India leave policy builder.
Select your state. See the statutory minimums for public holidays, earned, casual, and sick leave under the Shops & Establishments Act. No email wall.
Add to statutory minimums for competitive retention. Above state floor.
Leave policy breakdown
- Public holidays
- ·
- Earned leave (vacation)
- ·
- Casual leave
- ·
- Sick leave
- ·
- Maternity leave (statutory)
- 26 weeks paid
Annual leave days (excl. public holidays)
·
Earned + Casual + Sick combined. Encashment rules vary by state.
These are statutory minimums under the Shops & Establishments Act. You may offer more. Public holidays published annually by each state; dates vary. Maternity leave is separate, paid by the statutory benefit system.
How leave is mandated by state.
Public holidays
Set by state government each year. Karnataka publishes 12; Maharashtra publishes 8. Dates include national holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day) plus state-specific festivals.
Earned leave (paid vacation)
Accrues monthly and encashes at exit in most states. Tamil Nadu mandates 12 days; Maharashtra mandates 21 days. Carryover rules vary by state policy.
Casual and sick leave
Granted upfront each year. Typically non-encashable unless specified by state law. Purpose: casual for personal needs, sick for medical. Forfeited at exit except where state law allows carryover.
Worked example
On the default state selection, the statutory minimum comes to 37 days of paid time off per year across earned leave, casual and sick leave, and national and festival holidays.
Leave policy builder, answered.
Questions about statutory leave in India, state by state.
Why do leave policies vary by state in India?
Public holiday calendars and minimum leave entitlements are set by state governments under the Shops and Establishments Act. Karnataka mandates 12 public holidays and 18 earned leave days; Maharashtra mandates 8 public holidays and 21 earned leave days. Each state publishes its annual list.
What is the difference between casual, sick, and earned leave?
Casual leave is for unforeseen personal needs (typically non-encashable). Sick leave is for medical illness (typically non-encashable). Earned leave accrues over time and is usually encashable at exit. Statutory minimums vary by state and sector.
Must I match the statutory minimum exactly?
No. You can offer more leave than the minimum. But you cannot go below the state minimum without violating the Shops Act. The tool shows statutory floors; you can build above them.
What happens to unused leave at exit?
Earned leave must be encashed (paid out) at exit in most states. Casual and sick leave are typically forfeited unless state law specifies carryover or encashment. Maternity and paternity are statutory benefits regardless of the leave policy.
When is a leave policy the wrong answer?
When your hire spans multiple states or you need a bespoke policy (shift work, seasonal closures, union agreements). Speak to us and we will draft a compliant policy aligned to your operating model.
Longer reading: India EOR, leave and compliance guide · EOR services in India · Related tool: India benefits package builder
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