AI SummaryJammu and Kashmir government has opened a one-time option for some NPS employees to move to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Employees appointed against posts advertised before 24 December 2009, who joined service on or after 1 January 2010, can apply by submitting the option form on or before 28 December 2026.
Finance Department issued Government Order No. 305-F of 2026 on 28 September 2026, after the Council of Ministers approved it through Decision No. 129/11/2026 dated 10 September 2026. Once given, the option is final. Anyone who does not apply in time stays under NPS.
How to switch from NPS to Old Pension Scheme in J&K
There is no online form. A physical form has to be submitted through your own office, and each level has a fixed role.
STEP 1 - Get the option form prescribed under Government Order No. 305-F of 2026 from your Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) or download PDF from below link.
STEP 2 - Fill in your name, parentage, date of birth, CPIS ID, PRAN number, date of joining government service, department and office, present post and promotion details. Also write the advertisement or notification number and date, selection list details, appointment order and the post you were first appointed to.
STEP 3 - Attach photocopies of the advertisement or notification, selection list, appointment order and PRAN card, along with an attested copy of your service book.
STEP 4 - Hand over the form to your DDO on or before 28 December 2026 and keep a receiving copy.
STEP 5 - Your DDO sends the form to the Head of Department or Appointing Authority, who forwards the case to the Administrative Department.
STEP 6 - The Administrative Department checks whether you meet the conditions and has to issue the order within one month.
Who can opt for OPS
Jammu and Kashmir brought in NPS through SRO-400 dated 24 December 2009, for employees appointed on or after 1 January 2010. People whose recruitment started before that date but who joined later were put under NPS. This option is for them, and all of these conditions must be met:
- The post or vacancy was advertised or notified for recruitment before 24 December 2009.
- You joined government service on or after 1 January 2010.
- You are covered under NPS at present.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Order | Government Order No. 305-F of 2026, dated 28 September 2026 |
| Issued By | Finance Department, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Who Can Apply | NPS employees appointed against posts advertised before 24 December 2009 |
| Last Date | 28 December 2026 |
| Application Mode | Offline through DDO |
| Official Website | finance.jk.gov.in |
What happens to your NPS money
Your NPS account closes from the first day of the month after the month your OPS order is issued. From then on you contribute to the General Provident Fund (GPF), and your DDO starts closing the NPS account through the Treasury.
Your own NPS contribution moves to your GPF account, and the account is recast to add interest under the GPF Rules, 1960. The government's NPS contribution and the growth earned on the investment go back to the government account. Everything, up to the closing of the NPS account, has to be done within 120 days of the Administrative Department's order.
Why J&K opened this option
Centre gave a similar one-time option to central employees through an Office Memorandum dated 3 March 2023, for those recruited against vacancies notified before NPS started on 1 January 2004. Those employees came under the old pension rules. J&K employees then asked for the same, and courts directed the UT to consider their claims in cases such as Ajay Sharma vs UT of J&K and Adiba Rasool vs State of J&K.
In December 2024, the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare told J&K that central rules do not apply to UT employees on their own, and the UT had to decide. Finance Department then worked on the proposal with GAD and the Law Department before sending it to the Council of Ministers. Some states have gone further, like Himachal Pradesh, which brought back OPS for its employees.
FAQ's
I joined J&K government service before 1 January 2010. Do I need to apply?
No. NPS in J&K covers only those appointed on or after 1 January 2010, so earlier employees are already under the old pension rules.
What if it is not clear whether my post was advertised before the cut-off?
Such cases go to the Finance Department, and its decision is final for everyone.
Can I go back to NPS after choosing OPS?
No. The option cannot be withdrawn once exercised.