Karnataka: The southern Indian state of Karnataka has become the first in the country to introduce paid menstrual leave for all women working in the formal sector.
The policy applies to women aged 18 to 52 employed in both government and private organisations and allows one day of menstrual leave every month. The leave cannot be carried forward, and no medical certificate is required.
The move covers an estimated 350,000 to 400,000 women in formal jobs. However, it excludes the much larger group of nearly six million women working as domestic help, daily-wage labourers, gig workers, and others in the unorganised sector. Experts say the policy should eventually be extended to them as well.
Even so, Karnataka’s decision is being seen as a landmark step because it is the first to include the private sector at scale, regardless of job type or contract. Countries such as Spain, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia already offer menstrual leave, and a few Indian states provide limited provisions.
Our Government stands committed to dignity and wellbeing at work.
Through the Menstrual Leave Policy 2025, women employees across Karnataka will now receive one paid leave day every month – a step towards a more humane, understanding, and inclusive workplace.#MenstrualLeave… pic.twitter.com/d8sh3hJtTX
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) October 9, 2025
Bihar and Odisha offer two days each month to government employees, while Kerala allows menstrual leave for university and industrial training institute staff. Within India, the announcement has triggered debate. Supporters say the policy recognises a basic need and protects women from losing wages or working through severe menstrual pain. Others fear it could unintentionally reinforce gender bias or discourage employers from hiring women.
Karnataka’s labour minister Santosh Lad called it one of the most progressive decisions for women in the workforce. An official from Nasscom, the IT industry body, said many companies in the state already offer menstrual leave, so implementing the order should be straightforward. But some women believe the policy will face social barriers. Menstruation remains taboo in many parts of India, often treated as something unclean or unspeakable.
Social scientists argue that the deeper challenge lies in breaking long-standing stigma. They point out that even in states that offer menstrual leave, taboos remain strong, from wrapping sanitary pads in newspapers to resisting changes at religious sites. Several women in Karnataka hope the policy itself will help normalise conversations around menstruation.
