MCL Recruitment 2026
667 Posts — Jr. Overman, Mining Sirdar, Surveyor & More
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a Coal India Limited subsidiary and Government of India undertaking based in Sambalpur, Odisha, has announced 667 openings across mining and technical roles. Applications are accepted online from 16 March to 6 April 2026 at mahanadicoal.in.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organisation | Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) — Coal India Limited subsidiary, Govt. of India Undertaking |
| Advertisement Reference | MCL/HQ/Recruitment/Statutory/2026/120 — issued 21 February 2026 |
| Registered Office | Jagruti Vihar, Burla, Dist. Sambalpur, Odisha – 768 020 |
| Total Vacancies | 667 posts (tentative — MCL may revise numbers without prior notice) |
| Posts Available | Jr. Overman T&S Gr-C · Mining Sirdar T&S Gr-C · Surveyor T&S Gr-B · Translator (OL) Clerical Gr-III · Technician (Pathology) T&S Gr-C |
| Pay Structure | National Coal Wage Agreement XI (NCWA-XI) — Basic Pay from ₹41,966 to ₹51,103 per month |
| Selection Method | Computer Based Test (CBT) only — no personal interview at any stage |
| Application Mode | Online only — mahanadicoal.in → Careers → Recruitment |
| Application Window Opens | 16 March 2026 at 10:00 AM |
| Application Deadline | 06 April 2026 at 11:50 PM |
| Eligibility Cut-off Date | 06 April 2026 (age, qualifications and certificates must be valid as of this date) |
| Merit Panel Validity | 1 year from result declaration (or as per Government directives) |
| Legal Jurisdiction | Sambalpur Court only |
Figures show total vacancies including backlog per category, as per official notification Table A. BL = Backlog component within the figure. All numbers are tentative and may be revised or cancelled by MCL management at any time without prior intimation.
| Post Name | Grade | NCWA-XI Basic Pay | UR | EWS | SC | ST | OBC-NCL | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Posts — Including Backlog | ||||||||
| Jr. Overman | T&S Gr-C | ₹47,330.25/mo | 77 | 18 | 29 | 46 (3 BL) | 22 | 192 |
| Mining Sirdar | T&S Gr-C | ₹47,330.25/mo | 176 | 43 | 77 (1 BL) | 88 (8 BL) | 64 (2 BL) | 448 |
| Surveyor | T&S Gr-B | ₹51,103.12/mo | 8 | 1 | 1 | 14 (10 BL) | — | 24 |
| Backlog-Only Posts | ||||||||
| Translator (OL) | Clerical Gr-III | ₹41,966.51/mo | — | — | 01 | — | — | 01 |
| Technician (Pathology) | T&S Gr-C | ₹47,330.25/mo | — | — | 01 | — | 01 | 02 |
| Grand Total | 667 | |||||||
- Jr. Overman, Mining Sirdar & Surveyor: PwBD reservation is not applicable for these three posts, consistent with Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment guidelines (GoI ref: CIL/C-5A/MP&IR/RPwD/75, dated 27/09/2024). These roles fall outside the PwBD-identified position list.
- Translator (OL) Clerical Gr-III: 01 horizontal PwBD vacancy (SC backlog). Eligible disability categories: LV, D/HH, OA, OL, BL, OAL, LC, Dw, AAV, MDY, ASD(M), SLD, and Multiple Disabilities.
- Technician (Pathology) T&S Gr-C: 02 horizontal PwBD vacancies. Eligible categories: D/HH, OL, BL, Dw, AAV, ASD(M), SLD, and Multiple Disabilities.
As per MCL's Medical Attendance Rules (MAR), a minimum height of 60 inches is required for all selected candidates. The only exception is for candidates with Dwarfism (Dw) applying for the Translator (OL) and Technician (Pathology) posts. Medical examination is carried out by MCL's own doctors, and their findings are final and binding. Appointment is subject to being declared fit for employment in mine workings.
UR / EWS: up to 30 years | OBC-NCL: up to 33 years | SC / ST: up to 35 years
Ex-Servicemen: actual defence service tenure plus 3 additional years
PwBD (UR): up to 40 | PwBD (OBC-NCL): up to 43 | PwBD (SC/ST): up to 45 — only for Translator OL and Technician Pathology posts
Departmental candidates (employees of CIL or any subsidiary): no upper age ceiling
Absolute maximum for all non-departmental candidates: 56 years including any relaxation
All three statutory certificates are mandatory:
Overman Competency (Un-Restricted) issued by DGMS under Coal Mines Regulation 2017, valid for both Open Cast and Underground mines
First Aid Certificate — must be valid
Gas Testing Certificate — must be valid
All three statutory certificates are mandatory:
Mining Sirdarship Competency (Un-Restricted) from DGMS under Coal Mines Regulation 2017, valid for both OC and UG mines
First Aid Certificate — must be valid
Gas Testing Certificate — must be valid
One statutory certificate is mandatory:
Survey Competency (Un-Restricted) granted by DGMS under Coal Mines Regulation 2017, valid for both Open Cast and Underground mines
Preferred but not mandatory: Government Diploma in Hindi Translation.
- All statutory certificates must be valid as on the cut-off date 06/Apr/2026 — expired or restricted-scope certificates will not be accepted at document verification
- Candidates working in Government / PSU / CIL subsidiary organisations must bring a valid No Objection Certificate from their employer to the document verification stage
- Anyone currently employed in another CIL subsidiary in the same post capacity cannot apply — the correct route is an inter-subsidiary transfer
- PwBD age relaxation applies exclusively to Translator (OL) and Technician (Pathology) — the three mining posts carry no PwBD age benefit
- Minimum height of 60 inches is required for medical clearance — exception for Dwarfism applies only to non-mining posts
- Any false information — even discovered post-joining — results in immediate termination and legal proceedings
- Application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, including if MCL cancels the vacancy
Fee must be paid exclusively through the online portal — Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking are the accepted channels. No cash, DD, or offline payment mode is valid. If payment fails or is routed to an incorrect account through any unauthorised method, MCL bears no responsibility. Once submitted, fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome. Confirm your eligibility thoroughly before initiating payment.
Computer Based Test (CBT) — Sole Examination Stage
Selection is based entirely on a single CBT. No group discussion, personal interview, or any other round is conducted at any stage. The test consists of 100 objective MCQ questions worth 1 mark each (total 100 marks). Question paper instructions are bilingual (English and Hindi). There is no negative marking — every question attempted carries only potential gain.
CBT Paper Structure — Section A & Section B
Section A — General Awareness & Aptitude: 20 questions × 1 mark = 20 marks
Section B — Technical Knowledge (role-specific discipline): 80 questions × 1 mark = 80 marks
Total: 100 questions | 100 marks | Duration will be indicated on the admit card
Minimum Qualifying Marks — Must Be Achieved to Qualify
General / EWS: 45 marks out of 100 (45%)
OBC-NCL: 40 marks out of 100 (40%)
SC / ST: 35 marks out of 100 (35%)
Candidates scoring below these thresholds are not considered for merit ranking regardless of their category standing.
Score Normalisation — When CBT Is Held in Multiple Shifts
If the exam is administered across multiple time slots, MCL applies a statistical normalisation formula to ensure fair cross-shift comparison: Xn = (S2 ÷ S1) × (X − Xav) + Yav, where S2 is the standard deviation of the reference shift (the one with the highest average), S1 is the SD of the candidate's shift, X is the candidate's raw score, Xav is the average of the candidate's shift, and Yav is the reference shift average. Final rankings are built on these normalised scores.
Shortlisting for Document Verification — 1:3 Ratio
From qualifying candidates ranked by merit, MCL invites 3 candidates per available vacancy to attend document verification. In tie situations at the last shortlisted rank, all tied candidates are called. Tie-breaking priority: Date of Birth (older candidate placed higher), then alphabetical order of name.
Document Verification
Shortlisted candidates attend in person at a venue announced on mahanadicoal.in, carrying all original certificates plus self-attested copies — educational, statutory, category, identity, and any other documents referenced in the application. Government / PSU employees must also present a valid NOC from their current employer. Candidates unable to produce required documents are immediately rejected. SC/ST candidates travelling over 30 km one-way are entitled to 2nd Class train/bus fare reimbursement.
Provisional Select List & Medical Examination (IME)
Following verification, a Provisional Select List is published on mahanadicoal.in. Candidates on this list receive an appointment offer contingent on clearing the Initial Medical Examination (IME) conducted by MCL's own medical officers. Those declared medically unfit are disqualified from the process. The merit panel stays active for 1 year after results are declared, or as directed by extant Government guidelines.
Prepare All Documents Before Opening the Form
Keep the following ready before starting the application: a valid personal email address and active mobile number (both must remain accessible throughout the selection process), scanned copies of Matriculation / Diploma / Degree marksheets (JPG/JPEG/PDF), scanned statutory certificates — Overman / Mining Sirdar / Survey Competency, Gas Testing, and First Aid as applicable (JPG/JPEG/PDF), caste / EWS / ESM / PwBD certificates if applicable, a recent passport-size photograph taken within the past 3 weeks (JPG/JPEG), your signature in black ink pen (JPG/JPEG), and Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking details for fee payment if applicable.
Access the MCL Careers Portal
Visit mahanadicoal.in and go to CAREERS → Recruitment. Find the advertisement for MCL Recruitment 2026 (Ref. MCL/HQ/Recruitment/Statutory/2026/120). Download and read the full notification before proceeding — all conditions therein are binding on the candidate.
Register & Receive Login Credentials
Click "Apply Online". Read the important instructions and check the "I Agree" checkbox. Register by entering your chosen post, full name, mobile number, and email ID, then click Submit. Your Application Sequence Number, User ID, and password will be sent to both your registered email and mobile. Store these securely — they are needed for all future logins.
Fill the Form, Upload Documents & Preview
Log in with your received credentials, navigate to the Application Form, and fill all fields accurately. Your name, date of birth, and parent's name must match exactly as they appear on your Class X certificate — discrepancies lead to rejection at document verification. Upload your photograph, signature, and all required supporting documents in the specified formats. Use the preview screen to review everything carefully before proceeding.
Submit, Pay Fee & Save Printout
Click Submit to finalise. You will be redirected to the payment portal. Complete the fee payment (₹1,180 for UR/OBC/EWS; zero for SC/ST/PwBD/ESM/Female/CIL employees) using Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking. After completing payment, take a printout of the submitted application form and keep it for your records — there is no need to send it to MCL. The absolute deadline is 06 April 2026 at 11:50 PM.
- Apply well before the closing date — MCL accepts no responsibility for submission failures caused by last-minute network congestion or server load
- Use a personal email address that only you can access — never share login credentials or use a shared device without care
- Submit only one application per post — multiple submissions for the same post will be rejected
- All certificates must be issued on or before the cut-off date of 06/Apr/2026 to be considered valid
- Helpdesk support is available through the application portal; phone lines operate Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Sundays and public holidays excluded)
- Receiving an admit card does not confirm final eligibility — candidature remains provisional until original documents are verified and certificates are authenticated
- Any form of canvassing — direct or indirect — results in automatic disqualification and forfeiture of candidature
FAQs
The following categories are fully exempted from the application fee: SC, ST, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen (ESM), Female candidates, and Employees of Coal India Limited and its subsidiary companies.
Minimum qualifying marks are: 45% for General/EWS, 40% for OBC-NCL, and 35% for SC/ST. Based on CBT merit, candidates are shortlisted in a 1:3 ratio for document verification, followed by a medical fitness examination (IME) before final appointment.
Jr. Overman candidates must hold: (1) a valid Overman Competency Certificate (Un-Restricted) issued by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) under Coal Mines Regulation 2017, covering both Open Cast and Underground mines, (2) a valid First Aid Certificate, and (3) a valid Gas Testing Certificate.
Mining Sirdar candidates must hold: (1) a valid Mining Sirdarship Certificate of Competency (Un-Restricted) from DGMS under Coal Mines Regulation 2017 for both OC and UG mines, (2) a valid First Aid Certificate, and (3) a valid Gas Testing Certificate.
Expired or scope-restricted certificates will not be accepted at the document verification stage and will result in disqualification.
