Under the ESI Act 1948, contributions paid by an employer and employee during the contribution period from 1st April to 30th September make the insured person eligible for sickness benefit during which corresponding benefit period?

• A The same six months, 1st April to 30th September
• B 1st July to 31st December of the same year
• C 1st October to 31st March of the following year
• D 1st January to 30th June of the following year ✓

Explanation

ESI works on paired six-monthly periods: contributions from April to September qualify the worker for benefits from January to June of the next year, and contributions from October to March qualify for benefits from July to December. There is a deliberate lag between contribution and benefit periods. Option C pairs the wrong half-year, and option A ignores the lag entirely.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.