How Many Weeks of Maternity Leave Is a Woman Entitled to in India?

In India, the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, provides maternity leave benefits to female employees working in the private and certain public sectors. The duration of maternity leave depends on the number of children the woman has and her eligibility under the Act.

Maternity Leave Entitlement in India:

For Women with Two or Fewer Children:

A woman is entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave for the birth of a child.

This can be taken before and after childbirth, with a maximum of 12 weeks before the expected date of delivery and the remaining leave after childbirth.

For Women with More Than Two Children:

Women who already have more than two children are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave.

Leave for Adoption or Surrogacy:

Women adopting a child or those opting for surrogacy are also entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave from the date of adoption or the birth of the child.

Key Points to Remember:

The maternity leave is paid, meaning the employee will receive her full wages during the leave period, as per the Maternity Benefit Act.

To qualify for maternity leave, the employee must have worked for at least 80 days in the 12 months immediately preceding the expected delivery date.

Example:

If a woman with two children is expecting a baby, she would be entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave under the Maternity Benefit Act. She could choose to take 12 weeks before the delivery and 14 weeks after the birth, receiving her full wages during this period.

Legal Actions and Protections:

Employment Protection:

The Act also protects women from job loss during maternity leave, ensuring they can return to their original position or an equivalent position after the leave.

In summary:

In India, women are entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave if they have two or fewer children and 12 weeks if they have more than two children, with full pay during the leave period as per the Maternity Benefit Act.