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2025 Indian Railways Festive Bonus: Rs 1,865 Crore PLB, DA Hike News, 8th Pay Commission Fast-Tracked—Who Qualifies And What To Expect

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2025 Indian Railways Festive Bonus: Rs 1,865 Crore PLB, DA Hike News, 8th Pay Commission Fast-Tracked—Who Qualifies And What To Expect


New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has given its approval for a major Rs 1,865.68-crore Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to Indian Railways staff for the financial year 2024-25, calling it a festive season “Diwali gift” for lakhs of employees. More than 10.91 lakh non-gazetted workers, including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians and clerical staff will benefit from this decision. Under the scheme, each eligible employee will receive a bonus equivalent to 78 days’ wages, with the maximum payout capped at Rs 17,951 per person. Gazetted officers and senior administrative staff are excluded, restricting the benefit to Group ‘C’ non-gazetted categories.

Who Is Eligible and How Much Will They Get?

The PLB is specifically targeted at non-gazetted railway staff to reward their dedication and exceptional performance. Eligible employees across various departments will receive 78 days of wage-equivalent bonus, ensuring a meaningful addition to their earnings. This annual payout recognises the hard work of front-line staff while excluding higher-ranking gazetted officers and senior administrative personnel.

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Bonus Timed Before Festivals to Boost Spending

This incentive is traditionally paid before Durga Puja and Dussehra, and the government is expected to credit the amount ahead of the festivals. By giving railway staff extra spending power at the start of the festive period, the measure is likely to boost retail, transport, and services sectors as workers use the bonus for shopping, travel, and household expenses. This well-timed bonus acts as both a reward and an economic stimulus.

Recognising Indian Railways’ Record Performance

The Cabinet linked the PLB to Indian Railways’ record-breaking performance in 2024-25, when it handled 1,614.90 million tonnes of freight and transported nearly 7.3 billion passengers. The government stated that the bonus acts not only as a reward for these achievements but also as a motivational tool to sustain high productivity and operational efficiency in the coming years.

Upcoming Dearness Allowance Hike Adds to Benefits

Adding to the festive cheer, the PLB announcement comes alongside reports that the Centre is preparing to announce the next Dearness Allowance (DA) hike in the first week of October. This would ensure employees receive the revised DA along with arrears in their September salary. DA and Dearness Relief (DR) are revised twice a year based on the All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI) and are taxable under existing income-tax rules.

8th Central Pay Commission in the Pipeline

Government employees are also watching developments on the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally announced the new commission in January, with an intended rollout date of 1 January 2026. The framework for its constitution and terms of reference is still under discussion, and the process may soon be fast-tracked to give clarity to employees on their future pay structure.

Financial Boost and Economic Impact at a Glance

Overall, the Cabinet’s decision provides a double benefit — immediate financial relief for railway workers ahead of major festivals and a stimulus for the broader economy. It also recognises the crucial role of Indian Railways staff in delivering record levels of freight and passenger movement across the country, while motivating employees to maintain high standards of service and efficiency.

 

 



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BrewDog owners say craft beer company could be sold off

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BrewDog owners say craft beer company could be sold off



Craft beer brand BrewDog could be sold off after the company started the process to find new investors.

The Scottish beer brand recently announced plans to close all of its distilling brands, meaning it would no longer produce any of its spirits, including Duo Rum, Abstrakt Vodka, and Lonewolf Gin, at its distillery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

The company, which was founded in 2007, said it made the decision to focus on its beer brands, including the highly-popular Punk IPA, Elvis Juice, and Hazy Jane.

Now, in a statement, a spokesperson for BrewDog said the company had appointed Alix Partners to “support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business.”

The statement said: “As with many businesses operating in a challenging economic climate and facing sustained macro headwinds, we regularly review our options with a focus on the long-term strength and sustainability of the company.

“Following a year of decisive action in 2025, which saw a focus on costs and operating efficiencies, we have appointed AlixPartners to support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business. This is a deliberate and disciplined step with a focus on strengthening the long-term future of the BrewDog brand and its operations.”

Although no decisions have been made, a sale is under consideration.

In a statment BrewDog added: “BrewDog remains a global pioneer in craft beer: a world-class consumer brand, the No.1 independent brewer in the UK, and with a highly engaged global community. We believe that this combination will attract substantial interest, though no final decisions have been made.”

According to reports by Sky News, AlixPartners had begun sounding out prospective buyers in the last few days.

The company, which has 72 bars worldwide and four breweries in Scotland, the US, Australia, and Germany, said its breweries, bars, and venues will continue to operate as normal. It employs 1400 people across the organisation.

BrewDog’s founders James Watt and Martin Dickie are the company’s major shareholders alongside private equity company TSG, which invested £213 million in 2017, making it a 21 per cent shareholder.

In 2024, the beer brand grossed £357 million in sales, and it is a major independent brewer with 4 per cent market share in the UK grocery market.



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Craft beer brewer BrewDog could be broken up as sale process begins

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Craft beer brewer BrewDog could be broken up as sale process begins



Beermaker BrewDog could be broken up after consultants were called in to help look for new investors.

The Scotland-based brewer, which makes craft beer such as Punk IPA and Elvis Juice, has appointed consultants AlixPartners to oversee a sale process.

Last month, BrewDog announced it was closing its distilling brands, sparking concerns for jobs at its facility in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

The company, which was founded in 2007, said it made the decision to focus on its beer products.

No decision has been made in respect of the sale process.

A spokesperson for BrewDog said: “As with many businesses operating in a challenging economic climate and facing sustained macro headwinds, we regularly review our options with a focus on the long-term strength and sustainability of the company.

“Following a year of decisive action in 2025, which saw a focus on costs and operating efficiencies, we have appointed AlixPartners to support a structured and competitive process to evaluate the next phase of investment for the business.

“This is a deliberate and disciplined step with a focus on strengthening the long-term future of the BrewDog brand and its operations.

“BrewDog remains a global pioneer in craft beer: a world-class consumer brand, the number one independent brewer in the UK and with a highly engaged global community.

“We believe that this combination will attract substantial interest, though no final decisions have been made.

“Our breweries, bars, and venues continue to operate as normal. We will not comment on any further speculation.”

Brewdog operates 72 bars around the world as well as four breweries.



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‘Better to abolish RERA’: Supreme court says law helping defaulting builders

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‘Better to abolish RERA’: Supreme court says law helping defaulting builders


New Delhi: The Supreme Court has raised serious concerns over how real estate regulatory authorities are functioning across the country. Taking a sharp view, the top court said it may be “better to abolish” these bodies, suggesting they have failed to protect homebuyers and instead appear to benefit defaulting builders. The court added that states should reconsider the very need for such authorities if they are not serving their intended purpose.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said states should rethink the original purpose behind introducing RERA. The court observed that instead of protecting homebuyers, the law appears to be helping defaulting builders and not serving its intended role.

Expressing strong concern, CJI Surya Kant said states should reflect on the purpose for which RERA was created. He suggested the institution is failing to serve homebuyers and instead appears to benefit defaulting builders. “All states should now think of the people for whom the institution of RERA was created. Except facilitating builders in default, it is not doing anything else. Better to just abolish this institution,” CJI Kant said, quoted by Bar and Bench.

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Last year, the High Court had stayed the state government’s decision to shift the RERA office, pointing out that the move was taken “without even identifying an alternative office location”. The court also noted that transferring 18 outsourced employees to other boards and corporations, as requested, “would render the functioning of Rera defunct”.

The Supreme Court, however, set aside the High Court’s order and allowed the state government to shift the RERA office to Dharamshala. It also permitted the relocation of the appellate tribunal to the same location. “With a view to ensure that persons affected by Rera orders are not inconvenienced, the principal appellate is also moved to Dharamshala,” the apex court said.

What Is RERA And Why It Matters

RERA, introduced in 2016, was aimed at addressing project delays, improving transparency and safeguarding homebuyers’ interests. Earlier, each state and union territory operated its own RERA website. However, in September 2025, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched a unified RERA portal that brings together data from across states and UTs on a single platform.



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