Diwali Bonus Announced for Postal Employees: Equivalent to 60 Days’ Salary; Maximum Payout of ₹13,816

The government has announced a ‘Performance-Linked Bonus’ for employees of the Department of Posts for this year. According to an order issued by the Department, employees will receive a bonus equivalent to 60 days—or two months—of their salary.

Here are the details regarding this announcement, presented in a Q&A format:

Question 1: What major announcement has the government made for Department of Posts employees?

Answer: The Central Government has announced a bonus for employees of the Department of Posts. The Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communications, issued an order to this effect on October 16, 2026. Under this, eligible employees will receive a bonus equivalent to 60 days of their salary.

Question 2: Which employees are eligible for this bonus?

Answer: This decision will benefit the following categories of employees within the Department of Posts:

Group ‘C’ employees, non-gazetted Group ‘B’ employees, and MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff).

Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) working in rural areas.

Full-time and temporary casual laborers (daily wage/temporary staff).

Question 3: What is the maximum bonus amount an employee can receive?

Answer: The maximum salary limit for calculation purposes has been set at ₹7,000 per month. Even if an employee’s basic salary plus allowances exceeds this amount, the calculation will still be based on the ₹7,000 limit. Consequently, employees will receive a maximum bonus of ₹13,816.

Question 4: How will the bonus be calculated?

Answer: The formula for calculating the bonus is straightforward:

Bonus Amount = (Average Salary × 60 days) ÷ 30.4

Here, 30.4 is used as the average number of days in a month.

Question 5: Which allowances will be included in the bonus calculation? Answer: When calculating the salary of regular employees, their basic pay, Dearness Allowance (DA), SB allowance, deputation allowance, and training allowance will be added together.

Question 6: How will the bonus be calculated for Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS)?

Answer: The annual average of the Time-Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) and Dearness Allowance (DA) received by Gramin Dak Sevaks will be determined. Even if this average exceeds ₹7,000 per month, it will be capped at ₹7,000. Consequently, Gramin Dak Sevaks will also be eligible for a maximum bonus of up to ₹13,816.

Question 7: Will employees who have retired or left the service also receive the payment?

Answer: Yes, absolutely. Employees who retired, resigned, or were transferred to another department between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, will also receive a bonus, calculated based on the number of days they actually worked.

Question 8: Will the bonus be reduced if an employee takes leave or remains absent?

Answer: Yes. If an employee has taken leave without pay or has been marked absent for any period, the bonus amount will be reduced proportionately for the number of days of such leave or absence.

Question 9: What are the rules for part-time Gramin Dak Sevaks or those recruited mid-year?

Answer: Gramin Dak Sevaks working temporarily in place of another individual are not eligible for this benefit. If a Gramin Dak Sevak was recruited during the year or left the service mid-year, they will receive a pro-rata bonus corresponding only to the number of months they actually worked.