DL means Duty leave. Using this leave type, employees can take time off from regular work and perform any specific tasks like, Attending Client meeting Organizing Work Event Managing trips to carry out assigned duties, etc.

Types of Leave in India: Complete Guide for Employees

Published on: March 6, 2025

Reading Time: 9 minutes

A leave policy is an essential part of HR management. Employers must be aware of leave policies when they organize leave for employees. A proper balance should be struck between paid, non-paid, and national holidays.

Besides, arranging leave types assists employers in transparency during onboarding, as many candidates ask about the leave policy. A clarified leave policy maintains the company’s commitment to employee well-being and cultivates a culture of trust, inclusivity, and mutual respect.

Different policies or national and state laws exist regarding the selection of leave count for a particular year. The Factories Act of 1948 enacts laws the Indian Factory Act. For other establishments like IT/ service companies, shops, etc., the policies are determined under the Shops & Commercial Establishments Act.

Apart from the mandatory leave types, companies provide several other essential ones.

This blog will highlight India’s different types of leave, followed by those of other states. Moreover, what kinds of leaves do the government and other employees receive?

Types of Leave in India

Here is a list of different types of leave the company plans for a fiscal or calendar year. Employees can use the leave management system to apply for leave on or before the due date.

1. Holidays

‘Holiday’ is one of the company’s mandatory leave counts, which companies must follow. It includes national or regional based big festivals and other government holidays, etc. It is also popularly known as a public holiday.

All government companies and most public and private entities arrange public holidays for employees. These mainly include Independence Day, Holi, Dussehra, Republic Day or any announced date in memory of the death or birth of renowned people in India. Mandated holidays are one type of Leave for employees in India.

2. Sick Leave

Sick Leave is the next mandatory leave type that an employee expects from the company. It is used when employees feel ill and take time off. This leave provides sick employees time to recover completely before rejoining.

However, whether or not a particular organisation provides such Leave depends on that organisation. With the provision of SL, employees need not worry about their pay cut, as they are paid for the homestay. The company itself sets the number of Leave or Sick Leave. It can be anywhere around 10-15 per year.

3. Privilege Leave

The definition of the leave type is the same as its name. In this leave type, the employees get privileged by receiving leaves as their claim. The company mainly rewards employees with this paid Leave (PL).

The leaves can be around 20-22 per year, depending on companies and their HR. These are the days when employees can take a day off and enjoy themselves without losing pay. Thus, the name paid Leave is earned Leave. Employees only need to get the Leave approved by the manager to take advantage of it. If you wish to know more about Privilege Leave, we have covered it in depth including its calculation, eligibility criteria, and more.

4. Casual Leave

Casual Leave is another essential type in which employees take a day or days off for personal reasons or without a cause, unlike paid Leave.

The primary reason for such leaves is religious Leave, like Eid and other minority festivals. Employees here enjoy paid Leave for the day. The number of casual leaves per year is around 3 to 5, which can neither be encashed nor carried over to the following year. This is highly dependent on the manager’s approval.

5. Compensatory Leave

Compensatory Leave is available for companies where HR performs overtime management. Companies often pay extra and provide a day off to employees who work overtime. It is a paid Leave received by sales or marketing employees or upper-level management.

This leave calculation concerns worked hours at the workplace. Extra or fewer hours can be compensated with pay later during payroll, helping maintain smooth leave management and flexible working.

6. Maternity Leave

A company must ensure that this type of Leave is included in its policy. This type of Leave is only for female employees who will give birth to a baby or who have to take care of a newborn baby. The leaves ensure that the women employees get a chance to recover from pregnancy. The tenure extends from 6 months to 1 year for full recovery.

However, it depends upon the country and location of the company to get the policy.

7. Paternity Leave

Such leaves are not mandated by law and employment rules. While some companies practice a couple of weeks of paternity leave for men or fathers, a new father or caretaker of a child can take this type of Leave without worrying about his pay loss.

It is specially meant to assist a mother in nurturing their newborn baby after delivery. Most companies do not observe paternity leave on a vast scale, but some do.

8. LOP day (Loss of Pay Day)

And here comes the loss of paydays. Employees take these leaves after fully redeeming their Paid leaves. Generally, each LOP day has a 40 per cent cut on per-day income.

There are no restrictions on taking leave for loss of pay, though there are often very few rules. Companies must make their leave policies very clear on day 1.

9. Annual Leave

Annual Leave is a type of leave where employees get time off at the end of the fiscal year or annual year to rest from work. It is mainly known as a benefit package or reward for the employee, where they take a week off or some days off and invest their time to travel, tours or households while still receiving their regular salary. The annual leave amount depends on the length of their employment, the company’s policies, and the laws in their country or region.

Annual Leave can be used for vacations, personal time, or family events. Some companies allow employees to carry over unused leave to the next year, while others may require employees to use their leave within a specific time frame or lose it.

10. Sabbatical Leave

It is certain kinds of leave where employers give employees time to upskill, sharpen their knowledge, and prepare for their upcoming projects. Employees mainly need the sabbatical leave to improve their learning and help in future operations.

Employees mainly take leaves for education advancement, career breaks, career upbuilding, etc. There is no legal provision around these based on the sabbatical leave, and since it is not approved immediately, employees need to plan for them.

11. Bereavement Leave

Due to some unfortunate event like the demise of a family member, employees take time off, known as bereavement leave. There is no labour law or policies based on bereavement leave. Many companies ensure this kind of leaves on the ground of compassion.

12. Half-day Leave

Half-day leave, a frequently utilized leave type, allows employees to manage personal tasks such as doctor’s appointments, financial work, or other essential chores without sacrificing the entire workday. This flexibility promotes a healthy work-life balance and ensures employees are more productive and engaged during working hours.

State-Specific Different Types of Leave in India

Here is a detailed overview of state-specific different leave types in India.

Sl. No.	Act	Type of leave	Entitlement	No. of leaves	Carry Forward
1	Factories Act, 1948	Earned Leave	Completing 240 days work	One leave for every 20 days work	30 days
2	West Bengal Shops and Establishment Act	Earned Leave	A year of work	14 days	28 days
		Sick Leave	From joining date	14 days (Half pay)	56 days
		Casual Leave	From joining date	10 days	Cannot be accumulated
3	Bihar Shops & Establishment Act And Jharkhand S&E Act	Earned Leave	240 work days the previous year	One leave for 20 days of working	45 days
		Sick Leave	From joining date	12 days (Half pay)	NA
		Casual Leave	From joining date	12 days	NA
5	Delhi S&E Act	Privilege Leave	5 days for every 4 months for permanent employees	15 days	45 days
5	Delhi S&E Act	Sick Leave/ Casual Leave	1 day for every 1 month of employment	12 days	NA
6	Andhra Pradesh S&E Act	Privilege Leave	Completing 240 days work	15 days	60 days
		Sick Leave	1 day for every 1 month of employment	12 days
		Casual Leave	1 day for every 1 month of employment	12 days
		Special Casual Leave	Once after completing 2 years in service	6 days	NA
7	Karnataka S&E Act	Earned Leave	240 work days the previous year	1 every 20 work days	30 days
		Earned Leave	240 work days the previous year	1 every 20 work days	40 days
		Sick Leave	From joining date	12 days
8	Kerala S&E Act	Annual Leave	After complete a year in service	12 days	24 days
		Sick Leave	From the joining date	12 days	NA
		Casual Leave	From the joining date	12 days	NA
		Special Casual Leave	After an operation or surgery	6 days for men and 14 days for females	NA
9	Bombay S&E Act	Annual Leave	240 work days the previous year	21 days for every 60 days of work	42 days
10	Orissa S&E Act	Annual Leave	240 work days the previous year	For Adult:- 1 day for every 20 days worked For Child:- 1 day for every 15 days worked	30 days for adults and 40 days for child
10	Orissa S&E Act	Sick Leave	From joining date	15 days	NA
11	Rajasthan S&E Act	Annual Leave	240 work days the previous year	For Adult:- 1 day for every 12 days worked For Child:- 1 day for every 15 days worked	30 days for adult and 40 days for child
12	Tamil Nadu S&E Act	Privilege Leave	A year in service	One every month	24 days
		Sick Leave	Join Date	12 days	NA
		Casual Leave	Join Date	12 days	NA
13	Uttar Pradesh S&E Act	Earned Leave	A year in service	15 days	45 days
		Sick Leave	After six months in service	15 days	NA
		Casual Leave	After 6 months in service	10 days	NA
14	Punjab S&E Act	Earned Leave	After 20 days of continuous employment	One in 20 days	30 days
		Sick Leave	Joining date	7 days	NA
		Casual Leave	Joining Date	7 days	NA

Types of Leave for Government Employees in India

Government employees in India may get some extra privileges in case of time off in a fiscal. Here are some of the key leaves available:

➔ Earned Leave

Government employees accrue 2.5 days of leave in a complete month of service and receive 300 days of leave encashment at retirement. Employees use earned leave for planned personal needs or other extended periods of absence.

➔ Half-Pay Leave

Government employees receive 20 half-day leave in the fiscal year, which can be converted to 10 full days. It provides employees with leave support when they need an extended break but have limited other leave options.

➔ Commuted Leave

An employee’s total leave balance can be converted to double half-pay leaves within the same duration. It allows employees to take full-day leave by adjusting the corresponding half-pay leave balance.

➔ No Due Leave

Government employees can avail of 360 days of advance leave in case no leaves are available for a particular fiscal year. This provision helps employees manage extended leave requirements when their existing leave balance is insufficient.

➔ Maternity Leave

For Maternity leave, 180 days of paid leave is available for government employees.
It gives eligible employees time to recover from childbirth and care for their newborn without losing their regular salary during the leave period.

➔ Paternity Leave

Fifteen days of paternity leave are available for employees who have just become fathers. It allows new fathers to spend time with their newborn and support their family during the early days after childbirth.

➔ Childcare Leave

Female employees receive 730 days of leave to care for their children. This leave helps eligible employees manage important childcare responsibilities while continuing their government service.

➔ Sabbatical Leave

Employees receive leave to enhance their knowledge of specialized work or before taking on a considerable responsibility. It gives employees an opportunity to pursue learning or professional development without permanently leaving their role.

➔ Vacation Leave

Employees are entitled to one month of vacation leave in every fiscal year. It allows employees to take a longer planned break and return to work refreshed.

Conclusion

Leave is an important part of employee management because it gives employees the time they need to rest, recover, handle personal responsibilities, and manage important life events. Different types of leave serve different purposes. Government employees also have access to specific leave provisions based on applicable service rules.

Therefore, companies should create a clear and fair leave policy that meets legal requirements while addressing employee needs. With the right leave management system, HR teams maintain accurate leave records, simply track the approvals, and provide conformation whether employees can use their leave without unnecessary complications.

FAQs on Types of leave

1. What are PL and CL leave?

PL, or Privilege leave, is a type of earned leave granted to employees who have worked for the organization for a long time.

CL, or casual leave, is given to employees when they can inform the company about a sudden leave due to unforeseen circumstances. The company provides CL when an employee takes leave for personal reasons but not for sickness or vacation.

2. How many Leaves are in a year?

According to the Factories Act, a single earned leave is granted for every 20 working days, or 18 leaves per year.

However, per the Shop and Establishment Act, only five privileged leaves are granted for four months of working days, i.e., 15 leaves in a year. This rule is granted as a minimum mandatory leave count irrespective of any workers.

3. What is DL Leave?

DL full form is Duty Leave. Using this leave type, employees can take time off from regular work and perform any specific tasks like,

Attending Client meeting
Organizing Work Event
Managing trips to carry out assigned duties, etc.

4. What is the Type of Casual Leave?

Casual Leave is short time leave taken by the employees. It is categorised between;

Short Duration: Typically 1-3 days at a time.
Unplanned: For unforeseen personal or family emergencies.
Limited Days: Set number of days per year.
Paid Leave: Usually paid leave.