The Tamil Nadu government has announced that women state employees will now receive a full year of maternity leave for their third child, matching the entitlement for first and second children.

The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister Vijay has announced an expansion of maternity benefits for women working in the state administration. Women government employees will now be eligible for 365 days of maternity leave upon the birth of their third child, according to an announcement made by Minister D Sarathkumar during budget discussions in the state assembly.

Under the current system, eligibility for leave varies based on the number of surviving children. Women employees with fewer than two surviving children receive one year of maternity leave, while those with two or more surviving children are presently limited to 12 weeks of paid leave, in line with Supreme Court guidelines. The new policy will bring the third child into the same 365-day framework as earlier children.

The government framed the decision as part of its broader welfare agenda and commitment to women's empowerment. Minister Sarathkumar stated that the enhancement reflects the administration's social welfare priorities. The state has progressively expanded these benefits over recent years, starting from a baseline of 90 days, which was increased to six months in 2011, then extended to nine months in 2016, and finally to one year in July 2021.

State officials indicated that a formal government order detailing implementation procedures will be issued shortly to operationalize the new maternity leave entitlement for the third child.