---
title: "Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 — Definition"
description: "The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 extended paid maternity leave in India to 26 weeks and mandated crèche facilities, vital for UPSC candidates."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/maternity-benefit-amendment-act-2017"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 is an Indian statute that extended paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks and mandated workplace crèche facilities.
- How many weeks of paid maternity leave does the 2017 amendment grant?
- Who bears the cost of maternity benefit under the Act?
- Does the Act cover adoptive and commissioning mothers?
- What is the crèche requirement under Section 11A?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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## Timeline

1. 11 August 2016

   The amending Act was passed by the Rajya Sabha on and by the Lok Sabha on 9 March 2017, received presidential assent on 27 March 2017, and was notified to t…

2. 9 March 2017

   The amending Act was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 11 August 2016 and by the Lok Sabha on , received presidential assent on 27 March 2017, and was notified to…

3. 27 March 2017

   The amending Act was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 11 August 2016 and by the Lok Sabha on 9 March 2017, received presidential assent on , and was notified to…

4. 1 April 2017

   The amending Act was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 11 August 2016 and by the Lok Sabha on 9 March 2017, received presidential assent on 27 March 2017, and was…

5. 1 July 2017

   The amending Act was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 11 August 2016 and by the Lok Sabha on 9 March 2017, received presidential assent on 27 March 2017, and was…

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Example

In April 2017, India's Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, extending paid maternity leave to 26 weeks for an estimated 1.8 million women in the organised sector.

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