MSME Payment Delays To Attract Negative Marks In Union Secretaries’ New Performance Review System

New Delhi, Feb 9 (KNN) The Cabinet Secretariat has reportedly introduced administrative performance scorecards to evaluate Secretaries and their departments across the Central government.

The scorecards include negative marking, with up to 12 marks deducted for excessive spending on foreign visits or events, abnormal pendency of files at the Secretary level and above, and delayed payments to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), The Indian Express reported.

Each Secretary and department is evaluated on nearly a dozen parameters, with a total score of 100 marks.

File disposal carries the highest weightage at 20 marks, followed by output or activities, expenditure on schemes, and capital expenditure, each carrying 15 marks.

Other criteria include public grievance redressal, the quality of Cabinet notes, adherence to project timelines monitored by the Project Monitoring Group (PMG), and the prompt disposal of bills by the Pay and Accounts Office (PAO) and the Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA).

In addition, the Cabinet Secretary may award up to 5 discretionary marks for exceptional performance or notable contributions.

Cabinet Secretary Dr T V Somanathan circulated the first set of administrative scorecards, covering September to November 2025, to Secretaries in January 2026, according to The Indian Express. 

The scorecards assess both individual and departmental performance, allowing comparisons within and across ministries. 

Secretaries have been invited to provide feedback and suggestions on the new evaluation system.

(KNN Bureau)