The central government has announced the Performance Linked Bonus (PLB), or the annual bonus, for postal employees for the accounting year 2025–26. The bonus will be equivalent to emoluments of 60 days and will be calculated at the bonus wage ceiling of Rs 7,000.
The Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, in an order dated October 16, 2026, said that the eligible postal employees to get the PLB will be-
·MTS, Group ‘C’ and non-gazetted Group ‘B’
·Ex-gratia payment of bonus to regularly engaged Gramin Dak Sevaks
·Ad-hoc bonus to full-time casual labourers and temporary status casual labourers
The department didn’t reveal the exact PLB amount that these employees will get, but it has given the formula to calculate the maximum bonus.
PLB amount for regular employees
PLB for regular employees= Average emoluments × Number of days of bonus ÷ 30.4
(30.4 is the average number of days in a month.)
Emoluments for regular departmental employees include basic pay, dearness allowance (DA), SB allowance, deputation (duty) allowance, and training allowance to faculty members in training institutes.
In case emoluments exceed Rs 7,000 in any month during the accounting year 2025–26, the emoluments will be restricted to Rs 7,000 per month only.
Estimated maximum PLB for regular postal employees= Rs 7,000 x 60/30.4= Rs 13,816
Eligible retired employees will also get bonus
Employees who have resigned, retired or left service, or proceeded on deputation within the Department of Posts, or proceeded on deputation outside the department, from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, will also be entitled to bonus.
However, for periods of extraordinary leave (EOL) and dies-non in a given month, proportionate deduction is required to be made from the ceiling limit of Rs 7,000, reads the order.
PLB for Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs)
The Department of Post says that for GDSs who were on duty throughout the year during 2025–26, Average Monthly Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) will be calculated by taking into account the TRCA plus the corresponding DA drawn by them from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, divided by 12.
However, where the emoluments (TRCA plus dearness allowance) exceed Rs 7,000 in any month during this period, the allowance will be restricted to Rs 7,000 per month.
So, if we take the maximum TRCA, the maximum PLB for Gramin Dak Sevaks will also be approximately Rs 13,816.
Conditions for Gramin Dak Sevaks to get PLB
The TRCA drawn by substitute GDSs will not be counted towards ex-gratia bonus calculation for either the substitutes or the incumbent GDSs.
If a GDS has been on duty for part of the year because of a fresh appointment, having been put off duty, or having left service, proportionate ex-gratia bonus will be paid to them.
Gramin Dak Sevaks who have resigned, been discharged or left service from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026 will also be entitled to a proportionate ex-gratia bonus.