NPS To OPS – Guidelines and Clarifications

Guidelines for Including Employees in CCS(Pension) Rules 2021 After Transition to Central Government Service

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, has issued an official memorandum dated 20th October, 2023, providing guidelines and clarifications on the inclusion of Central Government employees under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 (formerly 1972). The memorandum is in response to queries about the applicability of these guidelines to employees who transitioned from State Government or autonomous bodies to Central Government service.


No.-57/03/2022-P&P W(B)/8361 (2)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare

3 Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market,
New Delhi, Dated the 20th October, 2023

Subject: Inclusion under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 ( now 2021) in accordance with DoPPW OM dated 03.03.2023 to those employees who have joined Central Government service on mobility from Central Government/State Government / autonomous body service- reg.

The undersigned is directed to say that the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare administers pension related policy matters in respect to Central Government civil employees. This Department has issued instruction vide OM No. 57/05/2021-P&PW(B) dated 03.03.2023 giving one time option to the Central Government civil employee for inclusion under the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 ( now 2021) who has been appointed against a post or vacancy which was advertised/ notified for recruitment/ appointment prior to notification for National Pension System i.e. 22.12.2003. As per para 7 of this OM, it is for the appointing authority of the post against which such option has been exercised to examine and decide applicability of these instructions.

  1. References have been received seeking clarification on applicability of aforesaid instructions dated 03.03.2023 to the Central Government employees who fulfils conditions of these instructions in their previous service rendered in State Government / autonomous bodies and thereafter joined Central Government service on or after 01.01.2004 after submitting technical resignation from previous service.

  2. It is, therefore, clarified that the instructions issued vide OM dated 03.03.2023 are applicable to Central Government civil employees. Central Government employees who are included under CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 in terms of OM dated 03.03.2023 for their appointment against any post / service in Central Government and moved to another Central Government service through proper channel would continue to be governed under the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972.

  3. However, the case of employee of the State Government / autonomous body moved to Central Government service on or after 01.01.2004 after tendering technical resignation from their previous service would examined as a case of counting of past service on mobility to Central Government service on or after 01.01.2004. Therefore, these cases would be examined in terms of this Department’s OM dated 28.10.2009.

(S. Chakrabarti)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

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