Shimla — Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday reviewed the progress of the Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) software being developed by the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance, aimed at creating a transparent, efficient and fully digital system for evaluating the performance of government employees across Himachal Pradesh.
During the review meeting, officials informed the Chief Minister that the upcoming APAR portal would enable complete end-to-end online processing of APARs along with Annual Work Plans through a streamlined digital workflow. The system has been designed to ensure objectivity, accountability and ease of monitoring, reducing manual intervention and bringing greater transparency to the performance appraisal process.
The Chief Minister was apprised that APARs would be initiated on the basis of annual work plans prepared by the concerned reporting authorities. These plans would include clearly defined qualitative and quantitative targets, providing a structured and measurable framework for performance evaluation. The software would also allow annual revision of targets for individual officers or entire cadres, keeping the appraisal system aligned with changing administrative priorities and departmental requirements.
It was further informed that a standardized APAR format would be applicable across all cadres of Group A, B, C and D employees. This uniform format is expected to ensure fairness and consistency in performance assessment across departments. The portal will also facilitate the online identification and approval of reporting, reviewing and accepting officers at the time of initiating APARs, making the process more systematic and transparent.
The system will also provide flexibility to initiate more than one APAR within a single financial year, provided each appraisal covers a minimum tenure of three months. This feature is expected to enable more accurate performance assessment in cases involving transfers, deputations or changes in assignments during the year.
Reviewing the progress of the project, Chief Minister Sukhu stressed the importance of timely completion of the software and emphasized that the portal should be user-friendly for employees at all levels. He said the APAR system would play a key role in strengthening performance-based governance, enhancing transparency and promoting a culture of accountability within the government.
Senior officials, including the Principal Advisor for Innovation, Digital Technologies and Governance to the Chief Minister, legislators and officers of the Digital Technologies and Governance Department, were present during the meeting.
