The Karnataka government has introduced paid menstrual leave for working women, becoming the first Indian state to implement such a policy across both public and private sectors. Under the new rule, women aged 18 to 52 employed in formal workplaces can take one day of paid leave each month during their menstrual period, without requiring a medical certificate. The policy is expected to benefit around 350,000 to 400,000 women in the formal sector. However, approximately six million women working in informal sectors, such as domestic workers and daily laborers, are excluded. Experts have urged the government to extend the benefit to informal workers as well. Despite its limitations, the initiative is being hailed as a progressive step toward gender-sensitive labor policies in India, aligning Karnataka with countries like Spain, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia that already offer menstrual leave.