The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a productivity-linked bonus equivalent to 78 days' wages for 11,40,770 non-gazetted railway employees, involving a total payout of Rs 2,009.61 crore. The decision, taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, means eligible staff will receive the bonus ahead of the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays, continuing the annual festive-season practice.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the bonus recognises the contribution of railway staff to the national transporter's operational performance and is intended to motivate employees to keep improving efficiency. The maximum amount payable to each eligible employee will be Rs 17,951 for the 78-day period.
Who is eligible
The bonus covers a wide range of Group C non-gazetted employees across the Railways. According to the government's statement, those eligible include track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen and ministerial staff.
Record freight and passenger traffic cited
The government linked the payout to a strong operational year for Indian Railways in 2025-26. During the financial year, the Railways loaded a record 1,670 million tonnes of cargo and carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers, both record figures cited by the Railway Minister while announcing the decision.
The productivity-linked bonus scheme, a long-running arrangement for railway staff, ties the annual payment to the performance of the organisation. Officials said the incentive is designed to reward employees for the year's results and encourage sustained improvement in the working of the railways.
Announcing the decision, the Railway Minister noted that the bonus is disbursed each year before the festive season, and said this year's payout reflects what he described as excellent performance by railway staff across zones. The payment covers employees in operating, commercial, engineering and administrative departments, and is calculated on the basis of the organisation's productivity rather than individual output.
Sources: The Hindu, Business Standard, Deccan Herald
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the bonus recognises the contribution of railway staff to the national transporter's operational performance and is intended to motivate employees to keep improving efficiency. The maximum amount payable to each eligible employee will be Rs 17,951 for the 78-day period.
Who is eligible
The bonus covers a wide range of Group C non-gazetted employees across the Railways. According to the government's statement, those eligible include track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen and ministerial staff.
Record freight and passenger traffic cited
The government linked the payout to a strong operational year for Indian Railways in 2025-26. During the financial year, the Railways loaded a record 1,670 million tonnes of cargo and carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers, both record figures cited by the Railway Minister while announcing the decision.
The productivity-linked bonus scheme, a long-running arrangement for railway staff, ties the annual payment to the performance of the organisation. Officials said the incentive is designed to reward employees for the year's results and encourage sustained improvement in the working of the railways.
Announcing the decision, the Railway Minister noted that the bonus is disbursed each year before the festive season, and said this year's payout reflects what he described as excellent performance by railway staff across zones. The payment covers employees in operating, commercial, engineering and administrative departments, and is calculated on the basis of the organisation's productivity rather than individual output.
Sources: The Hindu, Business Standard, Deccan Herald
