'Period leave' is a critically important subject concerning women's health. Whenever the topic of this leave arises, a question often surfaces in people's minds: Is there a concrete law governing this in India? It is worth noting that, currently, there is no national legislation or uniform, nationwide policy regarding period leave in our country.

However, this certainly does not imply that women are not availing themselves of this facility (Menstrual leave in India). Despite the absence of a national-level law, various states, educational institutions, and numerous large corporations have independently implemented this leave policy for women.

The Issue Raised in Parliament
A significant step regarding this subject was taken in the country in 2022, when Member of Parliament Hibi Eden introduced a Private Member's Bill in Parliament. In this bill, he proposed that women be granted 3 days of period leave every month.

Which States Offer 'Period Leave'?
Although there is no single nationwide regulation, several Indian states have taken commendable steps to ensure the comfort and convenience of female employees and students:

Bihar
When it comes to period leave, Bihar stands at the forefront. This policy has been in effect in the state since as early as 1992. Under this policy, female employees working in government jobs in Bihar are granted 2 days of period leave every month.

Karnataka
Karnataka has taken a historic step in this direction. In 2025, Karnataka became the first state in the country to make period leave mandatory for women working in both the government and private sectors. Here, women have been granted the right to 1 day of leave per month.

Odisha
The Odisha government has also recently implemented this facility in the interest of its female employees. Since 2024, female government employees in the state have been receiving 1 day of leave per month.

Kerala
Going a step further than just working women, the Kerala government has also formulated specific regulations for female students. Since 2023, female students enrolled in higher education institutions in Kerala have been provided with a monthly menstrual leave facility. In addition to this, a significant relief has been granted by lowering the mandatory attendance requirement—typically set at 75% for appearing in examinations—to 73% specifically for these students.

Private Companies Are Stepping Up Too
It is not just state governments; many private companies are also offering this facility to their female employees on their own initiative. Currently, numerous major companies operating in the country are providing their female staff with a monthly menstrual leave benefit. These include companies such as Zomato, Swiggy, and Larsen & Toubro.

All in all, while no national legislation regarding this matter has been enacted in India yet, these initiatives by various states and companies are providing substantial relief to working women and female students across the country.

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