Andhra Pradesh govt. offers one-time option to CPS employees to shift to Old Pension Scheme

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday issued detailed operational guidelines for uniform, transparent and time-bound implementation of the one-time option to be exercised by its employees for coverage under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Employees whose recruitment notification or advertisement was issued before September 1, 2004, but were appointed on or after September 1, 2004 are presently covered under the CPS. Employees, serving or retired, and family pension beneficiaries have to submit their options as per the said guidelines by December 31, 2026, as per G.O.Ms.No.158 issued by Principal Secretary (Finance) Peeyush Kumar. The order mentioned that the government introduced Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), with effect from September 1, 2004, making it applicable to all State government employees appointed on or after September 1, 2004 in line with the Government of India (GoI)’s National Pension System (NPS), which applies to all Central government employees w.e.f. January 1, 2004. Subsequently, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare of the Central government issued Office Memoranda extending a one-time option to the employees whose recruitment process had commenced prior to the introduction of the NPS, but appointments were made thereafter. The State government adopted the GoI policy and extended a one-time option to eligible employees, duly stating that operational guidelines for implementation would be issued later.Accordingly, a detailed guidelines were issued on November 9. The appointing authorities have been tasked with processing the proposals expeditiously and the Heads of Offices have been instructed to maintain the records scrupulously to ensure transparency, accountability and timely settlement of pensionary benefits. The Secretariat Departments, Heads of Departments, the Director of Treasuries & and Accounts have been ordered to ensure strict compliance with these instructions. Published - November 09, 2026 09:11 pm IST