Central Government Employee Bonus: Important news has come out for the eligible Central Government employees. The Central Government has announced a 30-day non-productivity linked (ad-hoc) bonus to eligible government employees for the financial year 2025-26. Under this, employees can get a maximum bonus of ₹6,908. It has been informed that the Department of Expenditure of the Ministry of Finance has published an office memorandum in this regard on October 15, 2026.
Apart from eligible Group ‘C’ and non-gazetted Group ‘B’ employees, the decision may also benefit Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Armed Forces and other employees fulfilling the prescribed conditions.
Which employees will benefit from the bonus?
The benefit of this bonus scheme of the government will be given to the eligible employees who are not covered under the productivity-linked bonus scheme.
The main eligible categories include the following employees:
- Group ‘C’ Eligible Central Government Employees.
- Non-Gazetted Group ‘B’ Eligible Employees.
- Eligible personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
- Eligible personnel of armed forces.
- Eligible employees of Union Territories having pay structure of Central Government.
However, in order to get the bonus, the employee concerned is required to fulfill the service and other eligibility conditions prescribed by the government.
Eligibility and conditions for availing bonus
An employee must have completed at least six months of continuous service during the financial year 2025-26 to get ad-hoc bonus. Further, as per general rule the employee should be in service on March 31, 2026.
Employees who have served more than six months but less than one year, will be paid bonus in proportion to their service period i.e. pro-rata basis.
Bonus is also provided in some special cases. It may include the following personnel:
- Employees who retired before March 31, 2026.
- Employees retiring on medical grounds.
- Eligible cases of employees who died during the relevant period.
Such employees are also required to have fulfilled the applicable conditions including at least six months of regular service during the financial year.
In case of employees on deputation to State Government or Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) the eligibility of bonus will be determined as per the applicable rules of the concerned organization.
How will the bonus of ₹6,908 be calculated?
It is said that the maximum limit of monthly salary for calculation of bonus has been fixed by the government at ₹7,000. That is, even if the employee’s average monthly salary is ₹7,000 or more, the calculation will be based on this limit.
Bonus calculation is as follows:
- Monthly Salary Computation Limit: ₹7,000
- Duration of Bonus: 30 days
- Calculation formula: ₹7,000 × 30 ÷ 30.4
- Maximum Bonus Available: ₹ 6,908
If the employee’s average monthly salary is less than ₹7,000, the bonus will be calculated on the basis of his actual salary. The final payment will be made by rounding off to the nearest whole rupee.
Daily wage workers are also benefited
The Central Government has also made provision for bonus for casual laborers i.e. eligible laborers working on daily wages. However, separate conditions regarding working days and wages are prescribed for them.
- Offices with a six-day working week: Must have worked at least 240 days per year in last three years.
- Offices with a five-day working week: Must have worked at least 206 days per year in last three years.
For casual labourers, the monthly wage calculation limit has been kept at ₹1,200. As per this limit 30 days bonus is calculated as follows:
₹1,200 × 30 ÷ 30.4 = approximately ₹1,184
Hence, eligible workers can get bonus up to a maximum of ₹1,184. If their actual salary is less than the prescribed limit, the amount will be fixed accordingly.
From where will the bonus amount be paid?
The expenditure for payment of this bonus will be met from the sanctioned budget of the concerned Ministries and Departments for the financial year 2026-27. Payment will be made by rounding off to the nearest whole rupee.
The actual amount received by employees will depend on their eligibility, length of service, wages and applicable government regulations.
What is important to employees?
Eligible employees may get additional financial assistance through this Central Government announcement. The provision of 30 days bonus is particularly important for Group ‘C’, non-gazetted Group ‘B’ and other covered employees.