UPSC is the most prestigious exam in our country. Lakhs of aspirants sit every year with the dream of becoming officers to serve the nation. The age group of eligible candidates is between a minimum of 21 years to a maximum of 47 years depending on the categories: for general, it is 32, for OBC it is 35, for SC/ST it is 37 and for physically disabled general, OBC and SC/ST it is 42, 45 and 47 respectively.
The upper age limit in different categories clearly indicates that many aspirants are married, and it’s likely that they have their own family or are planning to make one. Naturally, often female IAS probationers are pregnant during the training or the early years of their posting.
It can be quite overwhelming thinking about how to keep a balance between personal responsibilities and career. Hence, if you are in the middle of your UPSC preparation and thinking about how you can tackle maternity responsibilities and your IAS training, don’t worry. We have all the right details for you here.
But before reading about maternity leave, let’s have a glance at what IAS training is like to give you a broad view.
IAS Training Details
Commissioned candidates are admitted to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), located in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. Then, two years are required for the training for IAS probationers (direct recruiter).
IAS training is divided into three phases:
Foundation Course
A 3-month-long foundation course is offered at LBSNAA to all candidates recommended for posts of Grade A, including IAS, IPS and IFS. Then, candidates of different services attend their respective academies for training.
Phase-1 of the IAS Training
In this phase, Bharat Darshan incorporates a weeklong tour at the Lok Sabha Secretariat in Delhi (Bureau of Parliamentary Studies). An academic module is provided by LBSNAA over a 15-week period.
A range of academic subjects is covered, including policymaking, land management, soft skills, project management, national security, e-government, and cultural activities.
District Training of IAS
A district training program lasts for almost a year. Candidates gain a firsthand understanding of developmental issues, challenges, solutions, and implementation by working within an administrative setting in a particular district.
Phase-2 of the IAS Training
During Phase 2, participants share their experiences of the Phase 1 training program with their colleagues. During this time, the officers lead conversations that aim to discuss different development challenges and issues as well as ways to resolve them.
Assisting the Secretary
As soon as the probationers have completed their induction training, they are assigned to their respective deputies.
Now that you have a clear idea of the IAS training period, it would be needless to say the whole training period can be hectic even for a normal person.
Thus, for a lady probationer planning to conceive, it’s important to know about the subject of maternal leave. It will help you tackle your maternal and professional responsibilities more easily.
Why is Maternity Leave Important?
According to the right to live free from discrimination and harassment, the right to work with dignity and safety in decent working conditions is a human right. Clearly, maternal protection is important in achieving these rights.
As part of the maternity protection, all women of reproductive age are explicitly protected from discrimination in their access to paid work. In the case of maternity, these rights cover economic security, equal opportunity, and decent working conditions.
Maternity leave also provides economic benefits. In addition to enhancing the economic growth of a country, it maintains women’s and their families health, which is beneficial to both people, families, businesses, and society as a whole.
Furthermore, it not only helps the ladies conceive through natural forms but other unconventional forms too. For example, adoption or surrogacy. Maternity leave of 12 weeks is entitled to you if the adopted baby is under 3 months old. A mother planning their child via surrogate gets maternity leave of 12 weeks from the day the child is handed over to her.
Let’s now look at the information on maternity leave during IAS training you need to know.
Maternity Leave During IAS Training
If women IAS officers are capable of completing the training as per the rules, they will be permitted to do so under the Indian Administrative Service(probation) Rules, 1954. Maternity leave during IAS training will be granted to those who require it, and training will take place with the batch in Mussoorie at the designated time.
The following things are to be kept in mind for lady IAS probationers:
#1. All female IAS Probationers need to take every precaution to avoid conception while they are in training.
#2. If the Lady IAS Probationers conceive during the period of their training at the Academy, they are required to inform the Director, LBSNAA.
#3. LBSNAA directors will not permit probationers who become pregnant during training to continue training in the interest of their health and the health of the offspring.
#4. These probationers will have the opportunity to complete the remaining portions of their training, after one year, in conjunction with the next batch that may be attending the academy at that time. After the resumption of the phase discontinuation, their training program will be initiated at the phase where it was paused.
Under Rule 15 of the AIS (Leave) Rules, 1955, the period of absence from training is regarded as extraordinary leave, except for maternity leave that falls under Rule 18 of the AIS (Leave) Rules, 1955, and probation will then extend as a result. Nevertheless, probationers will not lose their seniority as IAS officers in this procedure.
How Many Maternity Leave During IAS Training?
The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 allows pregnant women to borrow up to 26 weeks off work. A mother IAS officer can take a leave for 180 days to take care of their newborn, of which 8 weeks may be used up before delivery. Additionally, she should receive a monthly benefit equivalent to her daily wage for a period of three months before she takes maternity leave.
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This article has given me the knowledge of the training scenario of UPSC. It is really important to know the implementation of the provisions given in the constitution. This article has complete information about the maternity leave in the training period. Do you guys have any question?