Maternity Rules For Women Officers And Soldiers

Recently, Honorable Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has announced approval for the maternity leave, child care and child adoption leave for all the women soldiers, sailors and air warriors on par with their officer counterparts.

With the issuing of the rules, the grant of such leave to all women in the military, whether one is an officer or any other rank, will be equally applicable.

Now, let’s discuss about What is maternity leave and What is the leave polity for the maternity purpose?

And Now How an women officer or inducted as a soldier through Agnipath scheme in Indian Armed Forced will get equal right for leave when it comes to maternity leave, child care leave and child adoption.

Let’s now know first about from where this Equal Maternity Leave comes from and how it gets its approval in 2023.

I would like to take you a little back since when through Agniveer scheme launched and women entry started in the forces along with Indian Armed Forces. Since 2019, the provision initiated that the women other than officer cadre were make entry to other ranks such as in Indian army women in the core of Indian military police made enter first. Along with the launch of Agnipath scheme these women are also inducted in Indian Air Force also serving.

Let’s go in flashback what happened in the past because of that this decision comes to emergence. When it comes to women, earlier in Indian Armed Forces, they are getting induced as officers only. but after the launch of agnipath scheme they are inducted through agnipath scheme now they get the opportunity to serve as other ranks posts. And even in 2019, in core of military police when women get the chance of induction, from then this trend started that women can get the equal opportunity to serve in Indian Armed forces.

When, it comes to maternity leave, when a women experiences the best phase of her life of becoming mother why not quality is given to her just an women officer if getting because maternity leave must be equal to all as the pain is equal and experience is equal. And the struggle and pain an officer suffers the same is experienced by a women serving as other rank.

Presently, the provisions for maternity leave, child care and child adoption leaves for women officers in Indian armed forces are getting. Whatever the provisions are there for the women officers the same provisions are made for the women serving in other ranks.

The present provision for the women (PBOR) before introduction of Agniapth Scheme

With the issuing of the rules, the grant of such leave to all women in the military, whether one is an officer or any other rank, will be equally applicable.

At present, the women officers get maternity leave of 180 days with full pay for each child, subjected to a maximum of two children.
Childcare leave of 360 days is granted in total service career (subject to the child being less than 18 years of age) to women officers.
Child adoption leave of 180 days is granted

According to the same provision on same parameter whether is for army soldier, sailor, or serving as other ranks will get the same right equivalent to the women officer in the Indian armed forces.

However, now all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces have started deploying women below officer rank as Agniveers.

Now, the provisions for Agniveer recruitment are that only unmarried female candidates will be eligible for enrolment as Agniveers in all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces, and they shall undertake not to marry during the defined engagement period of four years. Agniveers who marry during the said period shall be discharged from the service.

Apart from that, when you go through this further, only unmarried Agniveers will be eligible for selection in the regular cadre. Further, female candidates shall additionally be required to undertake not to get pregnant during the engagement period. After completing four years, the top 25 percent of candidates will be granted permanent status.

Therefore, the gist is that earlier, there were no provisions for recruitment of women below officer rank in the Indian armed forces, which meant women were recruited only for officer rank. And, as discussed, they are getting all the benefits under the maternity benefit.

Now, the Indian armed forces have also started recruiting women below the officer rank, so these women recruits, after completing four years and attaining regular cadre, will be entitled to all benefits given under maternity benefits, as women officers are getting now.