- Cabinet approves 78-day bonus for railway employees.
- 11.4 lakh non-gazetted staff to benefit.
- Maximum bonus payout fixed at Rs 17,951.
The festive season will bring a bonus for around 11.4 lakh railway employees, with the Union Cabinet approving a payment equivalent to 78 days’ wages for eligible staff. The decision, taken on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, involves a total outlay of Rs 2,009.61 crore.
Eligible employees will receive a maximum bonus of Rs 17,951. The Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) covers non-gazetted railway staff, including loco pilots, track maintainers, train managers, station masters, technicians, pointsmen, supervisors and other Group C employees.
The government said the bonus recognises railway employees’ contribution to the organisation’s performance and is intended to encourage continued improvements in efficiency.
Who Will Get The 78-Day Railway Bonus?
The bonus will be paid to eligible non-gazetted employees across various railway departments. The maximum amount payable for 78 days has been fixed at Rs 17,951 under the existing calculation formula.
The Cabinet has approved Rs 2,009.61 crore for the payout, which will benefit approximately 11.4 lakh employees.
Why Is The Maximum Bonus Limited To Rs 17,951?
The bonus is calculated using a notional monthly salary ceiling of Rs 7,000, which has remained unchanged since 2014-15.
Employee organisations, including the Indian Railway Technical Supervisors Association (IRTSA), have demanded that the ceiling be increased to Rs 18,000. According to figures cited by employee groups, such a revision could raise the maximum bonus for 78 days to approximately Rs 46,184.
However, the latest Cabinet approval does not include any change to the existing calculation limit.
Railways’ Performance In 2025-26
The government cited Indian Railways’ operational achievements while approving the bonus. During 2025-26, the national transporter loaded a record 167 crore tonnes of freight and carried nearly 741 crore passengers.
The festive season will bring a bonus for around 11.4 lakh railway employees, with the Union Cabinet approving a payment equivalent to 78 days’ wages for eligible staff. The decision, taken on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, involves a total outlay of Rs 2,009.61 crore.
Eligible employees will receive a maximum bonus of Rs 17,951. The Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) covers non-gazetted railway staff, including loco pilots, track maintainers, train managers, station masters, technicians, pointsmen, supervisors and other Group C employees.
The government said the bonus recognises railway employees’ contribution to the organisation’s performance and is intended to encourage continued improvements in efficiency.
Who Will Get The 78-Day Railway Bonus?
The bonus will be paid to eligible non-gazetted employees across various railway departments. The maximum amount payable for 78 days has been fixed at Rs 17,951 under the existing calculation formula.
The Cabinet has approved Rs 2,009.61 crore for the payout, which will benefit approximately 11.4 lakh employees.
Why Is The Maximum Bonus Limited To Rs 17,951?
The bonus is calculated using a notional monthly salary ceiling of Rs 7,000, which has remained unchanged since 2014-15.
Employee organisations, including the Indian Railway Technical Supervisors Association (IRTSA), have demanded that the ceiling be increased to Rs 18,000. According to figures cited by employee groups, such a revision could raise the maximum bonus for 78 days to approximately Rs 46,184.
However, the latest Cabinet approval does not include any change to the existing calculation limit.
Railways’ Performance In 2025-26
The government cited Indian Railways’ operational achievements while approving the bonus. During 2025-26, the national transporter loaded a record 167 crore tonnes of freight and carried nearly 741 crore passengers.