Lucknow: The state govt on Thursday announced a Diwali bonus for around 14.5 lakh employees, who will receive an amount equal to 30 days’ emoluments for 2025-26, subject to a maximum of Rs 6,908.The bonus will be paid to non-gazetted state govt employees, staff of aided educational and technical institutions, local bodies and zila panchayats, work-charged employees, and daily-wage workers. The notification follows Centre’s Oct 15 order granting a similar bonus to central govt employees.Employees in posts up to Pay Matrix Level-8 (Rs 47,600-1,51,100) are eligible for the bonus, including those who received higher levels through financial upgradation. Monthly emoluments for bonus calculation have been capped at Rs 7,000, making the maximum bonus payable Rs 6,908. Daily-wage employees, with a ceiling of Rs 1,200 per month, will receive up to Rs 1,184, while those earning less will be paid according to their actual emoluments.To be eligible, an employee must have completed one year of continuous service up to March 31, 2026. Daily-wage workers must have completed at least three years of continuous service, with a minimum of 240 days of work annually in six-day-week offices or 206 days in five-day-week offices.According to the order issued on Wednesday, 75% of the bonus amount will be deposited in employees’ Provident Fund accounts, while the remaining 25% will be paid in cash. Employees without PF accounts will receive National Savings Certificates or deposits in Public Provident Fund accounts. Employees who retired after March 31, 2026, or are due to retire by April 30, 2027, will receive the entire bonus amount in cash.Employees who are under punishment or have been penalised in disciplinary or criminal proceedings during 2025-26 will not be eligible for the bonus. In cases where proceedings are pending, payment will be withheld until the outcome. If the employee is cleared of charges, the bonus will be released along with arrears.
