Has government released Rs 41,000 as annual bonus for Railway employees? Here’s the truth

A letter asserting that the Railway Board has authorised the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB), or the annual bonus, for all railway workers for the fiscal year 2025–2026 is making the rounds on social media. The Railway Board, however, has made it clear that the letter is fraudulent and was not sent by it.

The fabricated letter, dated October 6, 2026, claimed that the central government has sanctioned the Productivity Linked Bonus equivalent to 78 days’ wages and a payment of Rs 41,149.

The Railway Board in a letter dated October 7, 2026, sent to all general managers of Railways, says that the letter bears a forged signature and is being widely circulated on social media and through various messaging platforms.


The Railway Board has warned that the letter is fake and has not been issued by it. The board says that the content of the letter should not be treated as an official announcement.

“It is hereby clarified that the aforesaid letter is fake/fabricated and has not been issued by the Railway Board. The contents of the said letter, including the purported sanction of Productivity Linked Bonus equivalent to 78 days’ wages and payment of Rs 41,149/-, are unauthorised and shall not be acted upon or taken into cognisance by any zonal railway, production unit or other Railway office,” reads the Railway Board letter.

The letter further says, “No action should be taken, and no payment should be made on the basis of the document.”

How can Railway employees check the bonus announcement?

The Railway Board has advised officials and staff to verify the authenticity of communications regarding the PLB through the official Ministry of Railways or the Railway Board website before taking any action.

Railway board has suggested employees to check the following official websites:

Railway Board: https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/

Indian Railways: https://indianrailways.gov.in/

How much PLB do Railway employees get every year?

The PLB amount for non-gazetted Railway employees is Rs 17,951. The limit has been in place since 2014-15.

The annual bonus is calculated at a wage ceiling of Rs 7,000 and for 78 days.

The Indian Railways Technical Supervisors’ Association (IRTSA) has requested the central government to raise this ceiling to Rs 18,000 plus dearness allowance (DA) for Level-2 employees and above, in proportion to higher pay levels.

It says that the minimum wage for unskilled people is Rs 21,000. So, the Rs 7,000 ceiling should be increased to at least Rs 18,000.

Based on the Rs 18,000 ceiling, the IRSTSA has recommended the government to increase the annual bonus from Rs 17,951 to at least Rs 46,184.