Cabinet clears ₹2,009 crore Diwali bonus for railway staff, ₹53,428 crore for social assistance
Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the 78-day bonus as a Deepawali gift for employees, with each eligible non-gazetted employee entitled to a maximum payment of ₹17,951.
On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a 78-day bonus totaling Rs 2,009 crore for around 11.4 lakh Indian Railways employees. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision, calling it a Diwali gift for the recipients. The bonus, paid to eligible non-gazetted railway workers, is calculated based on a wage ceiling of Rs 7,000 and 78 days of wages, resulting in a Rs 17,951 annual bonus.
However, railway employees could see an increase in their bonus if the Union Cabinet approves a proposal for a productivity-linked bonus (PLB). The Indian Railways Technical Supervisors Association (IRTSA) has suggested raising the wage ceiling to Rs 18,000 plus dearness allowance for Level-2 employees and above, which would warrant an annual bonus of at least Rs 46,184.
The Railway Board had previously warned about a fake letter circulated on social media announcing the sanction of a 78-day PLB for the 2025-26 financial year, urging railway offices to verify bonus-related communications through official channels.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times - Economy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
