The Government of Sikkim, through the Department of Personnel, has revised the Sabbatical Leave Rules, reducing the minimum leave period from one year to six months, while retaining the maximum limit of 1080 days (three years) available once in an employee’s entire service career.
According to the notification issued on October 8, the amendment to the 2023 rule aims to make sabbatical leave more flexible and accessible. The scheme, which covers both regular and temporary employees, was introduced to enable government servants to pursue personal interests, higher education, or entrepreneurial ventures.
Explaining the change, Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, Secretary, Department of Personnel, said the decision came after several employees requested shorter sabbatical durations for diploma and certificate courses.
“We received numerous appeals from employees whose courses or personal pursuits lasted less than a year. Hence, the government decided to reduce the minimum period to six months, ensuring more flexibility,” said Bhutia.
He added that the leave not only promotes personal development but also supports employees from humble economic backgrounds who may lack opportunities for further education or skill enhancement.
“Many employees join service right after graduation but aspire to complete their master’s or professional qualifications. This leave gives them the opportunity to do so,” Bhutia said.
The secretary noted that implementation has been very positive,”with more than a hundred employees already availing the benefit. The sanctioning process for sabbatical leave has also been decentralized for Group C and D employees, allowing respective departments to approve applications directly.
Among those who have made use of the policy is Aswin Nirola, an Assistant Engineer formerly posted with the Gangtok Smart City project. Nirola took sabbatical leave in May last year to establish an education technology startup named Spaced Revision.
“My startup is based on an algorithm of the same name Spaced Revision. It’s an education platform where students and educators can create and sell courses, with strong AI integration,” Nirola said.
He described the application process as smooth and straightforward, with clear provisions for entrepreneurial ventures within or outside the state. Within a year of its incorporation, his company co-founded with his sister has generated nearly ₹70 lakh in revenue and was selected for the North East Accelerator Program conducted by EIC SMU Technology Business Incubator.
“This leave gave me the space and time to build something meaningful,” Nirola added.
While on sabbatical, Nirola receives half of his basic pay, around ₹23,000 per month, which he considers a fair balance.
“It’s like the government has given us wings to fly with a big parachute. If things go well, great, if not, we can always return to our service without losing seniority or promotions,” he said.
The scheme has also motivated several other employees to take sabbatical leave to pursue education or small business ventures.
Another beneficiary, Prajwal Chettri, a Junior Engineer in the Education Department, took a few months’ leave last year to complete his final semester of studies.
“It helped me focus on my education while still receiving half my salary. It’s a rare opportunity for government employees,” Chettri said.
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