Cabinet Approves 78 Days Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for Railway Employees

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the payment of a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days of wages to eligible non-gazetted Railway employees. This bonus acts as an incentive to motivate railway employees and is awarded in recognition of their excellent performance during the year.

Main Provisions & Benefits

• Bonus Duration: Employees will receive a PLB equivalent to 78 days of wages.
• Maximum Amount: The maximum bonus payable per eligible railway employee is Rs. 17,951/-.
• Total Beneficiaries: Approximately 11,40,770 (11.40 lakh) railway employees will benefit from this decision.
• Timing of Payment: The bonus is paid each year before the Durga Puja/Dussehra holidays.
• Financial Outlay: The total approved amount for this payout is Rs. 2009.61 crore.

Who is Eligible?

The bonus will be paid to various categories of non-gazetted Railway staff, including:

• Track maintainers
• Loco Pilots
• Train Managers (Guards)
• Station Masters
• Supervisors
• Technicians and Technician Helpers
• Pointsman
• Ministerial staff and other Group 'C' staff

Reason for the Bonus

The PLB is being awarded due to the very good performance of the Railways in the year 2025-26. During this period, the Railways loaded a record cargo of 1670 Million Tonnes and carried nearly 7.41 Billion Passengers.