The Andhra Pradesh Finance Department issued G.O.Ms.No. 158 on 9 November 2026 to implement the one-time option under G.O.Ms.No. 53, dated 13 July 2026. The option allows eligible employees to move from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). GO 158 sets out how to apply through NIDHI, obtain certified records, and settle the CPS corpus after approval.
Last date to exercise the OPS option is . The deadline applies to eligible serving and retired employees and family pension beneficiaries under paragraph 3 of GO 158.
Who is eligible for the AP CPS to OPS option?
The recruitment notification or advertisement for the relevant post must have been issued before 1 September 2004. The appointment against that same notification must have been made on or after 1 September 2004. The employee or case must meet the applicable CPS coverage and other conditions under GO 53. The option is final and irrevocable once exercised. Employees who do not exercise the option continue under CPS.
| Order | G.O.Ms.No. 158, dated 9 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Department | Finance (HR.III–Pension & GPF), Government of Andhra Pradesh |
| Parent order | G.O.Ms.No. 53, dated 13 July 2026 |
| Application | NIDHI portal, under the CPS-OPS Conversion tile specified in the order |
| Last date | 31 December 2026 |
Four certified documents required from the Initial Appointing Authority
Send the applicable Annexure II request to the Initial Appointing Authority (IAA) of the department that first appointed the employee. The IAA verifies its records and issues certified copies of these four documents.
- Recruitment notification or advertisement for the initial appointment.
- Selection list communicated by the recruitment agency.
- Initial appointment order issued by the IAA.
- Order admitting the employee to duty against that appointment.
The Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) and Head of Office add the relevant Service Register (SR) extracts. The proposal sent to the Director of Treasuries and Accounts (DTA) or Pay and Accounts Officer (PAO) must also include the employee’s Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) details.
How to apply for CPS to OPS conversion through NIDHI
- Request certified copies. Use Annexure II-A if applying in respect of your own service as a serving, retired or resigned employee. Use Annexure II-B if applying as a family member of a deceased employee.
- Sign in or register. Serving employees use their existing NIDHI credentials. Non-serving applicants, including eligible retirees and dependants of deceased employees, register for new credentials.
- Submit the option online. Open the CPS-OPS Conversion tile, complete the option form and upload the certified copies. Serving employees submit to the DDO of their current office. Non-serving applicants route the documents through the DDO of the office where the employee last worked.
- Follow the deputation route where applicable. Employees on foreign service deputation apply directly to the competent authority listed in Annexure I, paragraph 4(b), after obtaining the certified copies. That authority forwards the case to DTA or PAO for verification.
- Address returned remarks within the deadline. If the application is returned for a discrepancy or an authenticity issue, correct the stated issue and resubmit within the prescribed deadline for reconsideration.
Verification timelines
| Stage | Timeline under GO 158 |
|---|---|
| IAA issues certified copies | Within 15 working days of receiving the request. |
| IAA confirms authenticity on NIDHI | Within 7 days of receiving the application from the DDO. |
| DDO processes authenticated applications | Within 10 working days after receiving the IAA’s confirmation. |
Who verifies the application and issues the final orders?
After the IAA confirms authenticity, the DDO checks the application against the Service Register and other records. The Head of Office forwards the verified proposal with a recommendation to the PAO for employees working in Secretariat departments and offices of Heads of Departments, or to the DTA for other employees. DTA or PAO scrutinizes the proposal and recommends it to the competent authority.
| Employee category | Competent authority for final orders |
|---|---|
| Secretariat employees | Special Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary or Secretary concerned. |
| Non-gazetted officers | The employee’s current appointing authority. |
| Gazetted officers | The Head of the Department concerned. |
What happens to GPF, pension and the CPS corpus after approval?
Once the conversion order is issued, the Head of Office forwards the proposal for allotment of the applicable provident fund account, such as GPF or ZPPF, and updates the Service Register. PF subscription begins with the salary for the month immediately after the conversion takes effect. Employee CPS deductions stop once PF subscription begins. Pensionary benefits are regulated under the Andhra Pradesh Revised Pension Rules, 1980, with service from the initial regular appointment qualifying subject to those rules.
| Case | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Serving employees | Apply to the DDO for transfer of the employee contribution from PRAN to GPF. The GPF balance is recalculated with applicable GPF interest after excluding any prior partial withdrawal. The government contribution and CPS investment appreciation are credited to the prescribed government accounts. The conversion provides no cash payout from the CPS corpus to serving employees. |
| Retiree who already drew CPS retirement benefits | The government contribution and the returns on it must be remitted to the government account. The DTA must complete settlement before the retiree can migrate to OPS. |
| Retiree who has yet to draw CPS retirement benefits | The government receives its contribution and the appreciation on it. The retiree receives the employee contribution and the appreciation on that portion. |
| Death or invalidation where the entire corpus was remitted to government | When the corpus was remitted for family or invalidation pension, the DTA pays the employee contribution component to the person entitled to the pensionary benefits. |
| Family already received a CPS death withdrawal | The government contribution and the returns on it must be remitted to the government account before OPS benefits are extended. |
| CPS annuity already purchased | If an eligible claimant seeks withdrawal, the DTA facilitates it with the annuity provider in accordance with PFRDA guidelines. |
Download GO 158 PDF and CPS to OPS annexures
The 11-page GO 158 PDF includes the operational guidelines and the prescribed annexure formats.
| Annexure | Purpose | PDF page |
|---|---|---|
| I | Operational guidelines for implementing GO 53. | 2–7 |
| II-A | Request for certified records by a serving, retired or resigned employee. | 8 |
| II-B | Request for certified records by a family member of a deceased employee. | 9 |
| III-A | IAA draft proceedings for furnishing certified records to the employee applicant. | 10 |
| III-B | IAA draft proceedings for furnishing certified records in respect of a deceased employee. | 11 |
This summary follows Andhra Pradesh Finance Department G.O.Ms.No. 158 dated 9 November 2026, including Annexure I. Read the original GO 53 pension option order.
AP CPS to OPS GO 158 FAQs
What is the last date to submit the CPS to OPS option?
Eligible applicants must exercise the option on or before 31 December 2026 under GO 158.
Does GO 158 apply to every AP employee covered by CPS?
It applies to cases that meet GO 53 conditions, including a recruitment notification issued before 1 September 2004 and appointment against that notification on or after 1 September 2004.
Where do eligible applicants submit the OPS option?
The order provides for online submission through the CPS-OPS Conversion tile in NIDHI. Serving staff use existing credentials and non-serving applicants register for new credentials.
Which annexure should a family member use for certified documents?
A family member of a deceased employee uses Annexure II-B to request certified records from the Initial Appointing Authority.
Can a serving employee receive the CPS corpus in cash after conversion?
GO 158 provides for the employee contribution to be credited to GPF after the prescribed adjustment. Serving employees do not receive a cash payout from the CPS corpus on conversion.
