Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Tamil Nadu Extends Paid Maternity Leave for Third Child
Tamil Nadu is changing its maternity-leave rules for women who work for the state government.
A woman having a third child will now be allowed 365 days of paid leave.
Before this, the third child received only up to 12 weeks of leave.
The first and second children already received 365 days.
The new rule gives the same amount of leave for all three children.
Minister D Sarathkumar announced the decision in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
The government says the change supports women’s welfare and makes the benefits fairer.
TKS Elangovan disagreed and said it could weaken the state’s family-planning policy.
Officials are expected to issue a Government Order explaining how the change will be implemented.
Tamil Nadu will provide women state government employees 365 days of fully paid maternity leave for a third child.
The previous provision offered up to 12 weeks, or 84 days, for a third child.
The new policy makes maternity leave equal for the first, second and third children.
Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar announced the measure in the Legislative Assembly, with a detailed Government Order expected.
DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan criticized the move, saying it could signal a retreat from Tamil Nadu’s family-planning approach.
- Who
- The Government of Tamil Nadu, women state government employees, Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar, and critics including TKS Elangovan.
- What
- A plan to increase fully paid maternity leave for a third child from up to 12 weeks to 365 days.
- When
- The reports place the announcement on Tuesday or Wednesday; one report dates it August 19, 2026.
- Where
- The announcement was made in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
- Why
- To bring third-child maternity leave in line with the benefit for the first two children and support women’s welfare; critics say it may undermine family planning.
Women’s Welfare and Equal Benefits
Family-Planning Concerns
Purpose of the leave extension
Women’s Welfare and Equal Benefits
The government’s move makes third-child benefits equal to those for the first two children and is presented as supporting women’s welfare, workplace equity, and family well-being.
Family-Planning Concerns
TKS Elangovan said Tamil Nadu had encouraged families to have no more than two children and questioned whether the new policy means the government is abandoning family planning.
Demographic response
Women’s Welfare and Equal Benefits
The measure is described as part of a broader social-security and women’s-empowerment agenda amid reports of a low fertility rate and an ageing population.
Family-Planning Concerns
Critics argue that extending benefits to a third child could conflict with the state’s earlier population-control and family-planning approach.
- New entitlement
- 365 days of fully paid maternity leave for a third child.
- Previous entitlement
- Up to 12 weeks, or 84 days, for women employees with two or more children.
- Leave parity
- The announced policy would provide 365 days for the first, second, and third children.
- Eligible employees
- Women working as state government employees in Tamil Nadu.
- Announcement
- Human Resources Management Minister D Sarathkumar made the announcement during a debate on departmental grant demands.
- Implementation
- A detailed Government Order is expected to specify how the policy will be rolled out.
- Demographic context
- One report cites Tamil Nadu’s Total Fertility Rate as below 1.4 and nearly 16% of its population as over 60.
Sources
Mother Of All Maternity Break Policies: Tamil Nadu’s Vijay Govt Approves 365 Days’ Paid Leave For Third Child
Tamil Nadu's 3rd Child Move - Is Delimitation The Bigger Picture?
Tamil Nadu Govt Extends Maternity Leave for Third Child to 365 Days
