AP CPS to OPS Conversion 2026: G.O.Ms.No.158 Guidelines, NIDHI Application Process & Pension Benefits Explained
Last date to submit the option: 31 December 2026
For thousands of Andhra Pradesh government employees, this is one of the most important pension decisions of their careers. The Finance (HR.III-Pension & GPF) Department issued G.O.Ms.No.158 on 09-11-2026, laying down the step-by-step operational guidelines for the one-time CPS to OPS conversion option that was first announced through G.O.Ms.No.53 dated 13.07.2026. If you joined service on or after 01.09.2004 but your recruitment notification was issued before that date, this order explains exactly how to apply, which documents you need, who verifies them, and what happens to your CPS (NPS) corpus afterwards.
This guide breaks the 11-page government order into plain language so that serving employees, retired employees and family members of deceased employees can act before the deadline.
Background: Why This Order Matters
Andhra Pradesh introduced the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) from 01.09.2004 through G.O.Ms.No.653, following the Centre's National Pension System (NPS). Every state employee appointed on or after that date was placed under CPS, even if the recruitment process had started years earlier.
The Government of India later corrected a similar situation for its own staff through Office Memoranda dated 17.02.2020 and 03.03.2023, giving a one-time option to employees whose recruitment began before NPS but whose appointment came after it. Andhra Pradesh adopted the same policy through G.O.Ms.No.53 (13.07.2026) and promised detailed procedures later. G.O.Ms.No.158 is that procedure — it sets uniform, transparent and time-bound rules across the state.
Who Is Eligible for the One-Time Option?
The option is available to persons who satisfy all conditions in G.O.Ms.No.53. Broadly, the order covers:
- Serving employees whose recruitment notification/advertisement was issued before 01.09.2004 and who were appointed on or after 01.09.2004 and are currently under CPS.
- Retired and voluntarily retired employees who fall in the same category.
- Family members / dependents of deceased employees who were eligible.
- Technically resigned employees and other non-serving applicants as listed in the order.
Documents Required from the Initial Appointing Authority (IAA)
The heart of this process is proving that your recruitment began before CPS came in. For that, you must approach the authority that issued your first appointment — called the Initial Appointing Authority (IAA) — and request certified copies using Annexure II-A (serving/retired/resigned employees) or Annexure II-B (family members of deceased employees).
| # | Document | Issued By |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recruitment Notification / Advertisement of the initial appointment | Recruiting agency (APPSC, DSC, APSLPRB etc.) |
| 2 | Selection list / Allotment list | Recruiting agency |
| 3 | Orders of appointment | Initial Appointing Authority |
| 4 | Orders admitting the individual to duty | Initial Appointing Authority |
The IAA must verify the records and furnish certified copies within 15 working days in the format of Annexure III-A or III-B.
Step-by-Step Application Process on NIDHI
Get certified copies from the IAA. Submit Annexure II-A/II-B and collect the four certified documents.
Apply on NIDHI. Open the "CPS-OPS Conversion" tile and upload the certified copies. Serving employees apply to the DDO of their current office; non-serving applicants apply to the DDO of the office where the employee last worked.
DDO checks completeness and forwards the application to the IAA for authentication.
IAA authenticates on NIDHI within 7 days, marking it "Confirmed as authentic" or "Not authentic".
DDO processes authentic cases within 10 working days — scrutinises against the Service Register, attaches SR extracts and sends it to the Head of Office. "Not authentic" cases are returned for correction and resubmission before the deadline.
Head of Office recommends and forwards to the PAO (Secretariat and HoD staff) or the Director of Treasuries and Accounts (DTA) (all others), with certified copies, PRAN details and SR extracts.
DTA/PAO scrutinises and forwards a recommendation to the Competent Authority.
Competent Authority issues final orders for conversion to OPS.
Who Is the Competent Authority?
| Category of Employee | Authority Issuing Final Orders |
|---|---|
| Secretariat employees | Spl. Chief Secretary / Principal Secretary / Secretary concerned |
| Non-gazetted officers | Current appointing authority of the employee |
| Gazetted officers | Head of the Department concerned |
Timelines at a Glance
| Stage | Responsible | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Issue of certified copies | Initial Appointing Authority | 15 working days |
| Authentication of documents on NIDHI | Initial Appointing Authority | 7 days from receipt |
| Processing of authentic applications | DDO | 10 working days |
| Submission of option by applicants | Employee / family member | On or before 31.12.2026 |
The DTA/PAO will also set up a special cell for time-bound implementation, and APCFSS will build the required workflow in the NIDHI application.
What Happens to Your CPS / NPS Corpus?
This is the part most employees ask about. Conversion to OPS does not give a serving employee any part of the CPS corpus in cash. Instead, the DTA (the NPS nodal officer) redeems the corpus through the Protean-CRA system and splits it as follows:
| Component | Where It Goes |
|---|---|
| Employee's own contribution | Credited to the employee's GPF account, recast with up-to-date interest under FR 16 and Rule 11 of AP GPF Rules (after excluding any partial withdrawals already taken) |
| Government contribution | Credited to Government – Head of Account 2071-01-911-00-96000-000VN |
| Accrued appreciation (returns) | Credited to Government – Head of Account 007100-800 Other Receipts |
Serving employees start the transfer by applying to their DDO, who sends it through the TO/PAO to the DTA.
Retired Employees
- Already received CPS exit benefits: the Government contribution and its returns must be refunded to the Government before OPS pension under the AP Revised Pension Rules, 1980 can be extended.
- Not yet received CPS benefits: the Government share plus its growth goes to the Government, and the employee's share plus its growth is paid to the retiree.
Death or Invalidation Cases
- If the full corpus was already remitted to the Government for family pension or invalid pension, the employee's contribution is paid back to the person entitled to pensionary benefits.
- If the family already took the CPS death withdrawal, the Government contribution and its returns must be remitted to the Government first.
- Where an annuity was purchased under CPS, the DTA will help withdraw it from the Annuity Service Provider as per PFRDA guidelines.
GPF Admission and Service Register Entry
Once the conversion order is issued, the employee is admitted to the General Provident Fund (GPF) or the applicable Provident Fund (such as ZPPF). The Head of Office must immediately seek a PF account number from the Principal Accountant General (A&E), DTA or Zilla Parishad, as applicable.
- PF subscription starts from the salary of the month after the conversion takes effect.
- CPS deductions must stop once PF subscription begins.
- The Service Register is updated with a standard entry stating the employee is governed by the AP Revised Pension Rules, 1980, and that service from the date of initial regular appointment qualifies for pension.
Role of Each Stakeholder
| Stakeholder | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Initial Appointing Authority | Issue certified copies on time; authenticate documents when referred by the DDO |
| DDO & Head of Office | Scrutinise documents with the Service Register, verify identity and service details, upload SR extracts, give a clear recommendation, clarify discrepancies, forward PF account proposal |
| DTA / PAO | Independent scrutiny, seek clarifications, record findings, recommend to sanctioning authority, process CPS exit for approved cases |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is G.O.Ms.No.158 dated 09-11-2026?
Who can opt for the CPS to OPS conversion in Andhra Pradesh?
What is the last date to submit the CPS to OPS option?
Where should I apply for CPS to OPS conversion?
Which documents are needed from the Initial Appointing Authority?
Will I get my CPS corpus in cash after switching to OPS?
What if my application is marked "Not authentic" or rejected?
When will GPF deductions start after conversion?
Conclusion
G.O.Ms.No.158 turns the promise of G.O.Ms.No.53 into a clear, documented route back to the Old Pension Scheme for AP employees whose recruitment began before CPS. The process is document-heavy, so the smartest move is to approach your Initial Appointing Authority now, collect the four certified copies, and file on NIDHI well before 31 December 2026. Check your Service Register and PRAN details for mismatches early, because most rejections will come from those gaps. Once approved, you move to GPF, your service from initial appointment counts for pension, and you are governed by the AP Revised Pension Rules, 1980.
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