Nepal proposes menstrual leave for women civil servants in landmark bill
Synopsis
Nepal has tabled a bill that would give female civil servants menstrual leave — a right still absent in most of the world, including across India's central government. With women now making up 30 per cent of Nepal's civil service — up from just 8 per cent in 2008 — the timing is symbolic as much as it is legislative. The number of days' entitlement remains unspecified, which will define how meaningful the reform ultimately is.
Key Takeaways
Nepal has registered the Bill to Amend and Consolidate Laws Relating to the Federal Civil Service at the Federal Parliament Secretariat this week, proposing menstrual leave for female civil servants.
The bill amends the Civil Service Act 1992 and adds menstrual, maternity, childbirth, and maternity care leave as additional entitlements for women.
The bill does not yet specify how many days of menstrual leave employees would receive — a detail to be resolved in parliamentary debate.
If enacted, Nepal would join South Korea and Japan among a small group of countries providing menstrual leave for government employees.
Women comprised 30.0 per cent of Nepal's government workforce by mid-March 2026 , up from about 8 per cent in 2008 .
India's central government does not provide menstrual leave; the Supreme Court of India declined to mandate a nationwide policy in March 2026 .
The Nepali government has proposed granting menstrual leave to female civil servants by amending the Civil Service Act 1992, in a move that would place Nepal among a small group of countries worldwide to formally recognise menstrual leave as a statutory entitlement for government employees. The bill — formally titled the Bill to Amend and Consolidate Laws Relating to the Federal Civil Service — was registered at the Federal Parliament Secretariat in Kathmandu this week.
What the Bill Proposes
Under the proposed legislation, female government employees would retain existing leave entitlements — including casual leave, home leave, sick leave, study leave, and extraordinary leave — available to all civil servants. In addition, the bill introduces a separate category for women covering menstrual leave, maternity leave, childbirth leave, and maternity care leave.
Notably, the bill does not yet specify how many days of menstrual leave female employees would be entitled to per month, leaving key operational details to be settled during parliamentary deliberations.
Nepal in Global Context
If passed, Nepal would join a limited group of countries that formally provide menstrual leave to government employees. South Korea and Japan are among the few nations with existing provisions, while the majority of countries do not offer such leave for women in public service.
The proposed reform takes on added significance given the regional backdrop. In India, the Central Civil Services leave framework does not include a separate menstrual leave entitlement. In March 2026, the Supreme Court of India declined to impose a nationwide menstrual-leave policy, while leaving room for the government to examine the matter after broader consultation. Some Indian states have taken limited steps independently — Bihar and Odisha, for instance, currently offer two days per month of menstrual leave to government employees.
Women's Representation in Nepal's Civil Service
The bill arrives at a time of significant growth in female representation within Nepal's bureaucracy. A 2007 amendment to the Civil Service Act 1993 established a legal framework mandating 45 per cent reservation in civil service positions for underrepresented groups, with 33 per cent of those reserved seats allocated to women.
The impact has been measurable. According to Nepal's Economic Survey 2025-26, women accounted for 30.0 per cent of employees working across all three tiers of government registered with the Department of Civil Personnel Records (Nijamati Kitabkhana) by mid-March 2026 — up sharply from roughly 8 per cent in 2008.
What Happens Next
The bill will now be taken up for deliberation by the Federal Parliament. The absence of a specified number of menstrual leave days is expected to be a key point of debate. Lawmakers and civil society groups are likely to push for clarity on entitlement conditions before the legislation is enacted. Should the bill pass in its current or amended form, implementing guidelines will need to be framed before the provision can be operationalised across Nepal's civil service.
Point of View
Preventing misuse concerns from being weaponised against the reform, and ensuring the provision does not inadvertently create grounds for discrimination in hiring. The India contrast is instructive: a Supreme Court that stepped back from the question in March 2026 leaves the door open for individual states, but without central leadership, menstrual leave in South Asia remains a patchwork. Nepal, if it moves decisively, could set a regional benchmark — but only if Parliament fills the blanks the bill has left open.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nepal's proposed menstrual leave bill for civil servants?
Nepal has introduced a bill proposing menstrual leave as a statutory entitlement for female civil servants by amending the Civil Service Act 1992. The Bill to Amend and Consolidate Laws Relating to the Federal Civil Service was registered at the Federal Parliament Secretariat in Kathmandu in October 2026, though the exact number of leave days has not yet been specified.
Which countries already provide menstrual leave to government employees?
South Korea and Japan are among the few countries with formal provisions for menstrual leave for women in public service. Most countries, including India at the central government level, do not currently provide such leave.
What is the status of menstrual leave in India?
India's Central Civil Services leave framework does not include a separate menstrual leave entitlement. In March 2026, the Supreme Court of India declined to impose a nationwide menstrual-leave policy, while allowing the government to consider the issue after consultation. Bihar and Odisha offer two days per month of menstrual leave to state government employees.
How has women's representation in Nepal's civil service changed over the years?
Women's representation in Nepal's civil service has grown dramatically, rising from around 8 per cent in 2008 to 30.0 per cent by mid-March 2026, according to Nepal's Economic Survey 2025-26. A 2007 amendment to the Civil Service Act established a 45 per cent reservation for underrepresented groups, with 33 per cent of those seats allocated to women.
What happens next with the Nepal civil service bill?
The bill will be debated in Nepal's Federal Parliament. The absence of a specified number of menstrual leave days is expected to be a central point of deliberation. If passed, implementing guidelines will need to be framed before the provision can be put into practice across the country's civil service.
