The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has approved a 30-day ad hoc bonus for eligible state employees ahead of Diwali. The benefit will be provided for the financial year 2025-26 and is expected to reach approximately 15 lakh employees across the state. The decision covers regular government staff as well as eligible daily-wage workers. Under the payment arrangement, employees will receive a portion of the bonus directly in cash, while the remaining amount will be deposited as savings for their future financial security. The move is expected to provide financial support to employees during the festive season while also encouraging long-term savings.

Nearly 14.82 Lakh Employees to Receive Up to Rs 6,908
Following approval from Governor Anandiben Patel, Principal Secretary of the Finance Department Alok Kumar issued an official government order on Thursday. According to the order, approximately 14.82 lakh non-gazetted employees will be eligible for a maximum bonus of Rs 6,908. The government has fixed Rs 7,000 as the maximum monthly salary limit for calculating the bonus. Eligible employees of state government departments, educational institutions, local bodies and district panchayats will be covered under the scheme. The approval is expected to benefit a large number of government workers before the festive celebrations.

25 Per Cent Bonus in Cash, Remaining Amount in Savings
The government has introduced a combination of immediate cash payment and long-term savings for distributing the bonus. Under the arrangement, 25 per cent of the approved bonus amount will be paid directly to employees in cash. The remaining 75 per cent will be deposited into their General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts. The arrangement is intended to provide employees with some immediate financial assistance while ensuring that a substantial portion of the bonus contributes towards their future savings. This means employees will receive both short-term financial support and an opportunity to strengthen their savings.

Retiring Employees to Receive the Entire Bonus in Cash
The government order also provides special arrangements for employees who have recently retired or are due to retire within the specified period. Eligible employees who retired after March 31 or are scheduled to retire by April 30 will receive the entire bonus amount in cash instead of having a portion deposited into their provident fund. Employees who are not members of the GPF scheme will receive the savings portion through instruments such as National Savings Certificates (NSC) or Public Provident Fund (PPF). These provisions are intended to ensure that eligible employees do not lose out on the benefit because of their retirement status or provident fund membership.

Daily-Wage Workers Also Included in the Bonus Scheme
The Yogi Adityanath government has extended the bonus benefit to eligible daily-wage employees as well. Workers employed in offices following a six-day working week will qualify if they have completed at least three consecutive years of service and worked for a minimum of 240 days in each year. For these employees, the maximum bonus has been fixed at Rs 1,184. By including daily-wage workers alongside regular government employees, the government has expanded the reach of its festive financial assistance programme. The decision is expected to provide additional support to thousands of workers and their families ahead of Diwali.