India HR Policy Library

HR Policies for India: 60+ Policy Templates and Handbook Sections

Every policy an Indian employee handbook needs — leave to POSH to payroll — outlined for Indian compliance, previewable in full, and downloadable as Word or PDF.

8 categories Word & PDF Free · India-compliant
Policy Packs

One Pack, One Handbook Milestone

Each pack bundles the policies Indian teams publish together at a stage — work down the checklist, ship the handbook.

Policy Library

Search And Browse The Full India HR Policy Library

Open any policy card to see what it should cover, why it matters in India, who usually needs it, and how often it should be reviewed.

Core HR & Employment

Hiring, joining, employment, documentation, and exit policies.

10 policies
Free

Recruitment And Selection Policy

Standardizes vacancy approval, interviews, and final hiring decisions.

Review yearly.
Free

Equal Opportunity And Anti-Discrimination Policy

Defines fair treatment in hiring, pay, promotion, and daily work.

Review yearly.
Free

Employment Classification And Contracting Policy

Clarifies the difference between employees, interns, consultants, and contractors.

Review when workforce model changes.
Free

Probation And Confirmation Policy

Sets rules for probation, extension, review checkpoints, and confirmation.

Review yearly.
Free

Onboarding And Induction Policy

Explains joining steps from documents and access setup to policy sign-off.

Review when joining workflow changes.
Free

Employee Records And Documentation Policy

Defines how employee files, IDs, letters, and payroll documents are stored.

Review yearly.
Free

Internal Transfer And Promotion Policy

Explains role moves across teams, grades, or locations.

Review yearly.
Free

Separation, Resignation And Exit Clearance Policy

Defines resignation, handover, clearance, and exit processing.

Review yearly.
Free

Notice Period And Recovery Policy

Defines notice duration, waiver, buyout, and early release treatment.

Review with offer and exit practice changes.
Free

Performance Review Policy

Sets rules for formal employee performance reviews and rating decisions.

Review each cycle.

Leave & Time Off

Leave categories, absence rules, accruals, and leave payouts.

8 policies
FreePopular

Leave Policy

The master leave policy for all employee time-off categories.

Review yearly.
Free

Casual Leave Policy

Defines short-duration personal leave usage and approval norms.

Review yearly.
Free

Sick Leave Policy

Explains leave for illness, recovery, and medical rest.

Review yearly.
Free

Earned Or Privilege Leave Policy

Covers accrual-based planned leave and balance usage.

Review yearly.
Free

Maternity Benefit Policy

Sets process and support for maternity-related leave and return.

Review when benefit rules change.
Free

Paternity Leave Policy

Explains whether and how paternity leave is offered.

Review yearly.
Free

Leave Encashment Policy

Explains if unused leave can be paid out and when.

Review yearly.
Free

Holiday List And Festival Calendar Policy

Explains how company holidays and closures are published.

Review every calendar year.

Attendance & Work Hours

Attendance, shift, overtime, punctuality, and work-hour controls.

8 policies
FreePopular

Attendance Policy

Defines attendance rules, missed punch handling, and regularization.

Review yearly.
Free

Working Hours, Week-Off And Holiday Policy

Sets office hours, shifts, holidays, and weekly rest norms.

Review yearly.
Free

Shift And Rostering Policy

Explains how rosters are planned, changed, and approved.

Review when roster design changes.
Free

Overtime Policy

Defines when overtime is approved and how it is compensated.

Review with payroll and legal changes.
Free

Late Coming And Early Exit Policy

Sets rules for habitual late arrival and early departure.

Review yearly.
Free

Biometric, GPS And Attendance Capture Policy

Defines approved methods for marking attendance through systems and devices.

Review when tools or privacy practice changes.
Free

Work From Home Attendance Policy

Explains attendance and availability expectations for remote employees.

Review when remote norms change.
Free

Timesheet And Project Hours Policy

Sets expectations for recording billable, non-billable, and project time.

Review when billing logic changes.

Payroll & Benefits

Salary, reimbursements, declarations, benefits, and final settlement.

9 policies
Free

Salary Advance And Employee Loan Policy

Defines when employees can request salary advances or loans.

Review yearly.
Free

Statutory Deductions And Tax Declaration Policy

Defines how PF, ESI, PT, and tax declarations are handled.

Review when tax or payroll process changes.
FreePopular

Full And Final Settlement Policy

Explains what is included in exit settlement and how timelines work.

Review yearly.
Free

Form 16 And Payroll Document Distribution Policy

Defines how payslips, Form 16, and payroll documents are shared.

Review yearly.
Free

Recognition And Rewards Policy

Defines how non-statutory recognition, awards, and spot rewards are handled.

Review yearly.
Free

Payroll Calendar And Salary Disbursement Policy

Defines monthly payroll cut-offs, approvals, and salary credit timelines.

Review yearly.
FreePopular

Salary Structure And Revision Policy

Explains how salary components are structured and revised.

Review each compensation cycle.
FreePopular

Reimbursement Policy

Defines reimbursable expenses and the proof needed for payout.

Review yearly.
Free

Travel Allowance And Daily Allowance Policy

Explains limits and eligibility for TA, DA, lodging, and local travel support.

Review when travel rates change.

Conduct & Compliance

Conduct, complaints, ethics, and governance-related policy areas.

8 policies
Free

Code Of Conduct Policy

Sets expected behaviour while representing the company at work.

Review yearly.
FreePopular

POSH Policy

Explains prevention, reporting, and response to sexual harassment complaints.

Review whenever committee details or process change.
Free

Grievance Redressal Policy

Gives employees a formal route to raise workplace concerns.

Review yearly.
Free

Disciplinary Action And Misconduct Policy

Defines what counts as misconduct and how action is handled.

Review yearly.
Free

Whistleblower Policy

Allows serious concerns about fraud, abuse, or ethics to be reported safely.

Review yearly.
Free

Anti-Bribery, Gifts And Conflict Of Interest Policy

Defines unacceptable gifts, kickbacks, and conflict situations.

Review yearly.
Free

Background Verification Policy

Explains what pre-employment checks the company may conduct.

Review when vendor or risk criteria changes.
Free

Document Retention And Audit Trail Policy

Defines how long HR and payroll documents are retained.

Review yearly.

Remote, IT & Data

Remote work, systems, privacy, security, and AI tool usage.

8 policies
Free

Hybrid Work Policy

Explains office presence expectations and team collaboration days.

Review every six to twelve months.
Free

Bring Your Own Device Policy

Defines how personal devices may be used for company work.

Review when security standards change.
Free

Acceptable Use Of IT Systems Policy

Explains the right and wrong ways to use company systems.

Review yearly.
Free

Password, Access Control And MFA Policy

Sets standards for password strength and access approval.

Review every six to twelve months.
FreePopular

Data Privacy And Employee Personal Data Policy

Explains how employee personal data is collected, used, and protected.

Review whenever privacy or vendor flows change.
Free

Information Security Incident Response Policy

Defines what teams should do during suspected security or data incidents.

Review after incidents or drills.
Free

Social Media And Public Communication Policy

Sets expectations for employee social posts and brand references.

Review when communication channels change.
Free

AI And Generative AI Usage Policy

Defines how employees may use AI tools safely for work.

Review frequently as tool usage evolves.

Travel, Expense & Assets

Travel, claims, asset tracking, visitor rules, and field controls.

5 policies
Free

Business Travel Policy

Defines when official travel is allowed and how it is approved.

Review yearly.
Free

Expense Claim And Approval Policy

Explains how employees submit and approve claims.

Review yearly.
Free

Asset Issuance And Return Policy

Defines how devices and company assets are assigned and returned.

Review yearly.
Free

Mobile, Internet And Communication Reimbursement Policy

Sets rules for reimbursing work-related telecom and internet use.

Review when limits change.
Free

Visitor Management Policy

Explains how guests, vendors, and interviewees are checked in and tracked.

Review with facilities or security changes.

Health, Safety & Welfare

Safety, wellbeing, emergency readiness, and medical support.

4 policies
Free

Field Visit Safety Policy

Sets minimum safety steps for client, site, branch, or field visits.

Review when travel patterns change.
Free

Workplace Health And Safety Policy

States the company commitment to a safe workplace.

Review yearly and after incidents.
Free

Emergency Response And Evacuation Policy

Explains how employees respond to fire, medical, or security emergencies.

Review after drills and facility changes.
Free

Medical Insurance, ESI And Employee Wellness Policy

Summarizes company health benefits and medical support communication.

Review at benefit renewal.
FAQ

Common Questions About HR Policies In India

Quick answers for founders, HR teams, and operations leaders building or updating their employee handbook.

What HR policies should Indian companies publish first?
Most teams start with leave, attendance, code of conduct, POSH, payroll calendar, reimbursement, remote work, and grievance policies.
Are HR policies in India the same for every company?
No. State practice, work model, industry, payroll setup, and workforce mix often change the final wording.
Should startups keep a formal employee handbook?
Yes. Even small teams benefit from clear rules because it reduces inconsistent approvals and avoidable employee confusion.
How often should HR policies be reviewed?
Most handbook policies are reviewed annually, while compliance-sensitive or technology-sensitive sections should be reviewed sooner when rules or work models change.
Which policy areas need the closest India-specific review?
Leave, maternity, POSH, payroll deductions, overtime, working hours, privacy, expense claims, and final settlement usually need the closest India-specific review.
Can HRMS software help enforce policy workflows?
Yes. HRMS platforms can store policies, collect acknowledgements, route leave and expense approvals, maintain audit trails, and connect policy rules with payroll and attendance workflows.
Next Step

Need HRMS Software That Turns Policy Into Workflow?

Use one platform to publish policy documents, collect acknowledgements, route leave and expense approvals, and connect policy rules with payroll and attendance operations.