Union Cabinet Approves 78 Days Productivity Linked Bonus for Over 11 Lakh Railway Staff Ahead of Festive Season

The Union Cabinet has approved a productivity-linked bonus of 78 days totaling 2,009.61 crore rupees for 11,40,770 railway employees ahead of the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays.

Bonus Details

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the payment is made annually to recognize the strong performance of the railway staff and to encourage better operational efficiency. The maximum amount payable to each eligible worker is 17,951 rupees for the 78-day period.

Beneficiaries

Around 11.40 lakh non-gazetted railway employees will receive the bonus. Covered groups include track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff, and other Group C employees.

Performance Record

Mr. Vaishnaw noted that the performance of the railways in the 2025-26 financial year was very good. Indian Railways loaded a record cargo of 1,670 million tonnes and carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers.

Context

Productivity-linked bonuses are annual festive incentives traditionally distributed by the government to frontline operational staff to acknowledge their hard work in keeping national transport networks running smoothly. These payouts coincide with major festival seasons across the country, directly supporting household spending during the holidays.