What is Appraisal / Increment?
An appraisal is a periodic review of your performance that often determines your salary increment, bonus and promotion for the coming cycle.
Updated 2026-07-25 · one of 47 terms in the OnJob career glossary
Key takeaways
- An appraisal is a periodic review of your performance that often determines your salary increment, bonus and promotion for the coming cycle.
- Also called Performance appraisal, Salary increment, Annual review.
- In India, most companies run appraisals annually, sometimes half-yearly, often tied to KRAs or KPIs agreed at the start of the cycle.
- Strong, well-documented performance in an appraisal directly affects your earnings growth.
What does Appraisal / Increment mean?
A performance appraisal is a structured evaluation of how well you met your goals over a review cycle. The outcome typically feeds into decisions on your salary increment, bonus, and any promotion.
How does Appraisal / Increment work in India?
In India, most companies run appraisals annually, sometimes half-yearly, often tied to KRAs or KPIs agreed at the start of the cycle. The increment is the raise applied to your salary as a result.
Why does Appraisal / Increment matter to a jobseeker?
Strong, well-documented performance in an appraisal directly affects your earnings growth. Knowing how your goals map to the review helps you make the case for a better increment or promotion.
Is Appraisal / Increment the same as Performance appraisal?
Yes — Appraisal / Increment is also commonly called Performance appraisal, Salary increment, Annual review. An appraisal is a periodic review of your performance that often determines your salary increment, bonus and promotion for the coming cycle.
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