Mumbai, Jan. 21 (Agencies) : Maharashtra has become the first state to extend full maternity benefits to women who have babies using a surrogate mother.

All such women in state government jobs can now take 180 days of maternity leave, an official said.

"It doesn't make a difference whether the child is conceived naturally or through a surrogate - the woman still has to look after the child," said finance department deputy secretary B.J. Gadekar. "We want to treat them equally."

Leave will be applicable from the date of the child's birth and will be granted only once in the employee's service.

Existing rules provide for 180 days of leave to pregnant women and 90 days for women adopting children.

Bombay High Court had ruled last year that a mother having a child through surrogacy was entitled to maternity leave.