Key Points
- The Union Cabinet has approved a Productivity-Linked Bonus (PLB) of ₹1,865.68 crore for railway employees.
- Around 10.91 lakh non-gazetted railway employees will receive a bonus equivalent to 78 days’ wages.
- The maximum bonus payable to each eligible employee is capped at ₹17,951.
- Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train has passed all tests and is ready for launch.
- The announcement comes as central government employees await a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA), expected in October.
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, in a decision chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a Productivity-Linked Bonus (PLB) of ₹1,865.68 crore for about 10.91 lakh non-gazetted railway employees. The bonus, equivalent to 78 days’ salary, is a pre-festival gift to be disbursed before the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays.
Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced that the move recognizes the excellent performance of railway staff during the financial year 2024-25. During this period, Indian Railways achieved record-breaking figures, loading 1,614.90 million tonnes of freight and carrying nearly 7.3 billion passengers.
Who Will Benefit from the Bonus?
The bonus payment is for all non-gazetted Group ‘C’ employees. This includes a wide range of staff who are crucial to the daily operations of the railways:
- Track maintainers
- Locomotive pilots
- Train managers (guards)
- Station masters
- Supervisors
- Technicians and technician helpers
- Pointsmen
- Ministerial staff
The maximum amount an eligible employee will receive is ₹17,951. The payment is calculated with a monthly wage ceiling of ₹7,000.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains Ready for Debut
In other major railway news, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the highly anticipated Vande Bharat sleeper trains are set to be launched soon. The first prototype has successfully completed all trials and is currently at the Shakur Basti Coach Depot in Delhi. A second rake is expected to be ready by mid-October.
The minister stated that both trains will be launched simultaneously to provide continuous overnight service. Manufactured by BEML with technology from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), each Vande Bharat sleeper train will consist of 16 coaches, featuring a mix of AC First, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier classes.
Awaiting Dearness Allowance Hike
The bonus announcement for railway staff has increased anticipation among other central government employees for the next installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR). The DA is revised twice a year, in January and July. While the first hike for 2025 has been implemented, the second is awaited and expected to be announced in October, possibly around Dussehra.
