Good News: The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a major festive gift for state employees ahead of Diwali. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has approved a 30-day ad hoc bonus for the financial year 2025-26, bringing relief to approximately 14.82 lakh eligible employees. Under the approved arrangement, eligible employees can receive a maximum bonus of Rs 6,908. The decision is expected to provide additional financial support to government employees and their families during the festive season. Following the Chief Minister's approval, the state Finance Department has also issued an official government order outlining the payment conditions and eligibility criteria.

Who Is Eligible for the 30-Day Bonus?
The bonus will benefit several categories of employees working across Uttar Pradesh government departments and institutions. These include full-time non-gazetted state government employees, staff members of government-aided educational and technical institutions, employees of local bodies, district panchayats and work-charged establishments. Employees covered under Pay Matrix Level 8 and below are eligible, subject to the prescribed conditions. Under the earlier pay structure, the eligibility limit extends up to the grade pay of Rs 4,800. Employees must also have completed at least one year of continuous service as of March 31, 2026, to qualify for the benefit.

75% of the Bonus to Go into Savings Accounts
The government has established a specific arrangement for distributing the approved bonus amount. Under the payment formula, 25% of the total bonus will be paid in cash, while the remaining 75% will be deposited into the employee's General Provident Fund (GPF) account. Employees who do not have a GPF account will receive the savings component through the prescribed National Savings Certificate (NSC) or Public Provident Fund (PPF) arrangements. However, employees who retired after March 31, 2026, or are scheduled to retire by April 30, 2027, will be eligible to receive the entire bonus amount in cash, subject to the applicable government provisions.

Daily Wage Employees Also Included
The Yogi government has extended the bonus benefit to eligible daily wage employees as well. The maximum bonus payable to this category has been fixed at Rs 1,184. However, certain service conditions must be fulfilled. Employees working in offices following a six-day working week must have completed three consecutive years of service, with at least 240 working days in each year. For employees working in offices with a five-day week, the minimum requirement is 206 working days annually. This provision is expected to provide financial assistance to daily wage workers who have been serving government establishments for several years.

Who Will Not Receive the Bonus?
The government order also specifies conditions under which employees may be excluded from the bonus benefit. Employees who were penalised following departmental disciplinary proceedings or criminal cases during the financial year 2025-26 will not qualify. In cases where departmental inquiries or criminal proceedings are still pending, the bonus amount may be withheld until a final decision is reached. If an employee is subsequently cleared of the charges, the withheld amount may be released according to applicable rules. The decision is expected to bring financial relief to lakhs of eligible employees across Uttar Pradesh, helping them manage festive expenses and celebrate Diwali with greater financial confidence.