The government has introduced a new online system called “Sparrow” to streamline the recording of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) for Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers. This digital initiative, operational since April 1, 2016, initially caters to officers at the Deputy Secretary level and above, enabling a shift from traditional paper-based appraisals to a more efficient online process. To facilitate this, each Ministry and Department must appoint specific functionaries: a Nodal Officer for overall APAR management, an alternative custodian, a PAR Manager to configure the hierarchical workflow, and an Employee Master Data Manager to maintain data accuracy. Smaller ministries can consolidate these roles for efficiency. All designated officers are required to have an NIC email ID and a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for system access. Comprehensive training will be provided for Nodal Officers and users, and a dedicated help desk is being set up to offer support, marking a significant step towards modernizing administrative procedures within the civil services.
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F No.22/10/2015-CS-I (APAR)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances \& Pensions
Department of Personnel \& Training
(CS -I (APAR)
3rd Floor, A Wing, LokNayakBhgawan, Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated 1st April, 2016
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Introduction of Sparrow for CSS officers.
The undersigned is directed to refer to DO No.22/10/2015-CS.I(APAR) dated $25^{\text {th }}$ February, 2016 from Smt. Archana Verma, Joint Secretary. Indicated in the said letter was a decision to introduce online recording of APAR for CSS officers. In the first phase, the software is to be made operational for Deputy Secretary and above level officers of CSS w.e.f. $1^{\text {st }}$ April, 2016.
2. NIC has informed that the website enabling online filing of APAR for CSS officers has been made live and is accessible through https://sparrowcss.eoffice.gov.in.
3. Ministries/Departments are required to nominate following four functionaries for managing of the online filing of APARs:
(i) Custodian (Nodal Officer) : A person authorized to sign Section I of the APAR and overall responsible for complete APAR management in the Ministry/Department.
(ii) Custodian (Alternative Functionary) : A person who performs the role of Custodian in absence of primary Custodian.
(iii) PAR Manager : A person responsible for creating hierarchical workflow in the software for the purpose of recording of APARs of the officers working in that Ministry/Department.
(iv) Employee Master Data (EMD) Manager : A person responsible for managing data and also its correctness in respect of individual employees.
4. In smaller Ministries, however, all the four roles may be distributed between two functionaries, namely, Primary Custodian and EMD Manager. However, in caseof large Ministries, it is advised that the above mentioned roles should be assigned amongst four officers.
5. Ministries/Departments are requested to nominate officers to perform the roles as above and provide the information in respect of officers nominated in the enclosed proforma to the following persons of NIC at the given e-mail address:
- Shri Manu Garg, PSA
Telephone No. 23040281
Mobile No. 9868500465
Email Id. manugarg@nic.in
2. Shri B. Ravi Kumar, TD, Telephone No. 23040399
Email Id : bravi@nic.in
6. This information may be provided to them by $6^{\text {th }}$ April, 2016 without fail and a copy may be endorsed to Shri Chandra Shekhar, Under Secretary CS(S) by email only at c.shekhar59@nic.in.
7. After receipt of information from individual Ministries/Departments, NIC shall be assigning role to these officers and after such assignment, the officers posted at Ministries/Departments could start using the software for online filing of APARs.
8. It is reiterated that all the nominated officers and user officers must have an NIC mail ID and DSC for using the software as has already been mentioned in the previous communications.
9. Training would be organized for the Nodal Officers as well as user officers after the role assignment is completed by NIC. The dates of training would be intimated separately.
10. A Help desk for assisting nodal officer and also users is being set up and particulars would be made available shortly.
To
Joint Secretary (Admn.)
All Ministries/Departments
Copy to NIC, DOPT (Shri S.N. Sowpari, Sr. Tech. Director), North Block New Delhi# OFFICE
DETAILS OF OFFICIALS FOR ROLE DEFINATION IN SPARROW
Organization Name
Nodal Co-ordinator Name
Nodal Co-ordinator Contact Number
| S. No. | Employee Code | Appellation | Employee Name | NIC Email ID | Gender (M/F) | Father’s Name | Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY) | Nationality | Religion (Hindu etc.) | Category (Hindu etc.) | Role/Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Service Code Number) | (Mr., Mrs., etc.) | |||||||||||
| Services | Adhar No. | Organization | Organization From Date | Designation (Expand all short forms) | ||||||||
| IPS, IAS, CSS etc | Mandator Y or unique identification | (Currently Posted, Organization) | (Date from which is applicable, Blank will be taken as current date) | |||||||||
| (Date on which the current designation is joined – Blank will be taken as current date) | ||||||||||||