New Delhi, September 24, 2025: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) of 78 days’ wages for 10.91 lakh non-gazetted railway employees. The decision, carrying a financial implication of ₹1,865.68 crore, comes as a reward for Indian Railways’ record performance in 2024–25.
The PLB, traditionally disbursed before Durga Puja and Dussehra, is directly linked to operational achievements such as freight loading, punctuality, and passenger handling. For 2025, the maximum bonus payable per employee is ₹17,951.
Performance Highlights (2024–25):
- Freight Loading: 1,614.90 million tonnes (all-time record)
- Passenger Movement: 7.3 billion passengers carried
- Efficiency: Improved punctuality and reduced delays
- Revenue: Significant growth from freight and passenger earnings
The move boosts employee morale, injects liquidity into the economy during the festive season, and reinforces the government’s push for a performance-linked reward culture in public institutions.
