The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday instructed all university vice-chancellors to frame appropriate rules and norms for the grant of maternity leave and attendance relaxations to undergraduate and postgraduate women students.
As per UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of MPhil and PhD) Regulations, 2016, "women candidate may be provided maternity leave or childcare leave once in the entire duration of MPhil and PhD for up to 240 days."
"All Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are requested to frame appropriate rules and norms with regard to granting maternity leave to the women students enrolled in their respective institutions and affiliated colleges and also provide all relaxations and exemptions relating to attendance, extension in date for submitting examination forms or any other facility deemed necessary for women students pursuing UG and PG programmes," UGC said.