The Kerala government has sanctioned a bonus of up to Rs 4,500 for eligible state employees and announced a special festival allowance for workers and pensioners across multiple categories for the financial year 2025-26.
The benefits were approved through a government order issued on August 14, according to officials. The move comes ahead of the festive season and covers state government employees, aided educational institution staff, local self-government institution employees, pensioners and frontline workers.
Eligibility linked to salary threshold
Under the government order, eligible employees will receive one month's pay or Rs 4,500, whichever is lower. The bonus applies to:
- State government employees
- Employees of aided educational institutions
- Employees of local self-government institutions
To qualify, employees must have:
- Been in service on March 31, 2026
- Completed at least six months of continuous service during FY2025-26
- Drawn a total salary of up to Rs 49,275 under the 11th Pay Revision scale as of March 31, 2026
The salary ceiling has been set as the primary criterion for determining eligibility under the bonus scheme.
Special festival allowance for other categories
Employees and beneficiaries not covered under the bonus scheme will receive a special festival allowance, with payouts varying by category.
According to the order, the allowance will range between Rs 3,000 and Rs 1,250. The approved payments include:
- Rs 3,000 for personal staff of ministers, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Chief Whip who entered service after the previous Onam vacation
- Rs 1,450 for ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, Anganwadi helpers and ayahs, palliative care nurses, and BUDS school teachers and employees
- Rs 1,390 for school counsellors
- Rs 1,350 for additional staff attached to MLAs
- Rs 1,250 for service pensioners, family pensioners and other eligible pensioner categories
One benefit per beneficiary
The government order specifies that beneficiaries will be eligible for only one payment, either the bonus or the special festival allowance.
The provision is intended to prevent overlapping claims across different categories of beneficiaries covered under the scheme.
Payments to begin from August 17
The government has directed departments to begin disbursing the bonus and festival allowance from August 17.
The order further states that all benefits relating to the 2025-26 financial year must be drawn and disbursed on or before March 31, 2027.
The announcement extends festive financial support to a broad section of Kerala's public sector workforce and welfare-linked beneficiaries, including frontline health workers, education staff and pensioners, while maintaining defined eligibility criteria linked to salary levels and service tenure.