Guwahati: In a landmark move towards gender-sensitive workplace reform, the Karnataka government on October 9 approved the “Menstrual Leave Policy, 2025,” aimed at ensuring the well-being of women employees and fostering inclusivity across all sectors.
Under the new policy, women employees will be entitled to one paid leave per month during menstruation, applicable to those working in government offices, garment industries, multinational corporations, IT firms, and private sector organisations throughout the state.
The decision marks a progressive evolution from the government’s earlier 2024 proposal, which offered six menstrual leaves annually, to the current provision of twelve days of paid leave per year.
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Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad described the initiative as a milestone in the state’s welfare-driven governance. “We have approved menstrual leaves for women. It is the most progressive new law that we have brought. Women can take as many as 12 sanctioned leaves in a year — once a month or all at once, whatever they choose as per their menstrual cycle. It is a feather in the cap of a progressive government which thinks for the welfare of women and considers the roles she has to play,” Lad said.
The Menstrual Leave Policy, 2025 has officially come into effect and is being hailed as one of the most inclusive policies of its kind in India.
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Karnataka joins a growing list of Indian states implementing menstrual leave provisions. Kerala recently introduced two days of menstrual leave per month for female trainees in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), while Bihar and Odisha already provide 12 days of annual menstrual leave — though limited to state government employees.
With this move, Karnataka becomes the first state in India to extend menstrual leave benefits comprehensively to both public and private sector employees, setting a strong precedent for gender-responsive workplace reform nationwide.
