Under the Employees' State Insurance Act 1948, the maternity benefit currently payable to an insured woman is:

• A 26 weeks at 70 percent of average daily wages
• B 26 weeks at 100 percent of average daily wages ✓
• C 16 weeks at 70 percent of average daily wages
• D 12 weeks at 100 percent of average daily wages

Explanation

Following the 2017 revision aligned with the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 1961 amendment, ESI maternity benefit was increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks at full wages, that is 100 percent of the average daily wage. The 70 percent rate applies to sickness benefit, not maternity benefit. For the third and subsequent confinements the duration reverts to 12 weeks, but the standard examined answer is 26 weeks at full rates.

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

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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