7th Pay Commission Latest News (October 18, 2023): Ahead of an expected Dearness Allowance hike announcement for Central Government Employees, the Government of India has announced the grant of non-productivity linked bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to eligible employees for the year 2022-23.

The ad-hoc bonus has been approved for Group C and non-gazetted Group B rank officials, including paramilitary forces.

“The undersigned is directed to convey the sanction of the President to the grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (Ad-hoc Bonus) equivalent to 30 days emoluments for the accounting year 2022-23 to the Central Government employees in Group ‘C’ and all non-gazetted employees in Group ‘B’, who are not covered by any Productivity Linked Bonus Scheme,” the Department of Expenditure (DoE), Ministry of Finance, said in an Office Memorandum dated October 17, 2023.

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As per DoE, the calculation ceiling for payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders shall be monthly emoluments of Rs 7000. The payment of ad-hoc Bonus will also be admissible to eligible employees of Central para Military Forces and Armed Forces.

“The orders will be deemed to be extended to the employees of Union Territory Administration which follow the Central Government pattern of emoluments and are not covered by any other bonus ex-gratia scheme,” the DoE said.

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Who will benefit?

Only those employees who were in service as on 31.3.2023 and have rendered at least six months of continuous service during the year 2022-23 will be eligible for payment of ad-hoc Bonus.

Pro-rata payment will be admissible to the eligible employees for a period of continuous service during the year from six months to a full year, the eligibility period being taken in terms of the number of months of service (rounded off to the nearest number of months)

The quantum of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) will be worked out on the basis of average emoluments/calculation ceiling whichever is lower.

Ad-hoc bonus calculation

To calculate Non-PLB (Ad-hoc bonus) for one day, the average emoluments in a year will be divided by 30.4 (average number of days in a month). This will, thereafter, be multiplied by the number of days of bonus granted.

To illustrate, taking the calculation ceiling of monthly emoluments of Rs. 7000/- (where actual average emoluments exceed Rs. 7000/-), Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) for thirty days would work out to Rs. 7000×30/30.4=Rs.6907.89/- (rounded off to Rs.6908/-).

The casual labour who have worked in offices following a 6 days week for at least 240 days for each year for 3 years or more (206 days in each year for 3 years or more in the case of offices observing 5 day week), will be eligible for this Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) Payment. The amount of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) payable will be (Rs.1200×30/30.4 i.e.Rs.1184.21/- (rounded off to Rs.1184/-). In cases where the actual emoluments fall below Rs.1200/- p.m., the amount will be calculated on actual monthly emoluments.