The National Council (Staff Side) Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) has formally written to Cabinet Secretary Shri T.V. Somanathan seeking an urgent enhancement of the bonus payable calculation ceiling for Central Government employees from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000.
The letter (No. NC-JCM-2026/CS/Bonus, dated August 27, 2026), authored by Staff Side Secretary Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra, cites the recent Gazette Notification issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment as the statutory backing for this long-pending revision ahead of the upcoming festival season.
Demand Ahead of Dussehra & Festive Orders
With the Dussehra festival approaching, Ministries and Departments—including Railways, Posts, Defence, and Civil Ministries—will soon issue annual orders for Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) and Ad-hoc Bonus.
The JCM Staff Side has urged the Cabinet Secretary to honor the commitment made during the 49th JCM meeting and immediately issue necessary orders revising the bonus calculation ceiling from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000 for all eligible Central Government employees.
NCJCM Letter to Cabinet Secretary
Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
No.NC-JCM-2026/CS/Bonus
August 27, 2026
The Cabinet Secretary
Government of India
&
Chairman
National Council – JCM
New Delhi
Sub:- Revision of Bonus Payable Ceiling to Central Government Employees from Rs.7,000/- to Rs.21,000/- Reg.
Ref:- Ministry of Labour & Employment Gazette Notification No.S.O.4710(E) dated. 25th August 2026.
Sir,
The issue of enhancement of Bonus payable ceiling to the Central Government Employees from Rs.7,000/-, was raised by the Staff Side in the 49th Meeting of National Council (JCM) held on 11th May 2026 under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary. During the discussion, the Official Side informed the Staff Side that the demand can be considered only when the Central Government revise the Payment ceiling limit in the Payment of Bonus Act 1965 (now Code on wages 2019). At present, the Ministry of Labor & Employment vide notification No.S.O.4710(E) dated.25th August 2026 has now revised the Bonus Payable Ceiling is as follows:-
SO.4710(E): “In exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-Section (2) of Section 26 of the Code on Wages 2019 (29 of 2019), the Central Government hereby determines that for the purpose of calculation of the Bonus Payable under sub-section (1) and (3) of Section 26 of the said Code, where the wage of an employee being eligible for Bonus under Sub-section (1) of section 26, exceed Seven Thousand Rupees per Mensum, the Bonus payable to such employee shall be calculated, as if his/her wage was Seven Thousand Rupees Per Mensum or the Minimum Wage fixed by the Central Government, whichever is higher”.
2. This notification shall be deemed to have come into force on the 21st Day of November 2025″.
At present the Minimum Wage announced by the Central Government is Rs.21,000/-. Accordingly, the Bonus Payable Amount cannot be less than Rs.21,000/-. The above Gazette notification dated. 25.08.2026 is enclosed herewith for kind ready reference.
In view of the above, since Dussehra Festival is nearing and the Government will be issuing orders for Payment of PLB / Bonus / Adhoc Bonus, it is requested that as informed by the Official Side in the 49th Meeting of National Council (JCM), the Bonus Payable Ceiling for the Central Government Employees may be enhanced from Rs.7,000/- To Rs.21,000/-. Necessary orders may please be issued in this regard. Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary
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