UP Approves 180-Day Maternity Leave Twice for Women

UP Cabinet clears 180 days maternity leave twice in career rule for female state government employees. The decision of Uttar Pradesh Cabinet allows female state government employees to enjoy 180 days of maternity leave twice in their service period without the earlier requirement of keeping two years’ gap between two maternity leaves. The decision is meant to help working mothers and give them adequate time for pregnancy, childbirth, recovery and childcare. The decision was taken by the Cabinet on August 22, 2026, according to news of the amended provisions.

What Are the New UP Maternity Leave Rules?

Under the new provision, eligible women state government employees will be able to take 180 days or six months of maternity leave twice in their service period.

The most important change made to the provisions is that of removing the requirement of the two years gap between two maternity leaves.

It means that eligible female state government employees can now take maternity leave twice without waiting for the two years gap after one maternity leave.

The amendment concerns Rule 153(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Financial Handbook.

Which Employees Will Be Eligible For This Benefit?

This revised rule is applicable to female workers of the state government of Uttar Pradesh. Under the new scheme, women workers can take maternity leave twice in their service period.

It has also been reported that this rule revision includes an extension of this 180 day benefit for adoptive mothers, thereby extending the benefit of maternity leave for female workers.

There were some limitations placed on the previous regulations on the waiting period for taking two consecutive maternity leaves.

Now this condition of a two-year waiting period has been removed.

Which Are the Important Benefits?

Some important benefits of this scheme include,

• Six months of leave: Employees can now enjoy around six months of leave for maternity under this plan.
• Two times in service life: They can avail themselves of the leave twice in their service life.
• No mandatory two-year waiting period: This was a previous condition for taking two maternity leaves which has been now removed.
• Childcare facility: Mothers will have more time after leaving their jobs for early recovery and childcare.
• Leave in case of adoption: This rule applies to the case of adoptive mothers also.

Why Is There No Two-Years Gaps Left Now?

This is because of some new developments in law about maternity benefits.

Some cases have been going on in the Allahabad High Court about the case of women in government service taking another maternity leave of 180 days within two years.

The Cabinet has amended this state law so that it is now in accordance with the latest development in Uttar Pradesh.