Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a Miniratna subsidiary of Coal India Limited
Last Date: 5 August 2026

Northern Coalfields Limited has opened online applications for 254 Mining Sirdar posts and 5 Surveyor (Mining) posts under its Recruitment Department in Singrauli. Registration begins on 14 July 2026 and closes on 5 August 2026. Both posts are statutory mining positions that require a valid Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) competency certificate.

NCL Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview

NCL Recruitment 2026: Quick Intro

Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) has released this recruitment to fill important statutory posts required for the safe and legal operation of its coal mines. NCL is a Miniratna company under Coal India Limited which operates large opencast coal mines in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, supplying coal to major thermal power plants. These vacancies are for essential positions that support the day-to-day mining operations and help ensure that mining activities are carried out in accordance with the prescribed safety and operational standards.

Mining Sirdar and Surveyor posts are important technical positions in coal mines and are governed by the Coal Mines Regulations, 2017. These are not general adinistrative posts, as qualified and certified personnel are required to perform these duties for the safe operation of mining activities and in this recruitment, Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) is hiring for both posts. However, the Mining Sirdar post has a significantly higher number of vacancies than the Surveyor post.

Vacancy Details

Of the 259 total posts, 254 are for Mining Sirdar and only 5 for Surveyor. The category-wise vacancy for both posts is given below:

Note: Mining Sirdar vacancies are distributed across different reservation categories, which provides eligible candidates from various categories an opportunity to compete for the available posts, on the other hand Surveyor recruitment, however, has only 5 vacancies, making it a much smaller recruitment and with such a limited number of posts, the competition for each seat is expected to be higher, even though the number of eligible candidates may also be comparatively lower.
> Another important point to note is that PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) reservation is not applicable for the Mining Sirdar and Surveyor posts, as these posts are not included in the identified list of posts eligible for PwBD reservation under the applicable Government guidelines.

Application Fee

Category wise Fee requirement is mentioned below:  

Note: Payment is accepted only through the online mode, and also fee will not be refunded or adjusted under any circumstances, even if the recruitment itself is later cancelled or restricted. Any bank charges or transaction fees charged by the payment gateway will have to be paid by the candidate separately, therefore candidates should be awarebabout this while making payment.

Age Limit

Candidates must be at least 18 years old and not older than 30 years as on 5 August 2026, the same date as the application deadline. Relaxation in the upper limit varies by category which are mentioned below:

Note: The date of birth entered in the application must exactly match the details mentioned in the Class 10 (Matriculation) or equivalent certificate, as this document will be treated as the final proof of age. The maximum age limit of 30 years for General and EWS candidates is a common eligibility condition in many technical PSU recruitments of this nature, therefore, candidates who regularly follow or aware about the mining and technical sector recruitments will find this age limit familiar.

Educational Qualification

Mining Sirdar (T&S Grade C)

For the Mining Sirdar (T&S Grade C) post, candidates can qualify through either of the 2 eligibility routes mentioned below:
The first route requires Matriculation, a valid Mining Sirdarship Certificate of Competency issued by DGMS under the Coal Mines Regulations, 2017, along with a valid Gas Testing Certificate and First Aid Certificate. or, the second route i.e., Matriculation along with a Degree or Diploma in Mining Engineering, a valid Overman Competency Certificate issued by DGMS, and valid Gas Testing and First Aid certificates.
> In simple terms, the DGMS Competency Certificate is mandatory under both eligibility routes, and candidates who have only a Mining Engineering Degree or Diploma but do not possess the required DGMS Competency Certificate are not eligible for this recruitment.
 
Surveyor (T&S Grade B), Mining

For the Surveyor (T&S Grade B), Mining post, candidates can also qualify through either of the 2 eligibility routes which are mentioned below:
The first route requires Matriculation along with a valid Surveyor's Certificate of Competency (SCC) issued under the Coal Mines Regulations, 2017. or, The second route i.e., a Degree or Diploma in Mining Engineering or Mine Surveying Engineering, along with the same valid Surveyor's Certificate of Competency (SCC).
The Surveyor's Certificate of Competency (SCC) is the mandatory qualification for this post and candidates who do not possess a valid SCC will not be eligible, even if they have the required engineering degree or diploma.
 
Note: For both Mining Sirdar and Surveyor posts, candidates may have additional or higher qualifications, but it is also important to note that qualifications obtained through distance learning or part-time mode are not accepted, and also there is no relaxation is available in the minimum educational qualification for any category.

Selection Process

Selection is based entirely on one Computer Based Test (CBT), which will be held separately for each post. There is no interview and no skill test stage. The CBT exams duration will be 90 minutes consisting total 100 marks, and is divided into 2 sections, i.e., Section A with 70 marks on discipline-related technical knowledge, and Section B with 30 marks covering General Knowledge, General Awareness, Reasoning and Verbal Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. There is no penalty for wrong answers or unattempted questions. The details about exam pattern, syllabus and category wise minimum cut-off of this CBT exam is shown below:

Complete Syllabus For the post of Mining Sirdar T&S Gr. C is provided below:


Complete Syllabus For the post of  Mine Surveyor T&S Gr. B. is provided below:

Note: Computer Based Test (CBT) gives importance to technical subjects, with Section A carrying 70 out of 100 marks, this means your knowledge of mining or mine surveying will play important role in your final score, while the general section has a smaller contribution. It is also important to note that candidates are allowed to appear for the CBT based on the details they provide in the application form, however, Document Verification is conducted only after the CBT, and only for candidates who qualify for the next stage. During this process, DGMS certificates, educational qualifications, category certificates, and other required documents will be checked carefully. Therefore, candidates should ensure that all required certificates are valid and in the prescribed format, because even if a candidate performs well in the CBT but failure to produce the required documents during verification may lead to the cancellation of the candidature.

Salary, Job Location, and Service Conditions

Salary structure of the both posts are provided below: 

Note: Both Mining Sirdar and Surveyor posts carry a 6-month probation period, and after successfully completing the probation, selected candidates will continue in their respective grade as per the company's rules. It is also important to note that, apart from the basic pay, employees are also eligible for benefits such as Dearness Allowance (DA), Attendance Bonus, Special Allowance, Transport Subsidy, and medical facilities, as per company rules and the National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA).
> Selected candidates will be posted at Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) mines and establishments located in Singrauli (MP) and Sonebhadra (UP), depending on the company's requirements. Candidates should also note that these are transferable posts, and selected employees may be transferred to any other subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL) if required during their service. 

How to Apply

1. Go to the official website at www.nclcil.in
2. Navigate to Career, then Recruitment, then the Employment Notification for Direct Recruitment of various Statutory posts, and select Apply Online
3. Register using an active email ID and mobile number that will stay valid for at least the next one year, since all correspondence happens through these
4. Fill in personal, educational, and category details carefully, as no correction is allowed once the form is submitted
5. Upload a recent passport-size colour photograph not older than three weeks, and a signature done in black ink, both in jpg or jpeg format
6. Upload scanned copies of the Matriculation certificate, the relevant DGMS competency certificate (Sirdarship, Overman, or Surveyor's Certificate of Competency as applicable), Gas Testing and First Aid certificates for the Sirdar post, and the Degree or Diploma certificate
7. Upload category certificates where applicable, such as caste certificate for OBC-NCL, SC, or ST, or Income and Asset certificate for EWS
8. Pay the application fee of Rs 1,180 online. (fee not required for SC, ST, Ex-Serviceman, or departmental candidates)
9. Review every entered detail thoroughly before final submission 
10. Download and save a copy of the submitted application for future reference

Note: A candidate can apply for only one post under this notification, not both.

Required Documents and Important Instructions

Documents to keep ready before applying include:
= the Matriculation or Secondary certificate,
= the applicable DGMS competency certificate,
= Gas Testing and First Aid certificates for Sirdar applicants,
= the Degree or Diploma certificate,
= caste certificate for OBC-NCL, SC, or ST candidates,
= EWS Income and Asset certificate where relevant, and
= a J&K domicile certificate if applicable.
 
A few important instructions for the candidates:
> If more than one application is submitted, only the latest successfully submitted application will be considered for this recruitment.
> Make sure all the required documents are uploaded clearly and in the prescribed format, as incomplete or unclear document uploads may lead to the rejection of the application.
> Candidates should also remember that issuing an admit card does not confirm eligibility, instead final eligibility will be verified only after the Computer Based Test (CBT) during the document verification process.
> Be alert & stay away from touts, agents, or anyone claiming to offer a Coal India job in exchange for money or influence, because NCL has not authorised any such person, and selection will be made only on the basis of merit and the prescribed recruitment process.

The following points will help you understand this recruitment more clearly:

More Than One Coal India Option Is Available

This is not the only Coal India recruitment for Mining Sirdar posts this year. Other Coal India Limited (CIL) subsidiaries such as, SECL, MCL, and WCL have also released similar recruitment notifications during 2026, providing more opportunities for eligible candidates. Since the eligibility requirements are almost the same across many Coal India subsidiaries, therefore, eligible certificate holder candidates can apply for more than one recruitment if they satisfy the required conditions and application deadlines.

Surveyor Vacancies Have a Different Level of Competition

With only 5 Surveyor vacancies, this is one of the smallest Surveyor recruitments in the coal sector this year. and since the Surveyor's Certificate of Competency (SCC) itself is a specialised qualification and less commonly held certificate compared to the Sirdarship, therefore, most applicants competing for these seats will likely already know each other from their surveying training batches, as a result, the competition is likely to be among a small group of specialised and equally qualified candidates.

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many vacancies are available in NCL Recruitment 2026?

There are 259 total vacancies, made up of 254 Mining Sirdar posts and 5 Surveyor (Mining) posts.

What is the last date to apply for these posts?

The online application window closes on 5 August 2026 at 11:59 PM, which is also the crucial date for eligibility.

Who is eligible to apply for the Mining Sirdar post?

Matriculates holding a valid DGMS Mining Sirdarship or Overman Competency Certificate, along with Gas Testing and First Aid certificates, can apply. A mining degree or diploma route is also accepted, as long as the required DGMS certificate is held.

What is the age limit for these posts?

Candidates must be between 18 and 30 years as on 5 August 2026. SC and ST candidates get 5 years relaxation, OBC-NCL candidates get 3 years, and Ex-Servicemen get relaxation equal to their service period plus 3 years.

What qualification is required for the Surveyor post?

A valid Surveyor's Certificate of Competency under the Coal Mines Regulation 2017 is required, either directly with Matriculation or alongside a Degree or Diploma in Mining or Mine Surveying Engineering.

What does the selection process involve?

Selection is based solely on a 100-mark Computer Based Test with no interview. The test has a 70-mark technical section and a 30-mark general section, with no negative marking.

What is the salary for Mining Sirdar and Surveyor at NCL?

Mining Sirdar gets a basic pay of Rs 47,330.25 per month, and Surveyor gets Rs 51,103.12 per month, both plus DA and other allowances as per NCWA-XI.

What is the application fee for this recruitment?

General, EWS, and OBC-NCL candidates pay Rs 1,180 including GST. SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, and departmental candidates are exempt from the fee.

How can candidates apply online for NCL Recruitment 2026?

Candidates need to visit www.nclcil.in, go to Career, then Recruitment, then the relevant Employment Notification, and complete the Apply Online process before the deadline.

What is the official website for this NCL recruitment?

The official website is www.nclcil.in, where the notification, application link, and all future updates will be posted.

Is there an interview for these posts?

No. NCL has confirmed selection is entirely CBT-based, with no interview or skill test stage for either post.

Is PwBD reservation applicable for Mining Sirdar and Surveyor posts?

No. As per Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment guidelines dated 27 September 2024, these posts are not on the identified list for PwBD reservation.

Conclusion

 We hope the information shared above has helped you understand this recruitment better. Before starting your application, make sure you meet all the required eligibility conditions, especially the DGMS competency certificate applicable to the post you are applying for, because for both Mining Sirdar and Surveyor posts, the required DGMS certificate is mandatory, and there is no relaxation in the minimum educational or technical qualification. Therefore, candidates should carefully verify their eligibility before applying.

For candidates who already have the required eligibility and certificates, the Computer Based Test (CBT) mainly focuses on technical knowledge, and since 70 out of 100 marks are from the discipline-specific section, a strong understanding of the relevant mining subject can significantly improve the chances of selection.

All updates regarding Admit card dates, the CBT schedule, and the result will all be announced only through www.nclcil.in under the Career and Recruitment tab. (you can also bookmark this page and follow our social media handles such as telegram and WhatsApp for quick updates)

This article is based on the official notification and simplified for easy understanding. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official website.