Maternity Leave For Students: UGC Asks Varsities To Frame Rules

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an important notice regarding the grant of maternity leave to women students.

The Commission has made a provision in the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil./Ph.D. Degrees) Regulations, 2016 which states, “The women candidate may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave once in the entire duration of M.Phil/Ph.D. for up to 240 days.”

In a letter to the vice-chancellors of all Universities, UGC has requested all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to frame appropriate rules/norms with regard to granting maternity leave to the women students enrolled in their respective institution / affiliated colleges.

The UGC has also asked the authorities to provide all relaxations/exemptions relating to attendance, extension in date for submitting examination forms or any other facility deemed necessary for women students pursuing Under Graduate and Post Graduate programmes.

In another notice, the UGC has asked higher educational institutions to ensure strict compliance of the Covid appropriate behaviour.

The UGC has directed to take appropriate decision with regard to opening of campuses, conducting classes and examinations in offline/online/blended mode in accordance with the guidelines issued. Earlier, the UGC had issued several Standard Operating Procedures or SOPs regarding the conduct of examination during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.