Cabinet clears ₹2,009.61 crore 78-day productivity bonus for railway employees

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the bonus was approved in recognition of ‘the excellent performance by the Railway staff’

New Delhi (October 14): The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a 78-day productivity-linked bonus (PLB) worth ₹2,009.61 crore for 11,40,770 railway employees, recognising their contribution to the performance of Indian Railways.Eligible employees will receive a maximum bonus of ₹17,951. The payment will cover non-gazetted Group C staff, including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians, pointsmen and ministerial employees.Cabinet approves payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (#PLB) of 78 days to 11.40 lakh #RailwayEmployees. The total bonus amounts to ₹2,009.61 crore This is a #Deepawali gift for all the dedicated Railway employees who work tirelessly day and night. While we celebrate our festivals, they continue to work in the field, on the tracks and in workshops, around the clock- Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw #CabinetDecisions— PIB India (@PIB_India) October 14, 2026Bonus To Reward Railway Employees' PerformanceAccording to an official statement, the PLB is paid annually ahead of the Durga Puja and Dussehra festivals to recognise employees' contributions and encourage improvements in railway operations.The Cabinet said the bonus would serve as an incentive for employees to maintain operational efficiency and improve the overall performance of Indian Railways.Reliance Consumer Enters Dairy Beverage Market, Launches Joyland Flavoured Milk At Rs 20 In Tamil NaduRailways Records Strong Freight And Passenger GrowthDuring FY 2025-26, Indian Railways transported a record 1,670 million tonnes of cargo and carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers.Freight loading increased by 5.4% year-on-year in August 2026, reaching 137.9 million tonnes compared with 130.9 million tonnes in August 2025. Freight revenue also rose by 6.27% during the period.Passenger traffic registered growth, with 67.27 crore passengers travelling in August 2026, compared with 64.43 crore during the corresponding month last year.Also Watch:Five New Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals CommissionedIndian Railways also expanded its freight-handling infrastructure by commissioning five Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals in August 2026.The new terminals are located at Shivlakha in Gujarat, Nalli in Tamil Nadu, Shaktinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Deoragram in Madhya Pradesh and Brajrajnagar in Odisha.With these additions, the total number of commissioned Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals reached 149 as of August 31, 2026.The expansion is expected to strengthen freight connectivity, improve supply chains and facilitate the transportation of essential commodities and industrial goods.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

The Centre approved a 78-day bonus for eligible railway employees ahead of the festive season. The payment covers around 11.41 lakh non-gazetted staff, including loco pilots, station masters and track maintainers.

The bonus covers employees across categories, including loco pilots, track maintainers, station masters, train managers and technicians.

The annual payout recognises staff contributions as the national transporter reports record freight loading and passenger traffic during 2025-26

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a bonus equal to 78 days' wages for eligible railway employees.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a bonus equal to 78 days' wages for eligible railway employees.

The Union Cabinet has approved a Productivity Linked Bonus for railway employees worth Rs 2,009.61 crore. It will benefit approximately 11.41 lakh eligible railway staff members across various categories. The maximum bonus that each eligible employee can receive is Rs 17,951. This annual bonus is provided ahead of the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays to motivate employees. Railways recorded significant freight loading and passenger numbers during the 2025-26 period.

Railway employees to get Diwali bonanza as govt approves day bonus