Grant of Higher Pay Level to Indian Railways Running Staff for Pass/PTO

The Ministry of Railways has announced the grant of a notional higher pay level for the limited purpose of Pass/PTO entitlement for certain categories of Running Staff. The Railway Board decided to allot higher pay levels to these categories exclusively for Pass/PTO entitlement, effective from January 1, 2016, in line with the implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

Key Details of the Announcement

The decision to provide a higher notional pay level was taken during a Board meeting held on September 4, 2024. Here are the main takeaways:

The higher pay level applies only to Pass/PTO (Privilege Ticket Order) entitlement.
The instructions will be effective from January 1, 2016, which aligns with the implementation date of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).
This entitlement is available to various categories of Running Staff, as mentioned in the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986, Second Edition 1993.
Post-Retirement Benefits: For retired or deceased Running Staff, the complimentary/widow pass entitlement will be re-fixed if it is found to be beneficial after allotting the higher notional pay level.

It is crucial to note that the grant of notional higher pay level is only for the purpose of Pass/PTO entitlement. It will not be applicable for any other benefits or purposes.

Categories of Running Staff Covered

The categories of Running Staff entitled to the notional higher pay level are outlined in the annexure attached to the circular. The pay level under the 7th CPC matrix and the corresponding Grade Pay levels under the 6th CPC are listed below:

Category of Staff	6th CPC Grade Pay (GP)	Notional Higher GP during 6th CPC	7th CPC Pay Level in Pay Matrix (PLPM)	Notional Higher PLPM
Second Fireman	1800	–	1	4
Assistant Loco Pilot (Diesel/Electric)	1900	2400	2	4
Senior ALP / Loco Pilot (Shunting)	2400	4200	4	6
Goods Guard & Tower Wagon Driver	2800	4200	5	6
Loco Pilot (Shunting / Goods)	4200	4600	6	7
Loco Pilot (Passenger / Mail Express Guard)	4200	4600	6	7
Loco Pilot (Mail)	4200	4600	6	7

Impact on Retired Running Staff

The Ministry of Railways has also clarified that in the case of retired or deceased Running Staff, the post-retirement complimentary or widow pass entitlement can be revised to the higher level if it proves beneficial after the implementation of the notional higher pay level.

Limited Application

It is important to emphasize that this notional higher pay level is strictly for the purpose of enhancing Pass/PTO entitlement. It will not apply to other benefits, such as salary increments, pension, or allowances.