Rajnath Singh Grants Maternity and Childcare Leave Equality for Women Soldiers, Sailors, and Air Warriors with Officer Peers.

Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh has given the green light to a proposal that extends maternity, childcare, and child adoption leave benefits to women soldiers, sailors, and air warriors, aligning them with their officer counterparts. The decision, according to the defense ministry, aligns with Singh’s vision of fostering “inclusive participation” for all women in the armed forces, regardless of their ranks.

The move is expected to enhance working conditions for women in the military, facilitating a better balance between their professional and family lives.

The defense ministry announced, “Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal for the extension of rules for maternity, child care, and child adoption leave for women soldiers, sailors, and air warriors in the armed forces on par with their officer counterparts.”

With the new rules in effect, the granting of such leave to all women in the military, irrespective of their rank, will be equally applicable, the ministry added.

Currently, women officers are entitled to 180 days of maternity leave with full pay for each child, up to a maximum of two children. They can also avail themselves of 360 days of childcare leave throughout their service career, provided the child is under 18 years of age. Furthermore, child adoption leave of 180 days is granted for valid adoptions of children below one year of age.

The ministry explained that the extension of these leave rules will be a significant step in addressing women-specific family and social issues within the armed forces.

The ministry highlighted the achievements of women in the Indian armed forces, from being operationally deployed in the challenging terrain of Siachen to serving on warships and excelling in various roles, breaking barriers across different fields within the military.

Rajnath Singh’s stance has consistently favored equal opportunities for women in all fields, emphasizing gender parity and inclusivity.

_{Repurposed article originally published in the Economic Times.}