Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced a major change in maternity leave rules for women government employees, extending maternity leave for the birth of a third child from 12 weeks to 365 days.
The announcement was made by Tamil Nadu Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar in the state Assembly during the discussion on demands for grants for his department. The move will bring maternity leave for a third child on par with the one-year benefit available for the first two children.
Third-Child Maternity Leave Increased to One Year
Under the previous arrangement, women government employees with fewer than two surviving children were eligible for 365 days of maternity leave, while those having two or more surviving children were entitled to only 12 weeks, or 84 days, of maternity leave with full pay.
The latest decision removes this distinction for the third child and extends the one-year maternity leave benefit to eligible women government employees.
The government described the move as part of its focus on social welfare and women’s empowerment.
Minister Announces Policy Change in Assembly
Minister D Sarathkumar announced the decision while presenting his department’s demands in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
He said the existing maternity leave available for the third child would be enhanced from 12 weeks to 365 days, citing the government’s welfare-oriented approach and its emphasis on women’s empowerment.
A detailed government order is expected to be issued to formally implement the announcement.
How Tamil Nadu’s Maternity Leave Policy Evolved
Tamil Nadu has progressively increased maternity leave for its government employees over the years.
The original maternity leave period was 90 days. It was increased to six months in 2011 and then to nine months in 2016. In July 2021, the leave period for eligible women government employees was increased to 365 days.
However, the benefit for women having two or more surviving children remained limited to 12 weeks under the subsequent framework.
Move Comes After Legal Dispute
The latest announcement also follows legal developments surrounding maternity leave for government employees having a third child.
In April 2026, the Madras High Court set aside an order restricting maternity leave for a woman government employee’s third pregnancy and directed that she receive maternity leave on par with the benefits available for earlier pregnancies.
The court proceedings added to the wider debate over whether maternity benefits for government employees should be restricted based on the number of children.
What the New Decision Means
The policy change is expected to provide greater job security and support to women government employees who have a third child.
The key change is:
- Earlier: 12 weeks of maternity leave for a third child
- Now announced: 365 days of maternity leave
- Benefit: Third-child maternity leave brought in line with the one-year provision
- Who is affected: Eligible women employees of the Tamil Nadu government
- Implementation: Detailed government order is expected
The announcement marks a significant expansion of maternity support within Tamil Nadu’s government workforce and could have wider implications for discussions around women’s employment, family welfare and workplace rights.
Disclaimer: The 365-day provision is based on the Tamil Nadu government’s announcement on August 18, 2026. The detailed government order and implementation conditions should be checked once officially issued.
