India approves Indian Railways bonus

The India — Union Council of Ministers, chaired by Narendra Modi, approved a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days' wages for approximately 10.91 lakh non-gazetted employees of India — Indian Railways. This decision, with a financial implication of Rs 1,865.68 crore, recognizes the excellent operational performance of India — Indian Railways in 2024-25, which included record cargo loading and passenger traffic. The maximum payable amount per eligible employee is Rs 17,951. The bonus is traditionally paid before the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays and is expected to stimulate household spending, especially during the ongoing festival season, following recent GST rate cuts. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the approval, noting its potential to boost demand for various consumer goods. Additionally, the Cabinet also approved railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 94,000–95,000 crore, including the doubling of the Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya line in Bihar, which will enhance India — Indian Railways' capacity.