MCL Recruitment 2026 — 500 Trainee Vacancies in Mahanadi Coalfields (Coal India Subsidiary) for ITI & Diploma Holders
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a Mini-Ratna subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), has released its much-awaited recruitment notification for 500 Trainee posts under two job families — Assistant Foreman (Electrical) Trainee in T&S Grade-C and Technician (Electrician) Trainee in Cat-III. This is one of the largest PSU sector recruitments of 2026 and offers ITI Electrician + Diploma in Electrical engineering candidates a permanent foothold in India’s coal-mining workforce, with full NCWA-XI pay benefits.
The online application portal opens on 07 May 2026 at 10:00 AM and closes on 28 May 2026 at 11:50 PM. Selection is purely through a Computer Based Test (CBT) of 100 marks, followed by document verification and a medical fitness test — there is no personal interview. With Female candidates, SC, ST, PwBD, ESM and Coal India employees all exempted from the application fee, this is a particularly inclusive notification. In this article, GovtJobsAlert.in walks you through every detail — vacancy split, eligibility, exam pattern, salary, fees and the step-by-step apply guide.
Key Highlights — MCL Recruitment 2026
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited operates one of the country’s largest opencast and underground coal-mining clusters in Odisha. The 2026 recruitment drive (Advt. No. MCL/HQ/Recruitment/Open/2026/311) targets engineering trainees who can support electrical maintenance across MCL’s mines and projects. Selected candidates may be posted to any MCL/CIL mining unit and are liable to be transferred to other Coal India subsidiaries during their service.
- Recruiting Body: Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) — a Coal India Subsidiary
- Advertisement Number: MCL/HQ/Recruitment/Open/2026/311 (dated 16 April 2026)
- Total Vacancies: 500
- Posts Available: Assistant Foreman (Electrical) Trainee — 150 ; Technician (Electrician) Trainee — 350
- Pay Grade: T&S Gr-C (E&M) and Cat-III (E&M) — under NCWA-XI
- Basic Pay: ₹47,330.25 per month (Asst. Foreman) or ₹1,583.32 per day (Technician)
- Eligibility: Diploma in Electrical Engg / Degree in Electrical & Electronics (Asst. Foreman) ; Matric + ITI Electrician + 1-year experience (Technician)
- Age Limit: 18 to 30 years as on 28 May 2026
- Application Mode: Online only via mahanadicoal.in
- Application Dates: 07 May 2026 (10:00 AM) – 28 May 2026 (11:50 PM)
- Fee: ₹1,180 (Gen / OBC / EWS) ; Free for SC / ST / PwBD / ESM / Female / CIL employees
This is a great chance for candidates from ITI and Diploma in Engineering backgrounds who want a stable Coal India PSU career with full NCWA pay scales.
Vacancy Breakdown — MCL Recruitment 2026
The 500 trainee vacancies are split across two posts. The Asst. Foreman category also reserves 6 horizontal seats for PwBD candidates under the Hard-of-Hearing, One-Arm/Leg, Leprosy-Cured, Dwarfism, Acid-Attack and Specific Learning Disability sub-categories.
| Post Name | Pay Grade | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Asst. Foreman (Electrical) Trainee — T&S Gr-C (E&M) | NCWA-XI Monthly | 150 |
| Technician (Electrician) Trainee — Cat-III (E&M) | NCWA-XI Daily | 350 |
| Total | — | 500 |
The category-wise spread is: UR — 200, EWS — 50, SC — 80, ST — 110, OBC-NCL — 60. Reservation rules follow Coal India’s standard policy with horizontal 4% PwBD provision restricted to the Asst. Foreman post (Technician posts are excluded from the PwBD list as per the latest CIL identification order).
Eligibility Criteria — MCL Recruitment 2026
Educational Qualification
- Asst. Foreman (Electrical) Trainee: Three-year Diploma in Electrical Engineering approved by AICTE OR a Degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering approved by AICTE.
- Technician (Electrician) Trainee: Matriculation plus a two-year ITI in Electrician Trade with NCVT/SCVT certificate, plus minimum 1 year of training / on-the-job training / practical experience, plus a valid LT permit under IE Rules for Mines OR a 440-550 V mining parts permit issued by the competent authority.
The qualification must be obtained from a recognised institute, and the LT/Mining permit is non-negotiable for the Technician post — a candidate without a valid permit will be rejected at document verification.
Age Limit
Both posts have an age limit of 18 to 30 years as on 28 May 2026 (born between 29 May 1996 and 28 May 2008). The upper age cap, including all relaxations, is 56 years (except departmental candidates). Standard age relaxations apply:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (NCL — Central List) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | Service period + 3 years |
| PwBD (Gen / EWS) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC-NCL) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years |
| Departmental Candidates (CIL & Subsidiaries) | No upper age limit |
What is the Salary for MCL Recruitment 2026?
Both posts come under the National Coal Wage Agreement-XI (NCWA-XI) pay structure — one of the most lucrative wage agreements in the Indian PSU sector.
- Asst. Foreman (Electrical) Trainee — T&S Gr-C (E&M): Basic pay of ₹47,330.25 per month.
- Technician (Electrician) Trainee — Cat-III (E&M): Basic pay of ₹1,583.32 per day (approx. ₹47,500 per month for full attendance).
In-hand pay starts at approximately ₹47,330 per month (basic), with full NCWA-XI allowances on top — including HRA, transport allowance, attendance bonus, leave benefits, gratuity, contributory provident fund, medical and post-retirement benefits.
After successful completion of the one-year training period, Cat-III Technicians are regularised as Electrician Cat-IV (with applicable wage revisions). T&S Gr-C Asst. Foremen progress to T&S Gr-B and beyond, subject to acquiring the Electrical Supervisorship Certificate of Competency for Mines as per the CIL Cadre Scheme.
What is the Selection Process for MCL Recruitment 2026?
MCL has kept the selection process short, transparent and 100% merit-based — no interview, only test + checks.
- Computer Based Test (CBT) — Only stage that decides merit.
- Document Verification (DV) — Shortlisted candidates in 1:3 ratio of vacancies are called for verification of original certificates.
- Initial Medical Examination (IME) — Conducted at MCL’s designated hospital. Candidates must be declared fit for employment in mines as per Mines Medical Attendance Rules. Minimum height: 60 inches (relaxed for Dwarfism candidates in T&S Gr-C only).
CBT Exam Pattern
| Section | Topics | Questions / Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A | General Awareness / Aptitude | 20 |
| B | Technical (post-related) | 80 |
| Total | — | 100 |
The test is bilingual (English / Hindi), has no negative marking, and uses normalisation if conducted in multiple shifts. Qualifying marks are 45% (Gen/EWS), 40% (OBC-NCL) and 35% (SC/ST) — PwBD candidates get a 5% relaxation. For exam preparation, GovtJobsAlert.in’s syllabus and exam pattern hub is a useful starting point.
How to Apply Online for MCL Recruitment 2026?
The application is fully online — there is no offline / postal route in this drive.
- Visit MCL’s official portal at mahanadicoal.in and click on the Careers → Recruitment section.
- Open the active link for “Asst. Foreman / Technician Recruitment 2026” and read the full notification carefully.
- Click on Apply Online, enter your active email and mobile number to register.
- Login again with the registration credentials and complete the detailed application form.
- Upload your scanned photograph (not older than 3 weeks), signature, marksheets and applicable certificates (caste, EWS, ESM, PwBD, LT permit).
- Pay the application fee online via debit card / credit card / net banking.
- Submit the form and download the printed acknowledgement for future reference.
Make sure your application reaches MCL before 11:50 PM on 28 May 2026 — the portal will close exactly at that time and no extension is normally granted.
Important Dates — MCL Recruitment 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 16 April 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 07 May 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 28 May 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Last Date to Pay Application Fee | 28 May 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Age-Cutoff Reference Date | 28 May 2026 |
| CBT / Admit Card / Result Dates | To be notified on the MCL website |
Application Fees — MCL Recruitment 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC (Creamy & NCL) / EWS | ₹1,180 (₹1,000 + ₹180 GST) |
| SC / ST / PwBD / ESM | Exempted |
| Female Candidates (All Categories) | Exempted |
| CIL & Subsidiary Employees | Exempted |
Fee, once paid, is non-refundable — even if the recruitment is cancelled. Payment is accepted only in online mode (debit / credit card / net banking).
Essential Links — MCL Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for MCL Recruitment 2026
- Visit MCL Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
MCL Recruitment 2026 is one of the most rewarding entry points into India’s PSU coal-mining sector, with a starting basic of ~₹47,330 and full NCWA-XI benefits. Apply online by 28 May 2026, prepare seriously for the 100-mark CBT, and keep your LT mining permit and ITI certificates in order for verification day. For more PSU recruitment notifications and ITI / Diploma trade vacancies, keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in.