PROMOTION RULES 2026
Refuse Promotion = Lose MACP (Confirmed)
By Central Pay Commission Admin
Stop! Before You Decline Your Transfer Order: DoPT Clarifies ‘Refusal of Promotion’ Will Disqualify You From MACP Financial Upgradation
New Delhi | January 4, 2026
NEW DELHI: January is typically the season for Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) results. Many employees, happy in their current home station, often choose to “forgo” their regular promotion to avoid a transfer to a hard station. They assume they will still get their salary hike via the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme. The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has issued a stern reminder: This loophole is closed.
According to the consolidated guidelines, if a government servant refuses a regular promotion (even once), they are “Debarred” from any financial upgradation under MACP. The logic is simple: MACP is a safety net for those who possess the *willingness* to work but lack *opportunity*. It is not for those who refuse opportunity.
How the ‘Debarment’ Works
The rules are stringent. If you submit a written refusal for promotion:
- Immediate Effect: Your MACP eligibility is paused immediately.
- No Undo Button: Even if you agree to the promotion a year later, the MACP will be delayed by the exact period of your refusal.
- Benchmark Check: Remember, since 2016, the benchmark for MACP is “Very Good” in APARs. A refusal often leads to a negative entry in your service book.
| Action Taken | Result on Regular Promotion | Result on MACP |
|---|---|---|
| Accept Promotion | Pay Level increases | Not Applicable (Already Promoted) |
| Refuse Promotion | Debarred for 1 Year | WITHDRAWN / CEASED |
| Accept & Transfer | Get Transfer Grant (CTG) | Eligible for next MACP |
Advice: If you are facing a transfer, it is wiser to accept the promotion and then apply for a Mutual Transfer later. Refusing the promotion permanently damages your pay progression.