Applicability Of Maternity Benefit Amendment Act 2016

Hello Everyone,
I need help in understanding a doubt of mine wrt Maternity Benefit Amendment Act 2016.
Suppose a woman has applied for Maternity Leave as per old rules (twelve weeks leaves) and while she was on leave, this amendments are notified by Government and new rule of twenty six weeks becomes applicable.
Under such scenario, can woman (already on leave of 12 weeks per previous act before amendment) extend her leaves (legally) to 26 weeks per new amendments?
I am sure many people will have this question.
Any help/guidance on this will be humbly appreciated.
Thanks

Yes.
The employees currently in Maternity Leave will be eligible for the new Rule.
FYI, the Gazette notification of the said amendment is not yet released.

The Maternity Leave will be for 12 weeks till the Gazette Notification is not released. If the maternity leave of 12 weeks gets completed before the notification is released then no extension provided as per the new amendment. If the notification is released before the expiry of the Maternity leave of 12 weeks the extension of 14 weeks can be accepted, as per my best view. Seniors please guide if wrong

Can we make the changes/update in our existing Maternity leave policy or have to wait for Gazette notification.Please suggest..

Some of the companies has changed their internal Maternity Leave Policy... Even I come to know about a company which has sent a mail to all its employees about the policy change and they mention that they voluntarily initiated the change for "Women Empowerment".
Many Companies are waiting for Official Gazette notification.

Thank you so much for your time and replies. I hope after the release of Gazette Notification, companies will promptly update their policy and officially intimate the ones already on maternity leave. Hope that employee will not have to struggle to get their leaves extended as per the amendment.
Thank you once again.

Gazette notification is already released. Please find the attached notification.
Nishant Jha

This notification is just for introduction of the Bill in Rajya Sabha. It is not an Act.

Thank you P C Agrawal, is there any hope to have this come to effect before the next Lok Sabha session?

Hi Everyone,
Please guide me Is this Maternity Benefit Act 2016 notification is valid one.