Railway employees to get 78 days' bonus

The Union Cabinet has approved a productivity-linked bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for around 11.4 lakh railway employees for 2025-26. The total payout will amount to Rs 2,009.61 crore. Payment of PLB to eligible railway employees is made each year before the Durga Puja/Dusshera holidays. This year also, PLB amount equivalent to 78 days' wages is being paid to about 11.40 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees. The payment of PLB acts as an incentive to motivate the railway employees for working towards improvement in the performance of the Railways. Briefing media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting said, the bonus will cover various categories of railway staff, including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff and other Group C employees.     

VIDEO | Delhi: During Cabinet briefing, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) says, “Three very important decisions were taken by the Cabinet today. The first decision was to approve a 78-day performance-linked bonus for approximately 11,40,770 railway employees. This bonus is a Diwali gift for the hardworking railway employees who work tirelessly day and night. While we celebrate festivals with our families, these employees continue to work in the field, on railway tracks, inside locomotives and in workshops, putting in their best efforts around the clock. The total bonus amount is approximately Rs 2,009 crore.” (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 14, 2026

The government said the Railways performed well during 2025-26, recording cargo loading of 1,670 million tonnes and carrying nearly 7.41 billion passengers. The annual productivity-linked bonus recognises the contribution of railway employees to the organisation’s performance.   
The Cabinet also approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development for Continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) with total outlay of Rs. 53,428 crore for five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with (i) Renaming of the scheme & sub-schemes (ii) Revision in eligibility criteria, coverage and rate of assistance for divyangjan pension and (iii) continuation of pension schemes for old aged & widows and family benefit scheme in its existing form. 

(Freelance Journalist)