Central government employees may get a bigger festival bonus this year if the government accepts a fresh demand from the staff side. The National Council (Staff Side) of the Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) has asked the Centre to raise the bonus calculation ceiling from the current Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000 ahead of Dussehra 2026.
What NC-JCM Has Demanded
The NC-JCM is the main negotiating forum between central government employees and the government. Ahead of the festive season, it has written to the Centre seeking a sharp revision in the ceiling used to calculate the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) and the non-productivity linked (ad-hoc) bonus.
At present, the bonus for eligible non-gazetted central employees is calculated on a notional monthly wage capped at Rs 7,000, regardless of the employee’s actual pay. The staff side wants this ceiling raised to Rs 21,000, which would significantly increase the bonus amount paid out during Durga Puja and Dussehra.
How the Bonus Is Calculated Today
The festival bonus for central government employees is worked out on a fixed formula. The key points as they stand now:
- Non-gazetted employees are eligible for the Productivity Linked Bonus or the ad-hoc bonus, depending on the department.
- The calculation ceiling is Rs 7,000 per month, not the employee’s real salary.
- The ad-hoc bonus is typically paid for 30 days of the year, which currently works out to roughly Rs 6,900-7,000 for most eligible staff.
- The bonus is usually announced just before Dussehra so it reaches employees before the festival.
What Changes If the Ceiling Rises to Rs 21,000
If the ceiling is tripled from Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000, the notional wage used in the formula would rise threefold. That would push a typical 30-day ad-hoc bonus up towards the Rs 21,000 range for eligible employees, compared with the roughly Rs 7,000 paid now. The exact figure depends on the number of days sanctioned and the department’s own bonus order.
The staff side has argued that the Rs 7,000 ceiling has stayed unchanged for years while prices and salaries have risen, and that a revision is overdue to keep the festival bonus meaningful.
Is It Approved Yet?
This is a demand from the employee side and has not been approved by the government at the time of writing. The Rs 21,000 figure is what NC-JCM has requested, not a confirmed amount. The Union Cabinet normally clears the festival bonus and its terms each year before Dussehra, and any change to the calculation ceiling would need the Finance Ministry’s approval.
Employees should treat the Rs 21,000 number as a proposed ceiling that is reported but not officially confirmed. The actual bonus order for 2026 will be issued through the Department of Expenditure once a decision is taken.
Who Would Benefit
A higher ceiling would mainly help non-gazetted Group C and eligible Group B central government staff who receive the PLB or ad-hoc bonus, along with employees of many central public sector undertakings and railway staff who follow the PLB scheme. Gazetted officers are generally outside the ad-hoc bonus scheme.
For now, central government employees should wait for the official bonus order expected closer to Dussehra. We will update this page when the government issues its decision on the 2026 festival bonus.