7th Pay Commission: Appraisal Date For These Central Govt Employees Extended

Through the SPARROW platform, the government has extended the deadline for Group A, B, and C officers of the CSS, CSSS, and CSCS cadre to submit their Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) for the fiscal year 2020-21. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) announced in a press release that the APAR procedure has been extended due to the crisis resulting from Covid-19. A DoPT office Memorandum (O.M.) stated that "Accordingly, in the light of situation arising out of COVID-19, it has been decided with the competent authority that the timelines for distribution/online generation, recording and completion of entire APAR process for the year 2020-21, shall be extended, as a one-time measure, as specified in Annexure, in respect to all Group- A, B and C officers of CSS/CSSS/CSCS cadres. The relaxation is subject to the condition that no remarks shall be recorded in the APAR for the year 2020-21 after 31.12.2021".

The new deadlines will refer to officers who are still serving as well as those who retire on or after February 28, 2021. In situations where the Reporting and Reviewing officials refuse to register their remarks within the time limit, the employee reported upon can be evaluated based on the overall record and self-assessment for the year, whether he/she has submitted his/her self-appraisal within the time frame, according to the O.M.

The 7th Pay Commission's guidelines are used to determine the salaries of central government employees. Whereas, owing to the second COVID-19 wave, the Centre is supposed to declare a hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA) in June, which is due since January 1, 2021 according to the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM).

Time schedule for generation, recording and completion of APAR for 2020-21 in respect of Group-A, B and C officers of CSS/CSSS/CSCS cadres. (Annexure to O.M.No.22/6/2021-CS-1(APAR) dated 17.05.2021).