In a significant policy update aimed at promoting work-life balance, the central government has clarified that its employees can utilize their 30 days of annual earned leave to care for elderly parents, among other personal reasons.
Union Minister of State for Personnel, Jitendra Singh, stated in the Rajya Sabha that under the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, government employees are entitled to:
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30 days of Earned Leave (EL)
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20 days of Half Pay Leave (HPL)
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8 days of Casual Leave (CL)
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2 days of Restricted Holidays (RH)
The updated policy emphasizes that earned leave can be availed specifically for caregiving responsibilities, including looking after aging parents.
Officials have hailed the move as “humane and forward-looking,” highlighting its importance for employees balancing professional work with family responsibilities. Experts believe this policy could inspire private and state sectors to adopt similar measures, especially as India’s elderly population continues to grow.
