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Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department raises earned‑leave surrender cap to 240 days, extends maternity leave to 12 months
✍️ DT Next
🗓 02 Oct 2026, 01:37 PM
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The state's Human Resources and Chief Executive Department announced that employees can now surrender up to 240 days of earned leave and that maternity leave has been extended to a full year.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu – The Human Resources and Chief Executive (HR&CE) Department of Tamil Nadu issued a circular on Wednesday that raises the ceiling for surrendering earned leave from the previous limit to 240 days per employee. The amendment is aimed at providing greater flexibility for government staff to convert unused leave into cash benefits.
In addition to the earned‑leave revision, the department has also extended the duration of maternity leave for eligible female employees to twelve months, aligning the policy with recent central government recommendations on maternal welfare. The extended leave can be availed in a single continuous block or split, subject to departmental approval.
Officials said the changes will be effective from the start of the next financial year and will be reflected in the upcoming payroll cycle. They urged employees to review the updated guidelines, which are available on the department’s official portal.
The move is expected to improve staff morale and retain experienced personnel by offering more generous leave conversion and childcare support, while also standardising Tamil Nadu’s leave policies with national norms.
In addition to the earned‑leave revision, the department has also extended the duration of maternity leave for eligible female employees to twelve months, aligning the policy with recent central government recommendations on maternal welfare. The extended leave can be availed in a single continuous block or split, subject to departmental approval.
Officials said the changes will be effective from the start of the next financial year and will be reflected in the upcoming payroll cycle. They urged employees to review the updated guidelines, which are available on the department’s official portal.
The move is expected to improve staff morale and retain experienced personnel by offering more generous leave conversion and childcare support, while also standardising Tamil Nadu’s leave policies with national norms.