New Delhi: The Central government has issued a stern reminder to all Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, warning that failure to file their annual property details within the stipulated deadline could invite disciplinary proceedings and adversely affect their career progression, including denial of promotion.

According to an official communique issued by the Ministry of Personnel, all IAS officers are mandatorily required to submit their Immovable Property Return (IPR) by January 31 of the following year. For the calendar year 2025, the deadline has been fixed as January 31, 2026, after which the online system will automatically close.

“Failure on the part of the members of the service to comply with the requirements of the aforesaid provisions constitutes good and sufficient reason for, inter alia, institution of disciplinary proceedings against them,” the communique stated, underlining the seriousness of non-compliance.

In a significant tightening of rules, the Centre has also amended service provisions to make timely filing of IPR a mandatory condition for consideration for appointment to the next level in the pay matrix. This effectively links transparency in asset disclosure with promotions and career advancement.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) introduced online filing of IPRs for IAS officers in January 2017 through the SPARROW (Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window) module. Officers can either submit their returns electronically or upload scanned copies of manually filled forms.

“It is indeed a matter of immense satisfaction that the officers are submitting their IPR either electronically or uploading a scanned copy of the manually filled-in IPR, over the years,” the December 23 communique noted, while stressing that adherence to timelines remains non-negotiable.

The Centre has directed secretaries of all Union government departments and chief secretaries of states to issue necessary instructions to ensure that IAS officers working under them comply strictly with the filing deadline.

The move is seen as part of the government’s broader push to strengthen accountability, transparency and ethical conduct within the higher civil services.