Central Government Employees to Receive 30-Day Bonus Before Diwali: Check Eligibility, Rules and Maximum Payout

Diwali Bonus 2025: Ahead of the festive season, the Finance Ministry has announced a special ad-hoc bonus equivalent to 30 days of salary for eligible central government employees. The move, seen as a festive gesture before Dussehra and Diwali, will benefit lakhs of staff working under various central departments, armed forces, paramilitary forces, and union territories.

Who Will Benefit From the Festive Bonus?

According to the Department of Expenditure, the bonus is available to:

• Group C employees under the central government.

• Non-gazetted Group B employees not covered under any productivity-linked bonus scheme.

• Personnel from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the armed forces who qualify under the eligibility criteria.

• Employees of union territories that follow central government pay structures and are not entitled to any other bonus or ex-gratia payment scheme.

Additionally, casual workers who have completed at least three years of continuous service and worked the prescribed number of days in a year will also be eligible. For them, the bonus has been fixed at ₹1,184, or calculated on actual wages if their monthly salary is below ₹1,200.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the ad-hoc bonus for the financial year 2024–25, an employee must meet the following conditions:

Service Duration: The employee should have been in service as of March 31, 2025, and must have completed at least six months of continuous service during 2024–25.

Pro-Rata Payment: Those who worked less than a full year will receive the bonus on a pro-rata basis, calculated according to the number of months they served.

Ad-hoc Staff: Employees working on an ad-hoc basis without interruption in service are also eligible for the payout.

Maximum Bonus Amount

The government has fixed the salary ceiling at ₹7,000 per month for calculating the bonus. This means:

• If an employee’s monthly salary is ₹7,000 or above, the bonus will be calculated using ₹7,000 as the base.

• For a 30-day period, the maximum payable bonus works out to around ₹6,907.89.

• The calculation formula divides the average annual salary by 30.4 (average number of days in a month) and then multiplies it by 30 days of bonus entitlement.

For example, if an employee earns exactly ₹7,000 per month, their bonus will be slightly below that figure, rounded off to the nearest whole number.

Bonus for Casual and Daily Wage Workers

Casual workers with at least three years of continuous service will also get the ad-hoc bonus. Their payout, fixed at ₹1,184, ensures that even daily wage earners under government establishments receive festive relief. If their monthly wage is lower than ₹1,200, the bonus will be recalculated based on actual wages earned.

Why This Bonus Matters

The bonus announcement comes at a time when inflation and rising household expenses are a concern for many families. With major festivals like Dussehra and Diwali just around the corner, the move is expected to inject additional liquidity into the economy while also boosting consumer sentiment.

For government employees, the payment acts as both a reward for service and an economic cushion ahead of the festive season. For the government, it helps maintain goodwill among lakhs of employees and their families, while aligning with a tradition of announcing bonuses before major festivals.

Key Takeaways

• Eligible central government staff will receive an ad-hoc bonus equal to 30 days’ salary.

• The salary ceiling is fixed at ₹7,000/month, making the maximum payout about ₹6,907.89.

• Applies to Group C, non-gazetted Group B employees, armed forces, and paramilitary staff.

• Casual workers with sufficient service records will receive a ₹1,184 bonus.

• Employees must have been in service on March 31, 2025, with at least six months of continuous work during FY 2024–25.

With the official order already released, central government employees can look forward to a festive season made brighter by this special financial gesture.