Hindustan Copper Limited HCL Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026

This post was cross-checked against the official notification before publishing. Last verified: 14/11/2026, 11:34 IST. Found an error? Report it here — corrections are published openly.

HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Mines, has released Notification No. HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026 dated 3 November 2026 for the engagement of 171 Trade Apprentices at its Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh. Candidates can apply online from 5 November 2026 to 24 November 2026 through the official HCL website, hindustancopper.com. Please note clearly: this is apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, not a permanent job. Completion of training gives no right to regular employment with HCL. Selection is based purely on academic merit — no written examination and no interview. Read the notification for eligibility, selection process and all other information.

The official notification / apply link is not independently confirmed for this post; the links above go to the official portals. If a link here is wrong, report it — corrections are published openly.

Candidates must complete a mandatory two-step registration: first register on the Apprenticeship India portal (apprenticeship.gov.in), and then apply online on the official HCL website. Both stages are compulsory, and both must be completed within the application window.

The official notification does not prescribe any application fee for this recruitment. Candidates should follow the instructions provided on the online application portal.

A total of 171 Trade Apprentice seats have been announced across 19 trades at the Malanjkhand Copper Project. The Electrician trade has the highest number of seats (36), followed by Computer Assistant (COPA) with 20 seats. HCL reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of seats.

The age of candidates must be between 18 and 25 years as on 1 November 2026.

Candidates belonging to eligible reserved categories will receive upper-age relaxation according to the recruitment rules. The cut-off date for determining age and educational eligibility is 1 November 2026.

Applicants must have passed Class 10 from a recognised board. For most technical trades, an ITI certificate in the concerned trade is compulsory. Candidates applying for Mate Mines (Fresher), Shotfirer/Blaster (Mines) and Driver-cum-Mechanic (LMV) are not required to possess an ITI qualification. Important: candidates possessing higher professional qualifications such as Diploma, B.E. or B.Tech are not eligible for this recruitment. Candidates who passed ITI in 2025 or earlier must also submit the prescribed affidavit confirming that they have not previously undergone apprenticeship training or taken employment. HCL follows a one-applicant, one-application policy — apply for only one trade that matches your qualifications; if multiple applications are submitted, only the first submitted application will be considered.

Selected candidates will receive a stipend during their apprenticeship training at the Malanjkhand Copper Project. The stipend will be paid according to the applicable apprenticeship rules. The notification does not mention a specific monthly stipend amount for individual trades. This is apprenticeship training, not regular employment, and there is no permanent employment guarantee.

  1. Merit-Based Shortlisting — Selection is based purely on academic marks. No separate written examination or interview has been announced.
  2. Merit Criteria — For ITI-based trades, shortlisting uses 70% weightage to Class 10 marks and 30% to the relevant ITI marks. For trades without an ITI requirement, selection is based entirely on Class 10 marks (100%).
  3. Shortlist Publication — The list of shortlisted candidates is scheduled to be published on 8 December 2026 on the official HCL website.
  4. Document Verification and Medical Fitness — Shortlisted candidates must complete document verification and medical fitness formalities before joining the apprenticeship training.

The training period depends on the trade: Mate Mines (Fresher) 3 years, Shotfirer/Blaster (Mines) 2 years, Driver-cum-Mechanic (LMV) 1 year 3 months, and all other advertised trades 1 year.

No written examination has been announced for this recruitment. Selection is based on the academic merit of Class 10 and ITI marks, as described in the selection process above. Candidates should not expect a written test or interview for this engagement.

The details entered in the form must match the documents and the apprenticeship registration profile. Candidates should keep all documents ready before filling the online application.

  1. Visit the official Apprenticeship Portal at apprenticeship.gov.in.
  2. Register yourself as an apprentice using the required personal information.
  3. Complete Aadhaar verification and update your educational qualifications, bank details and eKYC.
  4. Open the Establishment Search section and select Hindustan Copper Limited, Malanjkhand Copper Project.
  5. Apply for the apprenticeship opportunity matching your qualification.
  6. Save the apprenticeship registration number generated on the portal.
  7. Visit the official HCL website at hindustancopper.com.
  8. Open the Careers section and find the Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026 application link.
  9. Fill in the application form and enter your apprenticeship registration number.
  10. Upload the required photograph, signature and applicable certificates.
  11. Review all the details and submit the application form before 24 November 2026.
  12. Download the completed application and acknowledgement slip for future reference.

Interested candidates can read the full notification before applying.

You may also like: IOCL Eastern Region Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Apply Online for 409 Posts — another large PSU apprentice engagement with applications open till 12 December 2026; and NLC India Graduate Executive Trainee Recruitment 2026 Apply Online for 143 Posts — another PSU recruitment with applications open till 14 December 2026.

Q1. How many vacancies are available under HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Hindustan Copper Limited has announced 171 Trade Apprentice vacancies across 19 trades at the Malanjkhand Copper Project.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application form is 24 November 2026.

Q3. What is the educational qualification for HCL Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Candidates must have passed Class 10. A relevant ITI certificate is also required for most technical trades, except Mate Mines, Shotfirer/Blaster (Mines) and Driver-cum-Mechanic (LMV).

Q4. What is the age limit for HCL Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The age limit is 18 to 25 years as on 1 November 2026. Age relaxation is available for eligible reserved categories (SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years).

Q5. Is there any written examination for HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
No separate written examination has been announced. Selection will be based on Class 10 and ITI marks according to the prescribed criteria.

Q6. When will the HCL Apprentice Merit List 2026 be released?
The shortlisted candidates list is scheduled to be published on 8 December 2026. One report mentions 12 December 2026 — candidates should check the official HCL website for the final date.

Q7. Is there any application fee for HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
No. The official notification does not prescribe any application fee.

Q8. Is HCL Apprentice a permanent government job?
No. This is apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Completion of training does not create any right to regular employment with HCL or the project.

Sources: Hindustan Copper Limited, Notification No. HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026 dated 3 November 2026; Testbook, PlacementStore, SahiSarkariJobs, SarkariJob

JobsPlane wishes all applicants the very best.