Indian Railways staff to receive 78-day bonus worth ₹2,009 crore ahead of festive season
The Union Cabinet cleared the festive payout for non-gazetted staff following record freight loading and passenger traffic across the national rail network.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a 78-day Productivity Linked Bonus worth ₹2,009.61 crore for more than 11.4 lakh non-gazetted railway employees ahead of the festive season.
The annual payout rewards eligible frontline personnel across Indian Railways before the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays, delivering cash directly into household budgets as festive commerce picks up nationwide. Eligible staff will receive up to ₹17,951 each.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the bonus honours the exceptional dedication shown by railway personnel in maintaining seamless connectivity and logistical momentum across the country. The incentive covers a broad range of operational roles, including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff, and other Group C personnel.
Record freight and passenger traffic
The payout reflects substantial operational gains across the national transporter during 2025–26, driven by sustained capital investment in modern tracks, signalling systems, and rolling stock. During the year, Indian Railways carried 7.41 billion passengers and loaded a record 1,670 million tonnes of freight, reinforcing its role as the backbone of India's logistics supply chain.
| Measure | Approved level |
|---|---|
| Eligible workforce | 11,40,770 employees |
| Bonus duration | 78 days' wages |
| Total financial allocation | ₹2,009.61 crore |
| Maximum payout per worker | ₹17,951 |
| Annual freight loaded | 1,670 million tonnes |
| Annual passengers carried | 7.41 billion |
Disbursing the funds ahead of major autumn celebrations acts as an operational morale booster while sustaining domestic retail demand through festive wage liquidity.
Wider Cabinet welfare push
The railway bonus formed part of a broader set of economic and social welfare decisions taken by the Union Cabinet to support workforce security and enterprise expansion.
Ministers approved a ₹53,000 crore expansion of the national social security net for vulnerable groups through 2031, widening coverage to 3.2 crore beneficiaries including senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities. Alongside social support measures, the Cabinet cleared the strategic restructuring of IDBI Bank to expand institutional lending lines for micro, small, and medium enterprises, ensuring sustained credit flow into core manufacturing and service sectors.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total bonus outlay | ₹2,009.61 crore | Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw |
| Eligible employees | 11,40,770 | Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw |
| Bonus duration | 78 days | Union Cabinet |
| Maximum bonus per worker | ₹17,951 | Ministry of Railways |
| Freight volume moved | 1,670 million tonnes | Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw |
| Passengers carried | 7.41 billion | Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Union Cabinet | Approved the productivity-linked bonus and wider social welfare measures. |
| Indian Railways | Employs the 11.4 lakh non-gazetted staff receiving the festive payout. |
