Published on: 12 August 2026 | Category: India Post Circulars & Orders | Source: Department of Posts, Personnel Division, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi
The Department of Posts has issued a fresh order about how the APAR (Annual Performance Appraisal Report) of Chief Postmasters General (CPMGs) will be generated in the SPARROW system.
This order clears a lot of old confusion — especially about who generates the APAR when a CPMG is transferred mid-year, goes on deputation, or when the Reporting Authority itself changes. Here is the full order explained in simple words.
Quick Summary of the Order
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| File Number | F. No. 25-4/2013-SPG (Vol II) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Communications |
| Department | Department of Posts (India Post) |
| Division | Personnel Division (SPG) |
| Office | Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110 001 |
| Date | August 2026 |
| Addressed To | All Chief Postmasters General |
| Subject | Generation of APARs of Chief Postmasters General (CPMGs) in SPARROW |
| Signed By | Kaushik Banerjee, Assistant Director General (SPG) |
| Countersigned | Ajay Kumar, Assistant Director (SPG-I) |
| Approval | Secretary (Posts) |
| Diary Number | I/356784/2026 |
| Related Order | Postal Directorate O.M. of even number dated 09.03.2026 |
What is SPARROW and APAR? (Simple Explanation)
- APAR stands for Annual Performance Appraisal Report. It is the yearly performance record of a government officer.
- SPARROW stands for Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window. It is the online system where APARs are filled, reviewed and stored.
- APAR is very important because it directly affects promotion, empanelment and career growth of an officer.
- A STATE Custodian is the officer in each Circle responsible for generating APARs in SPARROW.
- The Central Custodian for the Department of Posts is the CS to Member (Personnel).
Main Instructions of the Order — Point by Point
1. Who Generates the CPMG’s APAR?
- The STATE Custodian of the Circle where the CPMG is posted as on 31st March will generate the APAR.
- The APAR will cover the entire Reporting Year, but only the CPMG period.
- This includes any broken period relating to another Circle.
- Before generating, the STATE Custodian must collect the required information from the Officer Reported Upon and, where needed, from the concerned Circles.
In simple words: Wherever the CPMG is sitting on 31st March, that Circle handles the full-year APAR.
2. What If the CPMG Goes on Deputation or the Reporting Authority Changes?
Sometimes the Reporting Authority changes during the year because of retirement, promotion, transfer or any other reason. In such cases:
- The STATE Custodian of the Circle where the CPMG is presently posted must generate the APAR.
- The correct Reporting Authority and Reviewing Authority must be mapped for each respective period.
- The mapping must cover all Circles concerned, including the current Circle, where the CPMG worked during that year.
In simple words: No period should be left blank. Every stretch of the year gets its correct reporting officer.
3. Timely Generation for All Officers
- The STATE Custodian of each Circle must ensure timely generation of APARs of all officers, not just CPMGs.
- This must be done as per the Postal Directorate’s O.M. of even number dated 09.03.2026.
4. What If There Is a Technical Problem?
- For any technical or procedural issue in APAR generation, the STATE Custodian should contact the Central Custodian, that is, the CS to Member (Personnel), for guidance.
5. Who Monitors Everything?
- The Central Custodian [CS to Member (Personnel)] will monitor and ensure that all Circles generate APARs on time.
6. Compliance
- These instructions are to be followed meticulously by all concerned.
- The order has been issued with the approval of the Secretary (Posts).
Copy Marked To
The order has been circulated to:
- GM (CEPT), Mysuru — with a request to upload the order on the India Post website.
- APMG / AD (Staff) / STATE Custodian of APAR in all Circles — for necessary action.
- CS to Member (Personnel) — for information and necessary action.
- Guard File.
Why This Order Matters
- No more delay in APAR generation. Delayed APARs block promotions and empanelment.
- Clear responsibility. Earlier, when a CPMG was transferred mid-year, Circles used to wait for each other. Now the rule is fixed — the Circle holding the officer on 31st March takes charge.
- Broken periods are covered. Even a two-month posting in another Circle will now be properly reflected.
- Single point for problems. Any technical issue goes straight to the Central Custodian instead of getting stuck at the Circle level.
- Accountability. The Central Custodian will monitor all Circles, so pending APARs will be visible at the top level.
Who Should Read This Order Carefully?
This order is directly relevant to:
- All Chief Postmasters General (CPMGs)
- APMG / AD (Staff) in every Circle
- STATE Custodians of APAR in Delhi Circle, Punjab Circle, Haryana Circle, Rajasthan Circle, Uttar Pradesh Circle, Bihar Circle, Madhya Pradesh Circle, Maharashtra Circle, Gujarat Circle, Tamil Nadu Circle, Karnataka Circle, Kerala Circle, Odisha Circle, Assam Circle and West Bengal Circle
- Establishment and Personnel sections of all Circle Offices
Why Departmental Exam Aspirants Should Also Read This
If you are preparing for any India Post departmental exam, do not skip circulars like this one.
- Questions on APAR, SPARROW, Reporting Authority and Reviewing Authority are commonly asked in the establishment and rules portion.
- GDS to MTS, GDS to Postman / Mail Guard, MTS to PA, and Postman to PA papers regularly pick questions from India Post circulars and current departmental orders.
- Keeping a small notebook of every important circular date and file number is a proven trick used by toppers.
Quick Preparation Checklist
- Read the official GDS to MTS syllabus and MTS to PA syllabus before starting.
- Solve GDS to MTS previous year question papers and Postman to PA previous year question papers for at least 5 years.
- Practise regular India Post mock tests to build speed.
- Revise Postal Manual Volume V and Volume VI along with recent circulars.
- Follow India Post latest news and notifications weekly — many questions come from the last 12 months of orders.
- If self-study is not working, structured GDS to MTS online classes, MTS to PA online classes or Postman to PA online classes give you a fixed timetable, live doubt sessions and recorded lectures for after-duty study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the file number of this APAR order? F. No. 25-4/2013-SPG (Vol II), issued by the Personnel Division, Department of Posts.
Q2. Who will generate the APAR of a CPMG? The STATE Custodian of the Circle where the CPMG is posted as on 31st March.
Q3. What happens if the CPMG worked in two Circles in the same year? The APAR will still be generated by the current Circle, but Reporting and Reviewing Authorities will be mapped separately for each period, covering all Circles concerned.
Q4. What if the CPMG has gone on deputation? The STATE Custodian of the Circle where the CPMG is presently posted will ensure generation of the APAR with correct authority mapping.
Q5. Who is the Central Custodian in the Department of Posts? The CS to Member (Personnel).
Q6. Which earlier order is referred to for timely APAR generation? The Postal Directorate’s O.M. of even number dated 09.03.2026.
Q7. Where can I download this order? GM (CEPT), Mysuru has been requested to upload it on the India Post website.
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