Gender-Inclusive Innovation in Industry: Menstrual Leave Policy as Institutional Reform in India

Abstract

Gender-inclusive innovation requires institutional arrangements that recognise embodied labour realities while dismantling structural barriers to women’s full participation in industrial ecosystems. This article examines menstrual leave policy as a site of socio-legal innovation within India’s evolving labour governance framework, with specific reference to Karnataka’s 2025 cross-sector policy. Using doctrinal analysis, comparative policy mapping, and feminist institutional theory, the study interrogates whether menstrual leave constitutes transformative gender-responsive industrial reform or risks reinforcing biological essentialism in labour markets. Findings suggest that menstrual leave, when embedded within broader workplace inclusion strategies—such as anti-discrimination safeguards, infrastructural reforms, and monitoring frameworks—can enhance productivity, retention, and equity in labour-intensive and knowledge sectors. However, poorly designed policies may generate unintended labour-market distortions and stigma. The article advances a conceptual framework linking gender-responsive labour regulation to innovation systems theory and proposes measurable indicators for evaluating gender-inclusive industrial transformation. The study contributes to global debates on menstrual equity, care economy governance, and inclusive industrial policy by situating India’s experience within comparative international discourse.