CPS TO OPS - One-time option for coverage under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for eligible employees for whom the recruitment notification/advertisement was issued prior to 01.09.2004, but who joined government service on or after 01.09.2004. Finance (HR.III-Pension & GPF) Department G.O.Ms.No. 53, Dated: 13-07-2026
GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH ABSTRACT
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Pensions Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) One-time option for coverage under Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to Eligible employees whose recruitment notification/advertisement was issued prior to 01.09.2004 but who joined Government service on or after 01.09.2004 - Orders - Issued.
FINANCE (HR.III-PENSION & GPF) DEPARTMENT G.O.MS.No. 53 Dated: 13-07-2026
Read the following:
1. G.O.Ms.No.653, Finance (Pension-1) Department, dated:22.09.2004.
2. Office Memorandum No.57/04/2019-P&PW(B), Department of Pension & Pensioner's Welfare, Government of India, dated: 17.02.2020.
3. Office Memorandum No.57/05/2021-P&PW(B), Department of Pension & Pensioner's Welfare, Government of India, dated:03.03.2023.
4. CMP Note No. 168/Prl. Secy (MRC)/2024, dated: 17.09.2024.
5. CMP Note No.259/Prl. Secy (MRC)/2024, dated: 03.10.2024.
6. Lr.No.590/HRD/ITE&C/Peshi/2026, dated: 15.05.2026, received from Minister for HRD, ITE&C, RTG, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
7. Representations from recognized employee's associations.
8. Representations from Sri Palla Srinivasa Rao, MLA, Gajuwaka Constituency and Sri Vepada Chiranjeevi Rao, MLC Graduate Constituency.
9. Resolution of the Council of Ministers in its meeting held on 23.06.2026.
In the reference 1 cited, the Government introduced the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) with effect from 01.09.2004, applicable to all State Government employees recruited on or after 01.09.2004. The scheme was adopted in line with the National Pension System (NPS) model of the Government of India and made applicable to all State Government employees recruited on or after 01.09.2004.
2. In the references 2nd cited, the Government of India, Department of Pension and Pensioner's Welfare, provided a one-time option for coverage under the Old Pension Scheme to eligible Central Government employees, whose appointments were delayed due to administrative reasons, provided the recruitment results were declared before 01.01.2004. Subsequently, in the reference 3d cited, the benefit was further extended by allowing a one-time option to all Central Government employees, who were appointed against posts/vacancies advertised or notified prior to the introduction of the National Pension System, but joined service thereafter and consequently came under the NPS.
3. In the references 4th and 5th cited, the Chief Minister's Office requested that necessary action be taken on the representations submitted by the employee associations and people's representatives seeking extension of one-time option to the CPS employees. Representations have been received from various employee associations and legislators seeking this benefit to the employees who were recruited pursuant to notifications/ advertisements issued prior to 01.09.2004 but joined service on or after 01.09.2004 and were brought under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
4. After careful examination of the matter, the Government herebyorders as below:
I. Adoption of the policy of Government of India published vide OMs i.e.,. (i) Office Memorandum No.57/04/2019-P&PW(B), Dt: 17.02.2020 & (ii) Office Memorandum No.57/05/2021- P&PW(B), dated 03.03.2023, duly providing a onetime option to all such eligible employees currently covered under Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), for conversion from Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to Old Pension Scheme (OPS), who joined service on or after 01.09.2004, but the related recruitment notification /advertisement was published before 01.09.2004.
II. Extension of this one-time option for all categories of employees who are covered under the provisions of G.O.Ms.No.653, dated: 22.09.2004.
5. For the implementation of the orders in para 4 above, the conditions to be followed are as below:
i. The recruitment process by the respective recruiting authority for the vacancy/post, by issue of notification/advertisement inviting applications for the vacancy/post, should have been issued prior to 01.09.2004. The date of notification/advertisement issued should be submitted as criteria for meeting this condition.
ii. The appointment of the employee into such vacancy/post against the notification/advertisement, should have been on or after 1.9.2004. The employee as of date of issue of these orders should be under CPS. The appointment orders and proceedings related to joining of the employee should be submitted.
iii. The employee shall exercise the option in a prescribed form/mode within a period of three (03) months from the date of issue of these orders, or within such further period as may be notified by the Government;
iv. The option once exercised shall be final and irrevocable.
v. Employees who do not exercise the option as per these orders shall continue to be governed by the Contributory Pension Scheme.
6. The benefit sanctioned under this order is a one-time measure for employees meeting prescribed criteria and shall not be treated as a precedent for consideration of any future claims or categories of employees not specifically covered herein.
7. The detailed implementation and operational guidelines for exercising option and managing CPS corpus of such employees who opt for OPS will be issued separately by Finance department and Directorate of Treasuries and Accounts.
8. All the Spl.Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries/Secretaries are requested to convey these orders to all the departments/institutions covered under the reference 1* cited, for taking necessary action.
9. A copy of this order is available at http://goir.ap.gov.in//
To
(BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH)
PEEYUSH KUMAR
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
All the Departments of Secretariat.
All the Heads of Departments.
Copy to:
The Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.
The P.S to Minister for Finance.
The P.S to Chief Secretary to the Government.
The P.S to Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department.
The P.S to Secretary to Government (HR), Finance Department.
SF/SCs (Computer No.3128258)
//FORWARDED :: BY ORDER//
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