Parental Leave

A company policy allowing employees to take time off for childbirth, adoption, or family care responsibilities

HR professionals design parental leave policies in compliance with labor laws, ensuring work-life balance and promoting gender equality in the workplace.

How many days of parental leave do we have in India?

In India, parental leave is divided into maternity and paternity leave, with significant differences:

• Maternity Leave:
  
  • As per the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, women are entitled to 26 weeks (182 days) of paid maternity leave for the first two children.
    
  • For the third child, it is reduced to 12 weeks.
    
  • Additional leave may be granted in case of illness or complications.
    
    
• Paternity Leave:
  
  • India does not have a national law mandating paternity leave in the private sector.
    
  • However, central government employees get 15 days of paternity leave.
    

In the private sector, it's at the employer's discretion — some companies offer 5 to 30 days.

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What is the maximum parental leave in India?

• The maximum paid parental leave as per Indian law is:
  
  • 26 weeks for maternity leave
    
  • 15 days for paternity leave (for government employees)
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• Some progressive companies offer extended parental leave (e.g., up to 6 months for either parent), but this is not legally mandated.

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What is the parental leave policy in India?

India’s formal parental leave policy includes:

• Maternity Leave:
  
  • 26 weeks for the first two children
  • 12 weeks for subsequent children
  • 12 weeks for adopting or commissioning (surrogacy) mothers
  • Employers must also provide a crèche facility (for companies with 50+ employees)
    
    
• Paternity Leave:
  
  • Not covered under Indian labor law for the private sector
  • 15 days for central government employees
  • Some private companies voluntarily offer paternity leave