The Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 govern leave entitlements for Central Government employees. They consolidate every category of leave: earned leave, half pay leave, casual leave, child care leave, maternity, paternity, study, special, and the rules of accumulation, encashment, and combination. This section covers each category with the rule reference and worked examples.
Categories at a glance
| Leave | Annual entitlement | Maximum accumulation | Pay during leave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earned Leave (EL) | 30 days (15+15) | 300 days | Full pay |
| Half Pay Leave (HPL) | 20 days | No limit | Half pay |
| Casual Leave (CL) | 8 days (varies) | None (lapses) | Full pay |
| Maternity Leave | 180 days per child | — | Full pay |
| Paternity Leave | 15 days per child | — | Full pay |
| Child Care Leave (CCL) | 730 days in entire service | Lifetime | Full pay first 365, 80% thereafter |
| Study Leave | Up to 24 months | — | Full pay (with bond) |
| Extraordinary Leave (EOL) | Up to 5 years | — | No pay |
Latest articles
Child Care Leave (CCL): 730 Days Explained, with Spell Rules and Pay Computation
Eligibility, the 80% pay rule for the second 365 days, single male parents, children with disability, minimum and maximum spells, and combination with other leave.
Earned Leave (EL): Accumulation, Encashment, and Worked Examples
How EL is credited, the 300-day ceiling, the 10-day-with-LTC encashment rule, retirement encashment computation, and how it is taxed.
CCS (Leave) Rules 1972: Complete Guide for Central Government Employees
Every category of leave under the CCS (Leave) Rules 1972: earned leave, half pay leave, casual leave, child care leave, maternity, paternity, study, special, and the rules of accumulation, encashment, and combination.
Source documents
Every article cites the relevant rule of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 and the DoPT Office Memorandum issuing the latest amendment. Where a category has been the subject of court interpretation (e.g. Child Care Leave under Kakali Ghosh v. A&N), we link to the judgment text from the Supreme Court of India website.