J&K Old Pension Scheme: These Employees Can Switch From NPS to OPS

J&K Employees Get One-Time Option to Switch From NPS to OPS

The Jammu and Kashmir government has given certain NPS-covered employees a one-time opportunity to move from the National Pension System to the Old Pension Scheme.

The option is available to employees who were appointed against a post or vacancy that had been advertised or notified for recruitment before December 24, 2009, but who joined government service on or after January 1, 2010 under the NPS framework.

Who Is Eligible for the J&K OPS Option?

The one-time switch is specifically aimed at employees whose recruitment process began before the introduction of NPS in Jammu and Kashmir but whose actual appointment took place after the NPS implementation date.

Eligible employees must have been appointed against a post or vacancy that was advertised or notified before December 24, 2009, and must have joined service on or after January 1, 2010.

Employees who do not meet these conditions will not automatically become eligible for the OPS under this notification.

What Is the Last Date to Switch From NPS to OPS?

Eligible Jammu and Kashmir government employees have until December 28, 2026, to exercise the one-time option.

Employees who are eligible but do not exercise the option within the prescribed period will continue to remain covered under the National Pension System.

The government has also clarified that once an employee opts for the OPS under this provision, the decision cannot subsequently be reversed to return to NPS.

How Can Eligible Employees Apply?

Eligible employees have to submit their application to the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO).

The process involves multiple administrative levels:

1. The employee submits the OPS option to the DDO.

2. The DDO forwards the case to the Head of Department or appointing authority.

3. The case is then sent to the concerned administrative department.

4. The administrative department examines the employee's eligibility.

5. If the employee qualifies, the department issues the necessary order.

According to the notification, the administrative department is required to scrutinise the case and determine eligibility under the applicable instructions.

What Happens to the Existing NPS Account?

For an employee who is approved for coverage under the OPS, the existing NPS account will be closed from the first day of the month following the month in which the OPS notification is issued.

Eligible employees moving to the OPS will also be required to subscribe to the General Provident Fund (GPF) under the applicable rules.

Why Did J&K Introduce This Option?

Jammu and Kashmir moved from the Old Pension Scheme to the NPS through a notification dated December 24, 2009. The NPS applied to employees joining government service on or after January 1, 2010.

However, some employees were recruited against vacancies that had been advertised before the NPS notification. They argued that the recruitment process had begun when the OPS was still applicable and therefore sought coverage under the old pension framework.

The new J&K decision addresses this particular category of employees.

Central Government's 2023 OPS Order Was an Important Reference

The issue also has a parallel in the Central Government's pension rules.

In March 2023, the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare provided a one-time option for certain central government employees who had joined service on or after January 1, 2004 but had been appointed against vacancies advertised or notified before the NPS notification of December 22, 2003.

J&K employees had sought similar treatment, arguing that their recruitment vacancies had been notified before the UT's NPS notification.

Did the Central Government's OPS Order Automatically Apply to J&K?

No. The Central Government's 2023 instructions did not automatically apply to Jammu and Kashmir employees.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare told the J&K government in December 2024 that its instructions were not automatically applicable to state or Union Territory employees. The J&K government could separately decide whether similar provisions should be introduced for its employees.

The J&K Council of Ministers subsequently approved the proposal for the one-time OPS option on September 10, 2026.

What If an Eligible Employee Does Not Apply?

Employees who satisfy the eligibility conditions but fail to exercise the option by December 28, 2026 will continue under the National Pension System.

The opportunity is therefore a one-time window rather than a permanent change in pension coverage.

NPS vs OPS: What Changes for Eligible Employees?

The key difference is the pension framework applicable after retirement.

Under the OPS framework, pension benefits are governed by the applicable government pension rules, while NPS is a contributory pension system linked to accumulated pension wealth.

For employees who qualify for the J&K option, moving to OPS also involves closure of the NPS account and transition to the GPF system as prescribed by the government.

J&K NPS to OPS Switch: Key Dates

ParticularDetailsJ&K NPS notificationDecember 24, 2009NPS applies to employees joining fromJanuary 1, 2010Eligible vacancy/post advertised or notified beforeDecember 24, 2009OPS optionOne timeLast date to exercise optionDecember 28, 2026Application submitted toDrawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO)NPS account after OPS approvalClosed from first day of following monthNew pension-related accountGPF, as applicableCan employee return to NPS after choosing OPS?No

What Employees Should Check Before Applying

Employees considering the switch should verify the date on which the relevant post or vacancy was advertised or notified, their appointment details and their date of joining.

They should also submit the application through the prescribed administrative channel within the deadline and retain relevant recruitment and appointment documents.

The final decision on eligibility will be taken by the concerned administrative authorities after scrutiny of the employee's case.

Key Takeaways

• Jammu and Kashmir has introduced a one-time NPS-to-OPS switch option for a specific category of employees.

• The employee must have been appointed against a post or vacancy advertised or notified before December 24, 2009.

• The employee must have joined government service on or after January 1, 2010.

• The last date to exercise the option is December 28, 2026.

• Applications must be submitted through the concerned DDO.

• Employees approved for OPS will have their NPS accounts closed and will be required to subscribe to GPF as applicable.

• Once the OPS option is exercised, the employee cannot switch back to NPS.

• Employees who do not exercise the option within the deadline will continue under NPS.