Female government employees who choose surrogacy for childbirth are now eligible for up to 6 months or 180 days of maternity leave, following recent amendments by the Centre to the longstanding 50-year-old rule.
Previously, there was no provision for maternity leave for women government employees under such circumstances.
The new amendment to the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, provides significant relief to both the surrogate (the woman who carries the child for the commissioning mother) and the commissioning mother (the intended mother of the child born via surrogacy) with less than two surviving children.
This new rule also extends to male government employees with less than two living children.
The commissioning father (the intended father of the child born via surrogacy) will now be eligible for 15 days of paternity leave, according to the notice dated 18 June, issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
According to current regulations, female government employees and single male government employees can take childcare leave for up to 730 days during their tenure to care for their two eldest surviving children.
Government employees can utilize these leaves to raise children or attend to their needs, such as education or illness.
This significant policy shift aims to support government employees in balancing their professional and personal lives, particularly in the context of modern family planning choices such as surrogacy.
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