India approves 30-day ad-hoc bonus for central government employees

The Government of India has sanctioned a non-productivity-linked ad-hoc bonus for eligible Central Government employees for the 2025-26 accounting year. Following approval from the President, the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Expenditure issued an official memorandum regarding the payment, which is equivalent to 30 days of emoluments.

The bonus is primarily intended for Group C employees and non-gazetted Group B employees who are not covered by any existing productivity-linked bonus schemes. The benefit also extends to eligible personnel within the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Indian Armed Forces.

To qualify, employees must have been in service as of March 31, 2026, and must have completed at least six months of continuous service during the 2025-26 period. Those with between six months and one year of service will receive a proportionate amount. The calculation is capped at a monthly ceiling of Rs 7,000; employees exceeding this threshold may receive a maximum bonus of approximately Rs 6,908.