Record Railway Performance Drives Bonus Decision
The bonus decision comes after Indian Railways achieved remarkable milestones in 2024-25, loading a record cargo of 1,614.90 million tonnes and carrying nearly 7.3 billion passengers. Each eligible railway employee will receive a bonus equivalent to 78 days of wages, with the maximum payable amount capped at Rs.17,951 per employee. The beneficiaries include track maintainers, locomotive pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians, ministerial staff, and other Group 'C' employees.
This annual tradition of disbursing PLB ahead of Durga Puja and Dussehra festivals serves as both an employee incentive and economic stimulus, particularly as retailers anticipate increased festive season spending. Last year's bonus amounted to Rs.2,029 crore for 11.72 lakh employees, making this year's allocation slightly lower but still substantial.
PhonePe Moves Closer to IPO with SEBI Filing
Meanwhile, digital payments giant PhonePe has taken a decisive step toward its public market debut by filing draft IPO papers with SEBI through the confidential route. The Walmart-owned fintech firm is targeting a Rs.12,000-13,310 crore initial public offering, which would value the company at approximately $15 billion.
The Bengaluru-based company has appointed JP Morgan, Citi India, Morgan Stanley, and Kotak Mahindra Capital as lead managers for what could become one of India's largest fintech listings. PhonePe's improved financial performance has strengthened its IPO prospects, with the company narrowing its net losses to Rs.1,727 crore in FY25 from Rs.1,996 crore in FY24, while operating revenue surged 40% to Rs.7,115 crore.
The company, which processes over 310 million online transactions daily and serves nearly 600 million registered users, has diversified beyond payments into insurance broking, lending, and wealth management services.
Silver Hits Record Highs with 57% Annual Returns
Silver prices have emerged as a standout performer in 2025, reaching an all-time high of Rs.1,35,267 per kilogram on September 23, representing a remarkable 57% surge worth Rs.49,000 this year. Current silver rates in India stand at approximately Rs.140 per gram and Rs.1,40,000 per kilogram across major cities.
Market experts attribute the silver rally to rising industrial demand and global economic uncertainty, with prices potentially climbing to Rs.1,40,000 by year-end. For investors seeking silver exposure without physical storage concerns, Silver ETFs have become increasingly popular investment vehicles.
Leading Silver ETFs in India include ICICI Silver ETF with a market cap of Rs.8,307 crore and 119% one-year returns, HDFC Silver ETF with Rs.1,694 crore market cap and 118.8% returns, and Nippon India Silver ETF managing Rs.12,302 crore with 118.3% annual gains. These exchange-traded funds offer liquidity, cost-effectiveness, and professional management compared to physical silver holdings.
Bihar Infrastructure Boost Ahead of Elections
In addition to the railway bonus, the Cabinet approved major infrastructure projects worth Rs.6,014 crore for poll-bound Bihar, including the doubling of the 104-kilometer Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya railway line at a cost of Rs.2,192 crore. This strategic rail corridor connects important pilgrimage destinations like Rajgir, Nalanda, and Pawapuri while enhancing freight capacity by 26 million tonnes per annum.
The project will benefit approximately 1,434 villages and 13.46 lakh people across four districts, including the aspirational districts of Gaya and Nawada. Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned construction of a 79-kilometer four-lane highway on the Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah section of National Highway 139W, costing Rs.3,822 crore.
These infrastructure investments are expected to generate employment opportunities, reduce travel time between major centers, and strengthen economic activity in the region ahead of Bihar's assembly elections scheduled for later this year.
1.jpg)
1.jpg)
.jpg)
