University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed vice chancellors of all universities to frame appropriate rules for granting maternity leave to the women enrolled in their respective institution and affiliated colleges.
In a letter to vice chancellors, UGC secretary Prof. Rajnish Jain stated that the commission has made a provision in the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil./Ph.D Degrees) Regulations, 2016, which states that “the women candidate may be provided maternity leave/child care leave once in the entire duration of M.Phil/Ph.D. for up to 240 days.”
UGC also asked the universities to provide all relaxations relating to attendance, extension in date for submitting examination forms or any other facility deemed necessary for women students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.