Government Revises SOP for NPS-to-OPS Migration

The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), under the Ministry of Finance, issued a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on October 19, 2026, for migrating eligible government employees’ pension cases from the National Pension System (NPS) to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in cases of death or disability. The revised procedure supersedes guidelines issued on September 17, 2025.

NPS and OPS Pension Framework

The National Pension System is a defined-contribution pension system. It became applicable to most Central Government employees joining service from January 1, 2004, excluding personnel of the armed forces. The NPS was opened to all Indian citizens in 2009. The Old Pension Scheme is a defined-benefit pension arrangement. The revised SOP concerns the transition to OPS for eligible cases involving death or disability; it does not describe a general migration option for all NPS subscribers.

Pension Orders and Life Certificates

A Pension Payment Order (PPO) authorises the disbursement of pension through a bank. Under the revised procedure, an eligible pensioner who receives a new regular PPO must surrender the earlier Provisional Pension Payment Order (PPPO) to the bank. The pensioner or family pensioner is not required to prepare the new PPO. The concerned government offices and pension authorities handle its preparation. Beneficiaries must continue to submit a life certificate to their bank every November under existing Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare guidelines.

Jammu and Kashmir Option Window

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has opened a one-time option window until December 28, 2026, for certain government employees to opt for OPS. The window covers employees whose posts were advertised before NPS was introduced but who joined service on or after January 1, 2010.

Important Facts for Exams

:

• The Central Pension Accounting Office functions under the Ministry of Finance.
• The revised SOP was issued through an office memorandum dated October 19, 2026.
• The new regular PPO replaces the provisional pension order for eligible beneficiaries under the revised procedure.
• Life certificates for pensioners are submitted to banks every November under the stated guidelines.

The revised SOP applies to specified NPS-to-OPS pension cases involving death or disability. The Jammu and Kashmir option window closes on December 28, 2026.</final