India, July 25 -- Central government employees are allowed to take up to 30 days of leave annually for personal reasons, including caring for elderly parents, Union minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh said in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

He was responding to a query in the Upper House regarding the provision of leave for the care of aged parents during the 4th day of the Monsoon session of the Parliament, when Singh said such a facility is already available under the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972.

"The Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 provides for 30 days of earned leave, 20 days of half pay leave, eight days of casual leave and two days of restricted holiday per annum, apart from other eligible leaves ...