The leave entitlements of State Government employees in India are mainly decided by the Central Government’s rules (the CCS Rules, 1972). Further, the specific state government customizes these guidelines and creates its own laws.
As a new/aspiring State Government employee, you might be wondering how many leaves you can take in a year and how your salary or benefits will be affected. Knowing the official rules is important so you can take informed leaves and plan your future accordingly.
In this article, I’m going to tell you about the nine main types of leaves, explain how they work in practice with simple examples, and detail the necessary administrative procedures for accessing them.
Make sure to read till the end!
Key Takeaway:
- State Service Rules (not Central rules) decide your exact leave benefits.
- You can save up to 300 days of Earned Leave (EL) for retirement cash-out.
- CCL (Child Care Leave) allows women and single fathers up to 730 days.
- Extraordinary Leave generally does not count as qualifying service.
- Leave is not a right; approval depends on the sanctioning authority and departmental workload.
Legal Framework: State-Specific Adaptation
The Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, are the bedrock for all public sector leaves, which include central government employees. Now here’s something to remember if you’re a state employee: your state government makes its unique laws.
The State government for all Indian states uses its own power to adopt or adapt these Central rules, and issues its own State Service Rules (like the Maharashtra Service Rules or the Bihar Service Code).
For example, while the Centre sets the minimum, your state might decide to increase Maternity Leave slightly or change the age limit for a disabled child under CCL.
Types Of Leave Available
State government employees receive a number of leaves. Let’s take a look at what they are and how they are calculated.
1. Earned Leave (EL) or Privilege Leave (PL)
Earned Leave (EL), sometimes also known as Privilege Leave (PL), is the standard paid annual leave. This is the time off that you “earn” simply by rendering your services.
This leave is credited to your account in advance in two equal installments of 15 days each on the first day of January and July every year.
For instance, if you join the service mid-cycle, say on March 1st, your first credit on July 1st will be calculated proportionally at 2.5 days per completed month (March through June). So, that makes it 10 days of EL for that first half-year.
Here’s a little hack: you can actually save up all of these leaves and carry forward up to a maximum limit of 300 days throughout your career.
2. Half Pay Leave (HPL)
Half Pay Leave (HPL) is a form of leave that you earn at the rate of 20 days for each completed year of service. You can use this time for either medical needs or personal purposes.
However, here’s a key detail that you should know about HPL: you only receive leave salary equal to half your normal basic pay, plus the corresponding Dearness Allowance (DA) that goes with that half pay.
For example, if your monthly Basic Pay is ₹50,000, during your HPL, you would receive leave salary calculated on ₹25,000, plus the DA applicable to that amount.
3. Commuted Leave
Commuted Leave is a leave option that allows you to convert your Half Pay Leave (HPL) into a fully paid one. However, it is granted only on the production of a Medical Certificate (MC) from a registered doctor, except when it directly follows Maternity Leave.
The important thing to remember here is how the leaves and pay are calculated. For every one day of Commuted Leave that you take on full pay, they deduct 2 days from your HPL balance.
For example, if you are unwell and take 30 days of Commuted Leave (at full pay), your HPL balance will be reduced by 60 days (twice the amount taken).
4. Extraordinary Leave (EOL) / Leave Without Pay (LWP)
Extraordinary Leave (EOL), or Leave Without Pay (LWP), is granted when you have used up all your other paid leave balances. You can also request unpaid leave even if you have other paid leave due.
Since EOL is leave without pay, these periods generally do not count as qualifying service. This is important for things such as your retirement pension or calculating your next annual pay increment.
For instance, if your increment is due on July 1st but you take 3 months of EOL from January to March, those 3 months will generally push your increment date back by the same amount.
5. Maternity Leave (ML)
Maternity Leave (ML) is granted for a period of 180 days (six months) on full pay. It is available to female government employees who have less than two surviving children.
For example, if an employee is expecting her first child and her due date is April 1st, she can take the full 180 days of leave at full pay, starting around the date of delivery. This leave cannot be denied, regardless of administrative workload.
6. Paternity Leave (PL)
Paternity Leave (PL) is granted for a fixed period of 15 days on full pay and is available to male employees with less than two surviving children.
The employee must take the 15 days within the period surrounding the delivery, specifically from up to 15 days before the birth to within six months after the date of delivery. The timing is the most crucial factor here.
For example, if your spouse delivers the child on May 1st, you have the flexibility to take your 15 days anytime between April 16th and October 31st.
7. Child Care Leave (CCL)
Child Care Leave (CCL) is granted to female employees and Single Male Parents (defined as unmarried, widower, or divorcee government servants).
This leave allows employees to take up to a maximum of 730 days (2 years) during their entire service period to care for their two youngest minor children (below age 18).
The salary benefit is calculated in tiers: for the first 365 days, the employee receives 100% of their leave salary (full pay), and for the next 365 days, they receive 80% of their leave salary.
For example, if your Basic Pay is ₹60,000, you would receive ₹60,000 per month for the first year of CCL, followed by ₹48,000 per month (80% of the Basic Pay) for the second year.
For children with disabilities of 40%, the standard age limit of 18 years is typically waived or extended. This allows the parent to claim CCL for their care as long as needed, up to the 730-day maximum quantum.
8. Study Leave
Study Leave is granted to help you pursue approved higher education or specialized training. However, the course/degree should be certified as being in the interest of public service or national development.
This leave is generally limited to a maximum duration of 24 months throughout your career. Before proceeding on this leave, you are required to sign a legal agreement (a bond) promising to serve the Government for a stipulated period after you complete your course.
For example, an engineer might apply for a two-year M.Tech degree in a highly specialized field; upon returning, they would need to fulfill the service bond to retain the benefits of the paid study period.
9. Special Disability Leave (SDL)
Special Disability Leave (SDL) is granted specifically if you suffer an injury or contract an illness directly resulting from the performance of your official duties. This leave is quite generous as it has a maximum period of typically 24 months.
One of the best things is that the leave is not debited or deducted from any of your regular leave days, such as Earned Leave (EL) or Half Pay Leave (HPL).
For example, if a forest officer suffers a leg injury while on official patrol, they can avail up to two years of paid SDL without reducing their accumulated EL balance.
Leave Sanctioning and Record Maintenance
The application and sanctioning of state government is not without a proper procedure. It starts with drafting a well-written, formal application and submitting it to your immediate manager (controlling office) in time.
The controlling officer verifies your eligibility and administrative feasibility before forwarding it to the final sanctioning authority (usually the Head of Office). They have the power to grant, refuse, or cancel the leave based on the needs of the department.
An important thing to remember here is record maintenance. All approved leave must be promptly recorded in your official Leave Account. This ensures that your calculated balances for EL and HPL are always correct for future planning.
Leave Encashment and Carry Forward Rules
You have the flexibility to manage your Earned Leave (EL) both during and after your service. Firstly, you can carry forward any unused EL from one six-month period to the next, up to the maximum accumulation limit of 300 days.
Secondly, you are allowed to convert a small portion of your EL into cash while you are still working. This is up to a set number of days (e.g., 10 days) when you utilize the Leave Travel Concession (LTC).
Finally, your major financial benefit arrives upon leaving service (due to superannuation, death, or invalidation). Here, you receive a lump-sum cash payment for the unutilized EL you have saved, up to the 300-day ceiling, plus Dearness Allowance (DA).
Related Reads:
Know Your State’s Specific Leave Laws To Secure Benefits
If you’ve newly been appointed as a state government employee, it can be difficult to navigate the leave laws at first. After all, there are nine types of leaves, and each one has a different criteria for approval and pay calculation.
Nevertheless, understanding each of them is crucial to maintaining a work-life balance and for your long-term financial stability as a State Government employee.
From time off like Maternity and Paternity Leave to the Child Care Leave (CCL), there are benefits that you don’t want to miss out on. Moreover, knowing the accrual limits, like the 300-day EL encashment ceiling, you can manage your time responsibly.
Just make sure to consult your State Specific Rules. If you don’t understand something, you can always ask a senior employee or look up on official government websites.
FAQs
While Central Government employees get 8 days, many State Government rules provide for 8 to 12 days of Casual Leave annually.
The extra days may be covered by converting them into any paid leave you have left. If no leave is due, you receive no pay, and the time does not count toward your service record.
Generally there is no restriction on combining different types of leave (like EL, HPL, Commuted Leave, or Maternity Leave), provided you are eligible for all.
For a child with a qualifying disability, the parent can claim CCL beyond the child’s 18th birthday, up to the 730-day maximum limit.
You can encash a small portion of your EL while you are still in service. The major balance (up to 300 days) is reserved for encashment upon your retirement or termination of service.
