Dear All,
As said by NavneetSarin, the Central Government in 1999 by notification under Central Civil Services (Leave) Rule 551 (A) made provisions for paternity leave for a male Central Government employee (including an apprentice and probationer) with less than two surviving children for a period of 15 days to take care of his wife and new born child. A male Central Government employee can avail this leave 15 days before or within 6 months from the date of delivery of child. If such leave is not availed within the period, it shall be treated as lapsed.
In case child is adopted, the same rule of Paternity Leave applies.
While paternity leave is authorised for government employees there is no law that instructs the private sector to make it obligatory. Hence, paternity leave is open to interpretation by individual companies.