Railway PLB 2025-26: Cabinet Approves 78 Days' Bonus for 11.40 Lakh Employees, Maximum ₹17,951 Each
Railway Board issues RBE No. 84/2026 for payment to all eligible non-gazetted staff, excluding RPF/RPSF personnel; total outlay ₹2,009.61 crore.
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days' wages to 11,40,770 railway employees, at a total cost of ₹2,009.61 crore, in recognition of the performance of Railway staff in 2025-26.
The Railway Board has followed up with RBE No. 84/2026 (No. E(P&A)II/2026/PLB-1, dated 14.10.2026), conveying the sanction of the President to all General Managers/CAOs of Indian Railways and Production Units. The maximum amount payable per eligible employee is ₹17,951.
Key Highlights
- PLB equal to 78 days' wages for the financial year 2025-26, without any ceiling on wages for eligibility
- Where wages exceed ₹7,000 per month, the bonus is calculated as if wages are ₹7,000 per month
- Maximum payable amount: ₹17,951 per eligible employee
- RPF/RPSF personnel are excluded
- SRPF subscribers may deposit the whole or part of the bonus in their State Railway Provident Fund account
- Payment to be made in the same mode as salary, on priority basis
What the Cabinet Approved
According to the Ministry of Railways, PLB is paid to eligible railway employees every year before the Durga Puja/Dusshera holidays. This year too, the PLB equivalent to 78 days' wages is being paid to about 11.40 lakh non-gazetted railway employees. The payment acts as an incentive to motivate employees to work towards improving the performance of the Railways.
The amount will be paid to various categories of Railway staff, including Track Maintainers, Loco Pilots, Train Managers (Guards), Station Masters, Supervisors, Technicians, Technician Helpers, Pointsmen, Ministerial staff and other Group 'C' staff.
PLB 2025-26 vs Last Year: At a Glance
| Parameter | PLB for 2024-25 (approved Sept 2025) | PLB for 2025-26 (approved Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| PLB days | 78 days | 78 days |
| Maximum per employee | ₹17,951 | ₹17,951 |
| Employees covered | 10,91,146 | 11,40,770 |
| Total outlay | ₹1,865.68 crore | ₹2,009.61 crore |
| Cargo loaded | 1,614.90 million tonnes | 1,670 million tonnes |
| Passengers carried | Nearly 7.3 billion | Nearly 7.41 billion |
Sources: PIB release dated 14 October 2026 (2025-26) and PIB release dated 24 September 2025 (2024-25). The number of days and maximum amount are unchanged, while the number of beneficiaries is higher by 49,624 (computed).
Railway Board Order RBE No. 84/2026: What It Says
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Order | RBE No. 84/2026, No. E(P&A)II/2026/PLB-1 |
| Date | 14 October 2026 |
| Subject | Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees for the financial year 2025-26 |
| Addressed to | General Managers/CAOs, All Indian Railways & Production Units etc. |
| PLB sanctioned | 78 days' wages without any ceiling on wages for eligibility (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) |
| Wage ceiling for calculation | ₹7,000 per month |
| Fixed amount | ₹17,951 for eligible employees who meet the conditions in Para 2 |
| Concurrence | Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways |
Para 1: Eligibility and wage ceiling
The President has sanctioned PLB equivalent to 78 days' wages for 2025-26 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees, excluding all RPF/RPSF personnel. There is no ceiling on wages for eligibility. Where wages exceed ₹7,000 per month, PLB will be calculated as if the wages are ₹7,000 per month. Other conditions of eligibility, method of calculation of wages and so on remain as prescribed in the Ministry's earlier instructions and clarifications.
Para 2: ₹17,951 for employees with full-year eligibility
Employees mentioned in Para 1 who were not placed under suspension, or had not quit service/retired/expired during 2025-26, or were on leave where the leave salary admissible was not less than that admissible on leave on average pay, may be paid ₹17,951 towards PLB. For all other employees, PLB is to be calculated as per the extant instructions on the subject.
Para 3: Option to deposit in SRPF
In relaxation of Rules 905(2), 908 and 909 of the State Railway Provident Fund Rules (Chapter 9 of R-I/1985 edition, 2003 reprint), subscribers to the SRPF who are entitled to PLB may, if they so desire, deposit the whole or part of the amount admissible in their respective State Railway Provident Fund accounts.
Para 4: Mode and priority of payment
Disbursement of PLB for 2025-26 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees should be made in the same mode as payment of salary, on priority basis.
How Is the Railway PLB Calculated?
The "78 days" is not 78 days of actual salary. The calculation uses a notional wage ceiling of ₹7,000 per month. Working backwards from the official maximum, the figures match this formula:
₹7,000 × 78 × 12 ÷ 365 = ₹17,950.68, rounded to ₹17,951
As the wage ceiling is ₹7,000 and pay in the Railway pay matrix is above this level, an employee who is eligible for the full year gets the same maximum amount regardless of grade. The amount changes only where an employee is not eligible for the full-year payment, for example because of part-year service.
PLB Calculator 2025-26 for Eligible Employees
Use this calculator to estimate your PLB. Part-year figures are proportionate estimates; the actual amount is as determined by your Railway accounts office under the Railway Board's instructions.
This is an estimate, not an official calculation. Treatment of suspension, leave, part-year service and other cases is governed by the Railway Board's instructions applicable to PLB.
Illustrative Part-Year Examples
| Eligible Days of Service | Proportionate PLB (Estimate) |
|---|---|
| 365 (full year) | ₹17,951 |
| 270 days | ₹13,279 |
| 180 days | ₹8,852 |
| 90 days | ₹4,426 |
Proportionate estimates computed as ₹17,950.68 × days ÷ 365. They are only illustrations and not an official table.
Who Is Eligible, and Who Is Excluded?
- Eligible: Non-gazetted Railway employees, such as Track Maintainers, Loco Pilots, Train Managers (Guards), Station Masters, Supervisors, Technicians, Technician Helpers, Pointsmen, Ministerial staff and other Group 'C' staff, subject to the Ministry's eligibility conditions.
- Excluded: All RPF/RPSF personnel.
- Fixed ₹17,951: Eligible employees who were not suspended, did not quit/retire/expire during 2025-26, or were on leave with leave salary not less than that on average pay.
- Others: Calculated as per the existing instructions on the subject.
Average Payout: A Quick Calculation
The Cabinet outlay of ₹2,009.61 crore for 11,40,770 employees works out to roughly ₹17,600 per employee on average. This is our own arithmetic from the announced figures, and the actual payout depends on individual eligibility.
Conclusion
The Railway PLB for 2025-26 is again 78 days' wages with the maximum payable amount unchanged at ₹17,951, covering a larger group of 11,40,770 employees than last year. Under RBE No. 84/2026, payment must be made in the same mode as salary on priority, and SRPF subscribers have the option to deposit all or part of the bonus in their provident fund account.
Important Links
| Link | Open |
|---|---|
| Railway Board RBE No. 84/2026 (PDF) | Download Here |
| PIB Press Release | pib.gov.in |
| Indian Railways Official Website | indianrailways.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many days of PLB has been approved for 2025-26?
PLB equivalent to 78 days' wages has been sanctioned for the financial year 2025-26.
What is the maximum PLB amount?
The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is ₹17,951 for 78 days.
How many employees will get the bonus?
About 11.40 lakh (11,40,770) non-gazetted railway employees, at a total cost of ₹2,009.61 crore.
Is RPF/RPSF staff eligible for PLB?
No. RBE No. 84/2026 excludes all RPF/RPSF personnel.
What is the wage ceiling for PLB calculation?
Where wages exceed ₹7,000 per month, PLB is calculated as if the wages are ₹7,000 per month.
Can I deposit my PLB in the State Railway Provident Fund?
Yes. SRPF subscribers entitled to PLB may, if they so desire, deposit the whole or part of the amount in their SRPF account, as per Para 3 of the order.
How will the bonus be paid?
It should be disbursed in the same mode as payment of salary, on priority basis.
Is the bonus paid before Dussehra every year?
According to the Ministry of Railways, PLB is paid each year before the Durga Puja/Dusshera holidays.
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