roughly ₹10,000 a month at a 12% assumed return. Start when your child is born and the number is far smaller than starting when they're ten.
Step 3 — the right mix
With a long horizon, equity SIPs do the growing; as the goal nears (the last 2–3 years), shift gradually to safer FDs or debt so a market dip doesn't derail admission-time money.
Set your own target and timeline in the SIP and goal calculators.
Where to go next
FAQs
It depends on the target amount and years left. As a rough guide, building ₹50 lakh in 15 years takes about ₹10,000 a month at a 12% assumed return — start earlier and the monthly amount drops sharply. Use a goal calculator for your figures.
For a long horizon, equity mutual funds/SIPs offer the best growth potential; as the goal approaches, shift gradually into safer FDs or debt funds to protect the corpus. Avoid keeping long-term education money entirely in low-return options.
Educational information, not financial advice. Figures are illustrative and assume the stated return or rate; actual outcomes vary and aren't guaranteed. Run your own numbers before deciding.