Move to Triple Central Employees' Bonus; Demand Raised for ₹21,000

Demands regarding bonuses for central government employees have intensified ahead of Dussehra. The NC-JCM has proposed to the government that the bonus limit be raised from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000.

There is welcome news regarding bonuses for central government employees ahead of Dussehra. Employee organizations have urged the government to increase the current bonus limit. The demand is to raise the limit from the existing ₹7,000 to ₹21,000. If the government approves this request, employees could receive a higher bonus this festive season.

The National Council Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), a body representing central government employees, has written to the Cabinet Secretary regarding this matter. In a letter dated August 27, 2026, NC-JCM Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra noted that Dussehra is approaching and the government is likely to issue orders soon concerning PLB (Productivity Linked Bonus), general bonuses, and ad-hoc bonuses. The organization has demanded that the fixed bonus amount for central employees be increased from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000.

What is the ₹21,000 salary figure?

In support of its demand, the NC-JCM cited a notification issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on August 25, 2026. The notification states that employees earning a monthly salary of up to ₹21,000 are eligible for the bonus. This rule is deemed effective from November 21, 2025.

Manjit Singh Patel, National President of the All India NPS Employees Federation, has also questioned the old limit. He pointed out that even after more than a decade, employees were receiving a non-productivity-linked bonus based on a figure of ₹6,908. In April 2026, the government had fixed the minimum daily wage calculation between ₹783 and ₹1,035. Based on the average, employees should receive a bonus of up to ₹27,694.

The issue was also raised during the May 11 meeting

According to the NC-JCM, the issue of raising the bonus ceiling was raised during the 49th meeting held on May 11, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary. At that time, the government stated that the matter of bonuses for central government employees would be considered once the bonus ceiling limit was revised.

Now, following the announcement of the new salary limit of ₹21,000, employee unions are hopeful that the government might issue an order regarding the revised bonus before Dussehra.
The ₹21,000 figure is not yet a government-fixed bonus amount; currently, the NC-JCM has demanded that the existing limit of ₹7,000 be raised to ₹21,000.