New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- New Delhi: The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs.2,009.61 crore productivity-linked bonus for 1.14 million railway employees and extended the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31, with an outlay of Rs.53,428 crore, as the government moves to reward railway workers and widen social security coverage.

Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the 78-day bonus as a Deepawali gift for employees, with each eligible non-gazetted employee entitled to a maximum payment of Rs.17,951. The bonus will benefit 11,40,770 employees, including track maintainers, locomotive pilots, train managers, station masters, technicians, pointsmen, supervisors and ministerial staff....