Central govt employees can take 30 days leave to take care of elderly parents

In a progressive move aimed at promoting work-life balance and family responsibility, the central government has revised its annual leave policy for its employees, explicitly allowing time off for the care of elderly parents among other personal reasons, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

According to the service rules, government employees are entitled to 30 days of leave, which can be used for personal reasons, such as looking after elderly parents.

"The Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 provides for 30 days of earned leave, 20 days of half pay leave, eight days of casual leave and two days of restricted holiday per annum, apart from other eligible leaves to a Central government employee, which can be availed for any personal reasons, including that of taking care of elderly parents," Singh said in a written reply.

As per the updated framework, central government employees will now be entitled to:

1. 30 days of Earned Leave (EL)
2. 20 days of Half Pay Leave (HPL)
3. 8 days of Casual Leave (CL)
4. 2 days of Restricted Holidays (RH)

These are in addition to other leave entitlements applicable under service rules.

The notable inclusion in the announcement is the provision that the leave can be availed “for any personal reasons, including taking care of their elderly parents.” This addition recognizes the increasing caregiving responsibilities of employees and reflects a more empathetic and inclusive approach by the administration.

The new policy is being seen as a step toward supporting the personal needs of government staff without compromising on their professional duties. Experts believe it may set a benchmark for other sectors to consider similar measures that accommodate the evolving dynamics of Indian households, particularly given the aging population.

Officials have welcomed the move, describing it as “humane and forward-looking,” particularly for employees who balance office work with caregiving duties at home. The announcement is expected to bring relief to thousands of government employees nationwide.