The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared a bonus of ₹2,009.61 crore for 11,40,770 non‑gazetted railway staff, giving each worker up to ₹17,951 for a 78‑day period. The decision follows the railways' record 2025‑26 performance, carrying 7.41 billion passengers and moving 1,670 million tonnes of cargo.
The bonus covers a broad spectrum of jobs—track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, pointsmen, ministerial staff, and other group "C" personnel—recognizing the essential role each plays in keeping the network humming. It is framed as a reward for the workforce's excellence and a motivation to sustain high standards.
Compared with the 2024‑25 payout of ₹1,865.68 crore to 10,91,146 employees, this year’s bonus is ₹143.93 crore larger—about 7.7%—and reaches 49,600 more workers, a 4.5% increase. The maximum payable per employee remains unchanged at ₹17,951.
The Ministry of Railways will issue detailed payment schedules over the next few weeks; the first tranche is slated for early October, and the remaining amounts will follow in a staggered release. Workers across the network, including those in remote stations, will see the bonus credited to their bank accounts as the disbursement process unfolds.