Maternity Leave
Maternity leave is paid leave for childbirth and recovery, granted as a statutory entitlement to eligible women employees under the Maternity Benefit Act.
Also known as: maternity benefit act, maternity leave India
It is an entitlement, not a company benefit, and the duration, eligibility conditions and additional provisions — such as nursing breaks and crèche obligations above a headcount threshold — are set by legislation rather than policy.
Operationally it needs planning that most leave types do not: a defined absence of several months with a known start date, requiring cover arrangements and a return plan. Treating it as ordinary leave in the system usually means the cover is arranged late.
Adoption and commissioning mothers have their own provisions, which policies frequently omit because they arise less often.
Statutory note
Duration, eligibility, crèche obligations and related provisions are set by the Maternity Benefit Act and its amendments, with some state-level variation. Verify current requirements rather than relying on a remembered duration.
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See leave managementRelated terms
Earned Leave (Privilege Leave)
Earned leave is paid time off accrued through service — typically credited monthly or annually, carried forward within limits, and usually encashable on exit.
Sick Leave
Sick leave is paid leave for illness or medical treatment, often requiring a medical certificate beyond a set number of consecutive days.
LOP (Loss of Pay)
LOP is an unpaid absence — a day an employee did not work and had no paid leave balance to cover, so the corresponding salary is deducted from that month's pay.
ESI (Employees' State Insurance)
ESI is India's statutory health and social security scheme for employees earning below a wage threshold, funded by contributions from both the employee and the employer.