<h2>Supreme Court Strikes Down Age‑Based Restriction on Maternity Benefit for Adoptive Mothers</h2>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court — India’s apex judicial body responsible for interpreting the Constitution and adjudicating on matters of national importance (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> on <strong>17 March 2026</strong> held that <span class="key-term" data-definition="Section 60(4) — a clause in the Social Security Code, 2020 that limited maternity benefit for adoptive mothers to children below three months (GS2: Polity)">Section 60(4)</span> of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Social Security Code, 2020 — a comprehensive labour law code that consolidates various social security statutes (GS3: Economy)">Social Security Code, 2020</span> is unconstitutional. The Court read down the provision, granting a uniform 12‑week maternity leave to any woman who legally adopts a child, regardless of the child’s age.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Court declared the age‑based distinction violative of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 14 — constitutional guarantee of equality before law and equal protection of the laws (GS2: Polity)">Article 14</span> and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 21 — constitutional right to life and personal liberty, encompassing the right to health and dignity (GS2: Polity)">Article 21</span>.</li>
<li>Adoptive mothers now receive <strong>12 weeks</strong> of maternity benefit from the date the child is handed over, aligning with benefits for biological mothers.</li>
<li>The judgment urged the Union to introduce a statutory <span class="key-term" data-definition="Paternity Leave — leave granted to fathers for child‑care, currently not a statutory right in India (GS3: Economy)">paternity leave</span> as a social security benefit, with duration responsive to both parents’ needs.</li>
<li>The case originated as <strong>W.P.(C) No. 960/2021</strong> (Hamsaanandini Nanduri v. Union of India) and traced back to a 2021 petition challenging the earlier Maternity Benefit Act provision.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>The earlier law, the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (as amended 2017) — legislation providing maternity leave and cash benefits to women employees (GS3: Economy)">Maternity Benefit Act</span>, allowed adoptive mothers only if the child was below three months. The petitioner argued that adoption procedures under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 — statute governing child welfare, adoption, and protection (GS2: Polity)">Juvenile Justice Act, 2015</span> often take longer, creating a legal hurdle. The Court observed that the need for maternal care does not diminish with the child’s age, rendering the age limit “illusory”.</p>
<h3>Relevance for UPSC</h3>
<p>This judgment touches upon several UPSC syllabus areas:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Polity (GS‑2):</strong> Interpretation of constitutional guarantees (Articles 14 & 21) and the role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court — apex judicial body (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> in safeguarding rights.</li>
<li><strong>Economy & Labour (GS‑3):</strong> Evolution of labour legislation through the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Social Security Code, 2020 — consolidates social security laws (GS3: Economy)">Social Security Code</span> and its impact on women’s workforce participation.</li>
<li><strong>Social Justice (GS‑4):</strong> Gender‑neutral social security measures, adoption policies, and child welfare frameworks.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>To operationalise the Court’s direction, the Union should:</p>
<ol>
<li>Amend the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Social Security Code, 2020 — comprehensive labour law code (GS3: Economy)">Social Security Code</span> to delete the three‑month age ceiling and issue detailed rules for implementation.</li>
<li>Formulate a statutory <span class="key-term" data-definition="Paternity Leave — leave for fathers (GS3: Economy)">paternity leave</span> policy, specifying eligibility, duration, and payment structure.</li>
<li>Streamline adoption procedures under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 — governs adoption (GS2: Polity)">Juvenile Justice Act</span> to reduce delays that affect eligibility for benefits.</li>
<li>Conduct awareness campaigns for employers and adoptive parents about the expanded maternity benefits.</li>
</ol>
<p>These steps will promote gender equality, encourage adoption, and strengthen India’s social security net, aligning with the constitutional ethos of equality and dignity.</p>
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