DoPT Extends APAR Timelines for 2025–26 Reporting Year Due to Election Duties
DoPT Extends APAR Timelines for 2025–26 Reporting Year Due to Election Duties
In a significant relief to Central Government employees and officers, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has announced a one-time extension of timelines for completion of Annual Performance Assessment Reports (APARs) for the Reporting Year 2025–26. The decision has been taken considering the difficulties faced by officers who were actively engaged in recent State Legislative Assembly elections.
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The Office Memorandum issued by DoPT on 13 May 2026 states that many officers could not adhere to the earlier APAR deadlines due to election-related responsibilities. Hence, the Government has relaxed the timelines prescribed under the earlier OM dated 09 April 2025.
Key Highlights of the Extended APAR Schedule
Under the revised schedule, the deadline for submission of self-appraisal by the officer reported upon has been extended from 15 May to 15 June 2026. Similarly, all subsequent stages of APAR processing have also been extended by approximately one month.
Revised APAR Timeline for Reporting Year 2025–26
| Activity | Revised Deadline |
|---|---|
| Submission of self-appraisal | 15 June 2026 |
| Reporting Officer to submit APAR to Reviewing Officer | 31 July 2026 |
| Reviewing Officer to complete APAR | 31 August 2026 |
| Accepting Authority appraisal | 30 September 2026 |
| Disclosure of APAR (without Accepting Authority) | 01 October 2026 |
| Disclosure of APAR (with Accepting Authority) | 15 October 2026 |
| Communication of representation decision | 15 December 2026 |
| Completion of entire APAR process | 31 December 2026 |
Earlier Timeline Introduced in 2025
The earlier revised APAR system introduced through DoPT’s OM dated 09 April 2025 had advanced the timelines significantly to ensure quicker completion of the appraisal process. As per those instructions, the APAR cycle was expected to conclude by 30 November each year.
However, due to the extensive deployment of officers during elections, ministries and departments reported practical difficulties in meeting the strict deadlines. This prompted DoPT to issue the present relaxation order.
Relief for Government Employees
The extension is expected to provide substantial relief to officers and administrative sections handling APAR processing across Ministries, Departments, and Cadre Controlling Authorities. The additional time will help ensure proper assessment, review, representation handling, and finalization of APARs without undue pressure.
The revised order applies specifically to the Reporting Year 2025–26 and is being treated as a special one-time measure.
Importance of APAR
The Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) plays a crucial role in the career progression of Central Government employees. It is considered for:
Promotions
MACP benefits
Deputation and foreign assignments
Vigilance clearances
Performance evaluation
Timely completion of APARs is therefore essential for maintaining administrative efficiency and ensuring employees’ career prospects are not adversely affected.
📄 Source Document: DoPT Office Memorandum dated 13 May 2026 regarding extension of APAR timelines for Central Civil Services.