Cabinet announces Diwali bonus for railway employees, approves Rs 2,009 crore payout

The Cabinet also approved the expansion of the social security net for weaker sections until 2031, with an outlay of Rs 53,428 crore.

October 14, 2026 / 16:53 IST

Vaishnaw said the Railways has a massive recruitment requirement, with 1.65 lakh vacancies, and nearly 5.5 lakh jobs have been provided since 2014.

Nearly 11.5 lakh railway employees will receive a Diwali bonanza in the form of a productivity-linked bonus equivalent to 78 days’ wages, with the Cabinet approving a payout of around Rs 2,009 crore, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday

Vaishnaw also said the Railways has a significant recruitment requirement, with 1.65 lakh vacancies, and has provided nearly 5.5 lakh jobs since 2014.

The performance of the Railways in 2025-26 was “very good” with record cargo of 1670 million tonnes and carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers, according to the government.

The Cabinet also approved the expansion of the social security net for weaker sections until 2031, with an outlay of Rs 53,428 crore. The eligibility threshold for persons with disabilities has been lowered to 40% from 80%.

Meanwhile, central government employees are eagerly awaiting the announcement of DA for the July 2026 cycle, with the central government employee association estimating it may come before pujas. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) in 2026 falls on October 20, 2026, across most parts of India, while some regions that follow sunrise-based tithi calculations will observe the festival on October 21.