Shimla, Aug 10,
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has unveiled a comprehensive revamp of the Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) system for Himachal Pradesh’s Class I and II officers, including those in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The new system is designed to boost accountability and transparency by directly linking officer evaluations to their work performance.
Under the revamped system, all officers, including Administrative Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners, will now be assessed purely based on their job performance. The traditional descriptive ratings such as “Outstanding,” “Very Good,” “Good,” and “Average” will be replaced by a numerical grading scale. Officers will be evaluated on three primary indicators: the achievement of their annual work plan, work-related attributes, and personal and functional qualities.
Additionally, the reforms introduce a negative marking system, where officers can lose up to two points on a 10-point scale for failing to comply with government orders or advisories.
The Chief Minister emphasized that transparency would be a cornerstone of the new system. Officers will have access to their final evaluations, which is expected to promote professional growth and encourage improvements in work performance.
The APAR process will now be fully digital, with a submission deadline set for December 31st each year, streamlining operations.
These changes are aimed at ensuring a fair and objective evaluation process, particularly for field officers whose performance will be closely aligned with meeting specific quantitative targets. Higher-level management officers will continue to be assessed on qualitative aspects and personal attributes.
Chief Minister Sukhu stated that these reforms are a crucial step in strengthening governance and enhancing accountability within the state administration.
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