Every year around Diwali, postal employees wait for one order: the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB). This year, along with the usual request for early orders, a bigger demand is back on the table.
The Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) has written to the Secretary (Posts), Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, asking for the bonus calculation ceiling to be raised from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000 per month.
Here’s the full story in simple words.
What Is the Letter About?
The letter makes two requests:
- Increase the Bonus/PLB calculation ceiling from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000 per month
- Issue the PLB orders early for the financial year 2025-26
Why Does FNPO Want the Ceiling Raised?
The Federation’s main points are:
- The ₹7,000 ceiling is old. It has not changed for a long time.
- Cost of living has gone up a lot. Prices of essential goods, household needs, education and healthcare have all risen since the ceiling was fixed.
- The ceiling has lost its meaning. In today’s economy, a bonus calculated on ₹7,000 does not match current wages.
JCM Is Also Pushing the Same Demand
The letter points out that this isn’t just a postal demand:
- The Staff Side of the National Council (JCM) has been asking the Government to raise the bonus ceiling from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000.
- The National Council (Staff Side) raised several pending issues of Central Government employees with the Secretary, DoP&T in a meeting on 3 September 2026.
FNPO has said it fully supports this demand.
What Has FNPO Asked the Department to Do?
FNPO has requested the Department of Posts to take up the matter on priority with:
- Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
- Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), where needed
The goal is to get the ceiling raised so that postal employees receive a bonus that matches present economic conditions.
How Much Difference Would It Make?
Here is a simple illustration, assuming the bonus stays at 60 days (as in recent years) and the usual formula is used:
| Ceiling | Formula | Approx. Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| ₹7,000 (current) | 7,000 × 60 ÷ 30.4 | ₹13,816 |
| ₹21,000 (demanded) | 21,000 × 60 ÷ 30.4 | ₹41,447 |
That’s roughly three times the current amount.
Please note: This is only an illustration to explain the demand. The ceiling has not been raised yet, and the final bonus depends on the official order issued by the Department.
When Will the PLB 2025-26 Order Come?
No order has been issued yet. The letter only requests that the PLB orders for 2025-26 be released early. We’ll update this page as soon as the official order comes out.
Bonus Is Good, Promotion Is Better
A bonus comes once a year. A promotion raises your pay every single month.
If you are a GDS, MTS or Postman, the fastest way to a higher salary is through departmental exams:
- GDS to MTS – move to a regular departmental post with better pay and allowances
- GDS to Postman – another strong route with a higher pay level
- MTS to PA and Postman to PA – step up to Postal/Sorting Assistant with a big jump in salary
With the right India Post departmental exam preparation, including the latest syllabus, previous year question papers and regular mock tests, you can turn this year’s wait for bonus into next year’s promotion.
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