Maternity benefit and crèche rules under the Social Security Code

What’s happening

Women get up to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave (12 weeks from the third child), adoptive and commissioning mothers get 12 weeks regardless of the child's age after a March 17, 2026 Supreme Court ruling, and nursing mothers get two breaks a day until the child is 15 months old. Establishments with 50 or more employees must provide a crèche within about 1 km or, by agreement, pay at least ₹500 per child per month.

What to do

Refresh maternity, adoption and crèche policies, and give women written and electronic notice of their benefits at hiring as the rules require.

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