After facing criticism from various quarters, the country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) decided to suspend its circular on recruitment of pregnant women. SBI recently reviewed its 'Fitness Standards for Recruitment in the Bank', including norms for Pregnant Women candidates.

Under the new rules, a woman candidate with more than three months pregnancy will be considered "temporarily unfit" and can join the bank within four months after delivery. The move elicited flak from various quarters, including from some MPs, bank unions and the Delhi Commission for Women. In view of the public sentiments, the bank has decided to keep the revised instructions regarding recruitment of pregnant women candidates in abeyance and continue with the existing instructions in the matter, SBI said in a statement.