In a much-anticipated annual announcement just ahead of Durga Puja and Dussehra, the Union Cabinet—chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi—has officially approved a Productivity-Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for eligible railway employees.
The decision brings joy to approximately 11,40,770 non-gazetted staff, with the total financial payout amounting to an impressive Rs 2,009.61 crore. For an eligible employee, the maximum amount payable for the 78-day period is capped at Rs 17,951.
Who Benefits from the Bonus?
The festive payout covers a wide-ranging, hardworking workforce that forms the backbone of India’s railway network. Eligible categories under Group ‘C’ include:
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Track maintainers
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Loco pilots
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Train managers (guards)
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Station masters
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Supervisors
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Technicians and technician helpers
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Pointsmen
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Ministerial staff
A Reward for Record-Breaking Performance
The Cabinet noted that this year’s approval is a direct recognition of the exceptional operational performance demonstrated by railway staff. During the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Railways reached stellar new heights:
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Cargo Loading: Loaded a historic record of 1,670 million tonnes of freight.
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Passenger Transit: Safely transported nearly 7.41 billion passengers across the country.
Beyond acknowledging past hard work, the government hopes this generous festive incentive will serve as a strong motivator for staff to continue setting new benchmarks, enhancing efficiency, and improving the passenger experience across the national transporter.
