HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 171 Posts

Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) has released the official notification for the engagement of 171 Trade Apprentices at its Malanjkhand Copper Project in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh. The recruitment is being conducted under Notification Number HCL/MCP/HR/Trade App./01/2026, dated 3 November 2026, and the online application window is open from 5 November to 24 November 2026. The engagement covers 19 technical and mining trades, and selection is made purely on academic merit — there is no written examination and no interview announced for this drive.

This is a training engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and it is not a permanent appointment. Candidates who have passed Class 10, with or without an ITI certificate depending on the trade, can apply. The largest number of seats is in the Electrician trade with 36 posts, followed by Computer Assistant (COPA) with 20 posts. Candidates should read the trade-wise eligibility carefully before applying, because three trades need only a Class 10 pass while the other sixteen need an ITI certificate in the relevant trade — and because holders of a Diploma, B.E. or B.Tech are not eligible for this recruitment at all.

A few details in this post need to be stated with care. The total of 171 seats, the trade-wise break-up, the category-wise break-up, the dates, the age limit and the selection method are all verified from the official notification as reported in the sources checked. But the application fee is not specified in the notification, and the stipend amount is not stated — the notification says only that the stipend will be paid as per the applicable rules. This post does not publish any fee or stipend figure, because none has been verified. Candidates should confirm both from the official notification on the Hindustan Copper website before applying.

HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview

HCL Apprentice Vacancy Details 2026

HCL has announced 171 Trade Apprentice seats across 19 trades at the Malanjkhand Copper Project. The Electrician trade has the highest number of seats with 36, followed by Computer Assistant (COPA) with 20. The trade-wise distribution is as follows:

The 171 seats are distributed among the reservation categories as follows:

Candidates should apply for only one trade. HCL follows a one-applicant, one-application policy: if a candidate submits more than one application, only the first submitted application will be considered. Candidates should therefore choose the single trade that best matches their qualification before submitting the form.

HCL Apprentice Important Dates 2026

The last date to submit the online application is 24 November 2026. Candidates must complete both stages of the application — registration on the Apprenticeship portal and the application on the HCL website — within this window. The list of shortlisted candidates is scheduled to be published on 8 December 2026 on the official HCL website. Shortlisted candidates will then have to complete document verification and medical fitness formalities before joining the apprenticeship training.

HCL Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026

The eligibility conditions differ by trade. The cut-off date for determining both age and qualification is 1 November 2026. Candidates must meet the conditions below as on that date.

Educational qualification: Every applicant must have passed Class 10 from a recognised board. For most technical trades, an ITI certificate in the concerned trade is also compulsory. However, three trades do not need an ITI certificate at all:

Important restriction: Candidates holding higher professional qualifications such as a Diploma, B.E. or B.Tech are not eligible for this recruitment. This is an apprentice engagement meant for Class 10 and ITI holders, and candidates with higher qualifications should not apply.

Affidavit rule: 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. The affidavit must be uploaded in PDF format. Candidates should read the exact affidavit format in the official notification before applying.

HCL Apprentice Age Limit 2026

Candidates must be between 18 and 25 years of age as on 1 November 2026. The upper age limit is relaxed for reserved categories as per the recruitment rules:

Candidates should calculate their age carefully as on 1 November 2026 before applying, because an application from a candidate who does not meet the age limit will be rejected. The same cut-off date applies to the educational qualification — the Class 10 and ITI qualifications must have been obtained by 1 November 2026.

HCL Apprentice Application Fee 2026

The official HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification does not specify any application fee. This post does not state any fee amount, because no fee figure has been verified. Candidates should follow the instructions given on the online application portal, and should not pay any fee to any person or website other than the official application portal. If the portal asks for a fee during the application, candidates should check the amount against the official notification before paying.

HCL Apprentice Stipend 2026

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, and no stipend figure is stated in this post. Candidates should check the official notification for the stipend rules before applying, and should not rely on any stipend figure seen on unofficial pages.

HCL Apprentice Selection Process 2026

Hindustan Copper Limited will select candidates for Trade Apprentice positions on the basis of academic merit. No separate written examination or interview has been announced for this recruitment. The merit is calculated as follows:

For ITI-based trades, the shortlisting uses the candidate’s Class 10 marks with 70% weight and the relevant ITI marks with 30% weight. For the three trades that do not need an ITI certificate — Mate Mines (Fresher), Shotfirer/Blaster (Mines) and Driver-cum-Mechanic (LMV) — selection is based entirely on Class 10 marks. The merit list of shortlisted candidates is scheduled to be published on 8 December 2026 on the official HCL website. Selected applicants must complete document verification and medical fitness formalities before joining the training.

Because selection depends entirely on marks, candidates should make sure that the marks entered in the application match their certificates exactly. Any mismatch found during document verification can lead to rejection, even after shortlisting.

HCL Apprentice Training Duration 2026

The training period under HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 depends on the trade selected by the candidate. Most trades have a one-year training period, while certain mining and driving-related trades have longer durations:

The training is conducted at the Malanjkhand Copper Project in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh. The apprenticeship is a training engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Completion of apprenticeship training does not provide any right to employment with HCL, and candidates should understand this clearly before applying: the engagement is for practical training and improving employability, not a promise of a regular job with the company.

How to Apply Online for HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates must complete a mandatory two-step process: first register on the Government of India Apprenticeship Portal, and then submit a separate application through the HCL website. Both stages are compulsory, and the application is complete only when both are done. Follow these steps:

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.

Candidates should apply well before the last date. The portals often slow down in the final hours, and an incomplete application cannot be corrected after the closing date. Candidates should also make sure that the mobile number and email address given in the application are active, because all further communication about the shortlist will be sent to those contacts.

Documents Required for HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026

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

• Class 10 mark sheet and certificate
• Relevant ITI certificate and mark sheets, if applicable
• Aadhaar Card
• Apprenticeship registration number
• Apprenticeship candidate profile copy
• Recent passport-size photograph (JPG, less than 50 KB)
• Signature in English using black ink (JPG, less than 50 KB)
• Category certificate, if applicable
• Bank account and eKYC details
• Required affidavit for candidates who passed ITI in 2025 or earlier (PDF, less than 1 MB)

The photograph and signature must be uploaded in JPG format, while the affidavit, wherever required, must be uploaded in PDF format. Candidates should follow the file size requirements specified in the official notification.

HCL Malanjkhand Copper Project – About the Organisation

Hindustan Copper Limited is a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India. Its Malanjkhand Copper Project, located in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh, is one of the largest copper mining operations in the country. The project engages trade apprentices every year for training in technical and mining trades at its mine and plant locations.

An apprenticeship at the Malanjkhand Copper Project gives candidates hands-on training in mining and industrial trades inside a working copper mine. The engagement is for a fixed training period under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and it does not carry any guarantee of permanent employment with the company. Candidates should understand this clearly before applying: the apprenticeship is a training opportunity, and any future employment will depend on separate recruitment by the company.

Frequently Asked Questions – HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026

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.

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

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 (Fresher), Shotfirer/Blaster (Mines) and Driver-cum-Mechanic (LMV), which need Class 10 only.

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

Is there a 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 — 70% Class 10 and 30% ITI for ITI-based trades, and 100% Class 10 for the three non-ITI trades.

When will the HCL Apprentice Merit List 2026 be released?
The shortlisted candidates list is scheduled to be published on 8 December 2026 on the official HCL website.

Can Diploma or B.E./B.Tech holders apply for HCL Apprentice 2026?
No. Candidates holding higher professional qualifications such as Diploma, B.E. or B.Tech are not eligible for this recruitment.

How do I apply for HCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Register first on the Apprenticeship portal at apprenticeship.gov.in, then apply online on the HCL website at hindustancopper.com. Both steps are mandatory, and candidates must apply for only one trade.

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