Revised APAR Timeline Announced for Central Civil Services from Reporting Year 2024–25

DoPT issues updated schedule for preparation and completion of APAR; brings more clarity and stricter deadlines

In a move aimed at streamlining the assessment process across ministries, the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Government of India, has released a revised timeline for the preparation and completion of the Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) for officers under the Central Civil Services. The new schedule will be effective from the Reporting Year 2024–25.

The directive was issued via an Office Memorandum (OM No. 21011/10/2025 PP(A-II)) dated 9th April 2025, revising the existing instructions laid out in the earlier OM dated 23rd July 2009. This update specifically modifies Annexure III of the earlier document, introducing a more structured and time-bound approach to the preparation, submission, and finalization of APARs.

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What’s New?

According to the revised schedule, each stage in the APAR process now comes with a strict deadline and auto-forwarding mechanism, ensuring timely movement of files even in the absence of action by officers. The intent is to increase accountability and avoid unnecessary delays in the performance review process.

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New Time Schedule for APAR (Effective from FY 2024–25)

The revised time schedule is detailed below:

Annexure-III: Time schedule for preparation/completion of Annual Performance Assessment Report

(Reporting Year – Financial Year)

S. No.	Activity	Date by which to be completed	Auto Forward
1.	Distribution of blank APAR forms to all concerned (i.e., to Officer to be Reported Upon where self-appraisal has to be given and to Reporting Officers where self-appraisal is not to be given).	01st April	–
2.	Submission of self-appraisal to Reporting Officer by Officer Reported Upon (where applicable)	15th May	16th May
3.	Submission of APAR by Reporting Officer to Reviewing Officer	30th June	01st July
4.	APAR to be completed by Reviewing Officer and to be sent to Administration or CR Section / Cell or Accepting Authority, wherever provided	31st July	01st August
5.	Appraisal by Accepting Authority, wherever provided	31st August	01st September
6.	(a) Disclosure to the Officer Reported Upon where there is no Accepting Authority (b) Disclosure to the Officer Reported Upon where there is Accepting Authority	(a) 01st September (b) 15th September	–
7.	Submission of representation, if any, on APAR, by Officer Reported Upon	15 days from the date of disclosure of APAR	–
8.	Forwarding of representation to the competent authority (a) where there is no Accepting Authority for APAR (b) where there is Accepting Authority for APAR	(a) 21st September (b) 06th October	–
9.	Disposal of representation by the competent authority	Within one month from the date of receipt of representation	–
10.	Communication of the decision of the competent authority on the representation by the APAR Cell	15th November	–
11.	End of entire APAR process, after which the APAR will be finally taken on record	30th November	–

Implementation and Scope

These instructions will be applicable from the Reporting Year 2024–25 onwards, impacting all Ministries, Departments, and Cadre Controlling Authorities under the Government of India. The memorandum was signed by Rajesh Sharma, Under Secretary to the Government of India, and has also been shared with the AIS Division and NIC for uploading on the DoPT’s official website.

View OM: