No Special Leave for Central Government Employees to Care for Elderly Parents, Existing Provisions Apply
New Delhi – The Union Government has clarified that there is no specific provision for Central Government employees to take special leave for the care of their elderly parents. However, existing leave entitlements can be utilized for this purpose.
This information was provided by Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. The statement was made in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha on July 24, 2025.
The question was raised by Rajya Sabha member Smt. Sumitra Balmik, who inquired if there was any provision for government employees to avail leave for taking care of their elderly parents. She also asked if the Ministry would consider creating a “sick care leave” for this purpose, similar to the existing Child Care Leave, if no such provision was in place.
In response, the government detailed the types of leave available to a Central Government employee under the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, which can be availed for any personal reason, including the care of elderly parents. These annual leave provisions include:
- 30 days of Earned Leave
- 20 days of Half Pay Leave
- 8 days of Casual Leave
- 2 days of Restricted Holiday
The minister’s reply also noted that employees can avail themselves of “other eligible Leave” for personal reasons. The response indicates that the government considers the current leave structure sufficient to accommodate such needs.