Karnataka’s Minister for Higher Education, M.C. Sudhakar, mentioned the possibility of introducing menstrual leave for college students pending approval from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This initiative would extend to female students in both colleges and postgraduate programs. Sudhakar emphasized that a decision would be made once directives are received from the Chief Minister, whose approval would be final.
The Karnataka government recently implemented a one-day menstrual leave policy for employed women, offering paid leave to women aged 18 to 52 years on a monthly basis. This policy aims to provide women with a day off during menstruation and is applicable to permanent, contractual, and outsourced employees.
While the government order, issued on November 12, 2025, mandated 12 paid menstrual leaves annually for working women, the Karnataka High Court temporarily halted this directive on December 9. The court’s interim stay was in response to petitions from the Bangalore Hotels Association and Avirata AFL Connectivity Systems Limited, challenging the government’s decision.
Following the interim stay, the High Court revoked its decision on the same day but plans to revisit the matter after the winter break, resuming sessions from January 5. The government’s notification, issued on November 20, 2025, required industrial establishments to grant paid menstrual leave to their female employees.
A petition opposing the government’s order argued that these establishments operate under various labor laws, such as the Factories Act and the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, which only allow for 12 days of leave per year. The Menstrual Leave Policy, 2025, approved by the Karnataka Cabinet in October, provides women with one paid leave day per month.
