Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has invited online applications for the engagement of Trade Apprentices at its Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP), District Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Through Notification No. HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026 dated 3 November 2026, a total of 171 training seats have been announced across 19 trades, including Electrician, Fitter, Welder, COPA, Mechanic Diesel, Surveyor and mining trades such as Mate (Mines) and Blaster (Mines).
The online application window opened on 5 November 2026 and will close on 24 November 2026. There is no written examination or interview for this engagement — selection will be made purely on merit, based on the marks obtained in ITI and Class 10th. Candidates must complete two mandatory steps: registration on the Government apprenticeship portal and the online application on the HCL website. The list of shortlisted candidates is scheduled to be published on 8 December 2026.
This article covers the trade-wise seats, eligibility, age limit, selection method, stipend and the complete application procedure, exactly as given in the official notification.
Recruitment Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), Ministry of Mines, Government of India |
| Unit / Project | Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP), District Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh |
| Notification No. | HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026 |
| Notification Date | 3 November 2026 |
| Post Name | Trade Apprentice (under the Apprentices Act, 1961) |
| Total Seats | 171 |
| Number of Trades | 19 |
| Application Mode | Online — apprenticeship portal registration + HCL website application (both mandatory) |
| Official Website | https://www.hindustancopper.com/ |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Released | 3 November 2026 |
| Online Application Started | 5 November 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 24 November 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | Not applicable — no application fee is mentioned in the official notification |
| Cut-off Date for Age & Qualification | 1 November 2026 |
| Publication of Shortlisted Candidates List | 8 December 2026 |
Note: Candidates are advised to submit their online applications well in advance without waiting for the closing date. Any amendment or update will be communicated only through the company website, hindustancopper.com.
Vacancy Details
Trade-wise training seats at Malanjkhand Copper Project are as follows. Overall category-wise distribution of the 171 seats is: UR – 71, SC – 25, ST – 12, OBC – 46, EWS – 17 (the trade-wise, category-wise breakup is given in the official notification).
| Trade | Training Duration | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Mate (Mines) (Fresher) | 3 Years | 4 |
| Shotfirer / Blaster (Mines) | 2 Years | 13 |
| Driver-cum-Mechanic (LMV) | 1 Year | 6 |
| Mechanic Diesel | 1 Year | 10 |
| Fitter | 1 Year | 16 |
| Turner / Machinist | 1 Year | 16 |
| Welder (Gas & Electric) | 1 Year | 16 |
| Electrician | 1 Year | 36 |
| Draughtsman (Civil) | 1 Year | 2 |
| Draughtsman (Mechanical) | 1 Year | 3 |
| Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA) | 1 Year | 20 |
| Surveyor | 1 Year | 3 |
| AC & Refrigeration Mechanic | 1 Year | 2 |
| Mason (Building Constructor) | 1 Year | 2 |
| Carpenter | 1 Year | 3 |
| Plumber | 1 Year | 3 |
| Horticulture Assistant | 1 Year | 2 |
| Instrument Mechanic | 1 Year | 10 |
| Solar Technician (Electrician) | 1 Year | 4 |
| Total | 171 |
The company reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of seats as per requirement. Candidates should note that this is an apprenticeship training opportunity to improve employability — completion of training does not create any right to employment in HCL/MCP.
Educational Qualification (Eligibility)
- The candidate must have passed Class 10th / Matric under the 10+2 system of education or its equivalent, as on the cut-off date (1 November 2026).
- For trades at Sl. No. 4 to 19 in the official notification, the candidate must also be ITI passed in the respective trade from a recognised institute.
- For Sl. No. 1 and 3 trades, Class 10th pass alone is required. As clarified in the selection section of the notice, for trades where ITI is not required — named in the notice as Mate (Mines) and Blaster (Mines) — merit is prepared on 100% weightage of 10th board marks.
- Candidates who passed ITI in 2025 or earlier years must produce an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper (sworn before a Magistrate or Notary Public) stating that they have neither undergone apprenticeship training anywhere earlier nor taken employment anywhere.
- Candidates possessing higher professional qualifications such as Diploma / B.E. or equivalent shall not be considered, and no additional weightage is given for higher academic qualifications like B.A./B.Sc./B.Com.
Age Limit
- The age of the candidate should be between 18 to 25 years as on the cut-off date, i.e. 1 November 2026.
- Age relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST candidates and 3 years for OBC candidates in the upper age limit. All Government guidelines on the matter will be observed.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Categories | No application fee is mentioned in the official notification (Notification No. HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026) |
Stipend
As per the official notification, the stipend will be as admissible under the rules (the Apprentices Act rules). The notification does not specify a fixed monthly stipend amount.
Selection Process
There is no written test or interview. Selection is purely merit-based:
- Merit on Academic Marks: Candidates will be selected on the basis of merit based on their marks obtained in ITI and 10th — a weightage of 30% to marks scored in the relevant trade in ITI and 70% to marks scored in 10th board. For trades where ITI is not required (Mate (Mines) and Blaster (Mines)), 100% weightage will be given to marks scored in the 10th board. In case of CGPA in 10th/Matric, it will be converted to equivalent percentage by multiplying the CGPA with 9.5.
- Tie-Breaking: If two or more candidates secure equal marks in the merit list, the candidate of higher age will be considered.
- Shortlist Publication: The list of shortlisted candidates will be published on 8 December 2026.
- Medical Fitness: Engagement of selected trade apprentices is subject to the candidate being declared medically fit as per the requirements of the company.
How to Apply
Both Step 1 and Step 2 are mandatory — an application will not be treated as finally submitted without both:
- Step 1 – Register on the Apprenticeship Portal: Go to www.apprenticeship.gov.in and register as a Trade Apprentice. Under “Establishment Search”, select Hindustan Copper Limited, Malanjkhand Copper Project and apply against the trade opportunity. Your profile must be 100% Aadhaar verified and matched with your 10th/ITI marksheet details. Note the unique registration number generated on the portal.
- Step 2 – Apply Online on the HCL Website: Visit https://www.hindustancopper.com, go to the ‘Career’ section and open the Trade Apprentice engagement notice for Malanjkhand Copper Project (No. HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026).
- Fill the online application form for only ONE trade that best fits your qualification — ‘One Applicant – One Application’ system is followed, and only the first submitted application will be considered in case of multiple applications.
- Enter the apprenticeship portal registration number in the appropriate column of the HCL application form.
- Upload your passport-size colour photograph and signature in English in black ink (each less than 50 KB, .jpg format). Candidates who passed ITI in 2025 or earlier must also upload the affidavit in PDF format (less than 1 MB).
- Submit the application before 24 November 2026 and take a printout of the computer-generated online application and acknowledgement slip for future reference.
Important Links
| Link | Address |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | https://mcp.hindustancopper.com/Upload/Notice/0-639293279747275000-HindiNoticeFILE.pdf |
| Apply Online (HCL Website – Career Section) | https://www.hindustancopper.com/ |
| Apprenticeship Registration (Step 1) | https://www.apprenticeship.gov.in/ |
| HCL Official Website | https://www.hindustancopper.com/ |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many seats are there in HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Answer: Hindustan Copper Limited has announced 171 Trade Apprentice training seats across 19 trades at its Malanjkhand Copper Project, Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), under Notification No. HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026 dated 3 November 2026.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for HCL Trade Apprentice 2026?
Answer: The online application opened on 5 November 2026 and the last date to apply is 24 November 2026. The shortlisted candidates list will be published on 8 December 2026.
Q3. What is the qualification for HCL Apprentice at Malanjkhand?
Answer: Candidates must have passed Class 10th/Matric under the 10+2 system. For most trades, ITI in the respective trade is also required; for the fresher trades named in the notice (Mate (Mines) and Blaster (Mines)), only 10th pass is needed. Candidates with Diploma/B.E. or equivalent higher professional qualifications are not eligible.
Q4. Is there any exam for HCL Apprentice selection?
Answer: No. There is no written examination or interview. Selection is based on merit — 30% weightage to ITI marks and 70% weightage to 10th marks (100% 10th marks for trades where ITI is not required).
Q5. What is the age limit and stipend for HCL Trade Apprentices?
Answer: The age limit is 18 to 25 years as on 1 November 2026, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC candidates. The stipend will be as admissible under the Apprentices Act rules; the notification does not specify a fixed amount.
Q6. Is registration on the apprenticeship portal compulsory?
Answer: Yes. Both steps are mandatory: first register on www.apprenticeship.gov.in and select Hindustan Copper Limited, Malanjkhand Copper Project under Establishment Search, then submit the online application on hindustancopper.com using that registration number.
Source: Hindustan Copper Limited — Official Notification No. HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026 dated 03.11.2026, “Engagement of Trade Apprentices in Malanjkhand Copper Project under the Apprenticeship Act 1961”, published on hindustancopper.com. Candidates must read the official notification carefully before applying.