Government Proposes Extended Parental Leave: 6 Months Paid Maternity and 42 Days Paid Paternity Leave
The government is preparing to amend the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2018, proposing 6 months of fully paid maternity leave for mothers and 42 days for fathers. According to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam, the amendment bill is drafted and undergoing final preparation for Cabinet approval. The reform aims to grant working parents sufficient time for newborn care.
The government has introduced a new policy proposal to significantly extend maternity and paternity leave benefits for working parents. Through proposed amendments to the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2018, statutory provisions will grant mothers at least 6 months and fathers 42 days of fully paid leave.
According to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam, the draft amendment bill is complete and preparation is underway to present it to Parliament following Cabinet approval.
Key provisions of the proposed amendment bill include:
- Fully paid maternity leave of at least 6 months for mothers
- Fully paid paternity/caregiver leave of 42 days for fathers
- Guaranteed adequate parental time to ensure newborn health and nutrition security
Minister Gautam clarified that the state is taking this step to encourage shared parenting amidst changing lifestyles, workplace pressure, and declining birth rates. "While childbirth is a natural process associated with the mother, raising a child is not the sole responsibility of the mother," she stated. Once implemented, this provision is expected to support maternal health reform and foster gender equality in the labor market.