Cabinet Approves ₹1,865 Cr Bonus for Railway Staff
The Union Cabinet has approved a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) worth about ₹1,865.68 crore for non-gazetted railway employees across India, just ahead of the festive season. The bonus is equivalent to 78 days’ wages.
Who Benefits
About 10.91 lakh staff members in roles such as station masters, track maintainers, loco pilots, guards, and technicians will receive the bonus. The maximum amount per eligible employee has been capped at ₹17,951.
Why the Bonus
The move is intended to reward railway workers for their role in record operational performance during 2024-25. The Railways logged a cargo loading of 1,614.90 million tonnes and ferried nearly 7.3 billion passengers last year.
Economic and Social Impact
Given that railway employees are distributed across many regions, the bonus is expected to boost household spending and uplift demand during Diwali. Retailers and consumer goods sectors may benefit from this increased liquidity.
