Raghav Chadha Raises Call for Legal Paternity Leave in Parliament
AAP MP urges policy reform to ensure shared parenting and gender equality in childcare
New Delhi, April 1, 2026 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha has raised the issue of paternity leave in Parliament, calling for it to be recognised as a legal right in India. Emphasising the importance of shared caregiving, Chadha argued that parenting responsibilities must be equally distributed between both parents.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, Chadha highlighted the challenges faced by working fathers, stating that many are forced to choose between caring for their newborns and safeguarding their careers. He stressed that such a situation not only affects families but also reinforces unequal gender roles within society.
Chadha, who became a father in October 2025, brought a personal perspective to the debate. He noted that while maternity leave policies exist to support mothers, fathers often lack similar provisions, leaving women to shoulder the burden of childbirth recovery and early childcare largely alone.
The MP argued that modern laws must evolve to reflect changing family dynamics and the realities of contemporary parenting. He called for a comprehensive legal framework that guarantees paternity leave, ensuring fathers can actively participate in the early stages of a child’s life without professional insecurity.
The issue also ties into broader conversations around gender equality and workplace reform. Chadha pointed out that enabling fathers to take leave would not only support mothers but also promote a more balanced and inclusive approach to parenting.
His remarks have sparked renewed discussion on childcare policies in India, where paternity leave remains limited and largely dependent on individual employer policies rather than a uniform legal mandate.
As debates continue, the proposal highlights a growing recognition that caregiving is not solely a maternal responsibility but a shared duty—one that requires policy support to become a practical reality.
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