Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) is taking 171 trade apprentices in 19 trades at its Malanjkhand Copper Project in Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh. Three of the trades need only a 10th pass and the other 16 need an ITI certificate in the same trade. There is no written exam: your 10th and ITI marks decide the merit list, and you can apply online from 05.11.2026 to 24.11.2026.
An apprenticeship is paid on-the-job training for a fixed period. It is not a job, and the notice says there is no promise of employment at HCL once it ends.
Cut-off date for age, qualification and all other conditions
01.11.2026
Notification date
03.11.2026
Online application opens
05.11.2026
Last date to apply online
24.11.2026
List of shortlisted candidates published
08.12.2026
Application Fee
Category
Fee
All categories
Not specified in notification
The notice does not mention any application fee.
Vacancy Details
Sl.
Trade
Training
UR
SC
ST
OBC
EWS
Total
1
Mate Mines (Fresher)
3 Years
3
0
0
1
0
4
2
Shotfirer/Blaster (Mines)
2 Years
6
2
1
3
1
13
3
Driver-cum-Mechanic (LMV)
1 Year 3 Months
2
1
0
2
1
6
4
Mechanic Diesel
1 Year
5
1
1
2
1
10
5
Fitter
1 Year
6
3
1
5
1
16
6
Turner/Machinist
1 Year
7
2
1
4
2
16
7
Welder (Gas and Electric)
1 Year
6
3
2
4
1
16
8
Electrician
1 Year
15
5
2
10
4
36
9
Draughtsman Civil
1 Year
1
0
0
1
0
2
10
Draughtsman Mechanical
1 Year
0
1
1
0
1
3
11
Computer Assistant (COPA)
1 Year
8
3
1
6
2
20
12
Surveyor
1 Year
2
0
0
1
0
3
13
AC and Refrigeration Mechanic
1 Year
1
1
0
0
0
2
14
Mason (Building Constructor)
1 Year
0
0
1
1
0
2
15
Carpenter
1 Year
1
0
0
1
1
3
16
Plumber
1 Year
2
1
0
0
0
3
17
Horticulture Assistant
1 Year
1
0
0
1
0
2
18
Instrument Mechanic
1 Year
4
1
1
3
1
10
19
Solar Technician (Electrician)
1 Year
1
1
0
1
1
4
TOTAL
71
25
12
46
17
171
UR means unreserved (the general category) and EWS means Economically Weaker Section. The notice says HCL can raise or cut the number of seats as needed.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion
Detail
Education, all trades
Passed 10th (Matric under the 10+2 system) or equivalent.
Trades 1 to 3
Mate Mines, Shotfirer/Blaster and Driver-cum-Mechanic (LMV) need no ITI.
Trades 4 to 19
ITI passed in the same trade from a recognised institute.
01.11.2026 for age, qualification and all other conditions.
Nationality
Citizen of India.
ITI passed in 2025 or earlier
You must upload an affidavit (see Documents Required).
Higher qualification
Diploma or B.E. holders are not considered. B.A./B.Sc./B.Com holders get no extra marks.
Already an apprentice
Not eligible while in another apprenticeship contract, unless that employer accepted your resignation.
Finished NAPS apprenticeship
Not eligible for another contract in any other trade. NAPS is the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme.
One application
Apply for one trade only. If you send more than one, only the first is counted.
Medical fitness
Selected apprentices must be declared medically fit as per HCL’s requirement.
Category
Extra years on the upper age limit
SC / ST
5 years (upper limit 30)
OBC
3 years (upper limit 28)
General (UR) / EWS
None stated (upper limit stays 25)
Others, such as persons with disability or ex-servicemen
Not listed; the notice says all govt. guidelines will be observed
In short: the upper limit is 25 years for general and EWS candidates, 28 for OBC and 30 for SC and ST. A 27-year-old OBC candidate is inside the limit, but a 27-year-old general candidate is not.
Not sure whether you are within the age limit?
Enter your date of birth, the 01.11.2026 cut-off date and your category relaxation to see instantly whether you fall inside the 18 to 25 year band.
This is training, not a job. The notice says plainly that apprentices cannot claim employment at HCL after the training, so apply for the skill and the certificate.
Training lasts 1 year for most trades. Shotfirer/Blaster takes 2 years, Driver-cum-Mechanic takes 1 year 3 months and Mate Mines takes 3 years, so check the period before you pick a trade.
The training place is Malanjkhand Copper Project, Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh. Make sure you can stay in or near this area for the whole training period.
Marks matter more than any test. For ITI trades your 10th marks count 70% and ITI marks 30%, so a strong 10th result helps the most.
Diploma and B.E. holders should not apply, and neither should anyone already in an apprenticeship contract, because the notice rules both out.
Selection Process
Stage
Details
1. Application check
HCL matches your portal profile to your 10th and ITI mark sheets. A mismatch can cancel your candidature.
2. Merit list, ITI trades
For trades 4 to 19, 10th marks count 70% and ITI trade marks count 30%.
3. Merit list, no-ITI trades
10th marks count 100%. The notice names Mate Mines and Blaster (Mines) as examples.
4. CGPA and ties
CGPA is changed to a percentage by multiplying it by 9.5. If marks tie, the older candidate ranks higher.
5. Shortlist
The list of shortlisted candidates is published on 08.12.2026 on hindustancopper.com.
6. Medical fitness
Selected candidates must be declared medically fit as per HCL’s requirement.
7. Apprenticeship contract
HCL raises the contract on the portal and you accept it. RDSDE-Bhopal, the regional office named in the notice, then approves it.
In short: the notice mentions no written test and no interview. Your place on the merit list decides everything, and 10th marks carry the most weight.
Stipend and Benefits
Component
Detail
Stipend
The allowance paid to an apprentice during training. The notice says only that it is as admissible under the rules, and gives no amount.
Training period
1 year for most trades. See the Training column in the vacancy table.
Job after training
None promised. The notice says there is no scope for employment at HCL after the apprenticeship.
How to Apply
Register as a candidate on the Apprenticeship India portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in). Keep your registration number, which starts with the letter A followed by digits.
Complete your portal profile. It must match your mark sheets, be 100% Aadhaar verified, and have your bank account and eKYC updated.
On the portal, use Establishment Search, pick Hindustan Copper Limited, Malanjkhand Copper Project, and apply for your trade. Save the applied-copy print.
Open hindustancopper.com, click Career and fill the online application. Enter your portal registration number, or the form is not counted as finally submitted.
Upload your photo and signature, and the affidavit if you passed ITI in 2025 or earlier. Then print the application and the acknowledgement slip.
Note: only online applications on hindustancopper.com are accepted, and the portal registration is compulsory for everyone, whether you apply with 10th or ITI. The notice prints the portal address as www.apprenticeship.gov.in, which did not open when we checked on 03.11.2026. The official Apprenticeship India portal opens at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.
Photograph or signature rejected by the upload form?
The form asks for a JPG photo and a JPG signature, each under 50 KB. Resize both to fit before you upload.
PDF, under 1 MB. On non-judicial stamp paper, sworn before a Magistrate or Notary Public.
What the affidavit must say
You have not done apprenticeship training anywhere before and have not taken a job anywhere.
Portal profile copy
Printed profile with your registration number. Send it along with the application form.
Applied-copy print from the portal
Shows you applied to HCL Malanjkhand for your trade. Without it your candidature can be lost.
10th and ITI mark sheets
Details must match your portal profile. ITI is needed only for trades 4 to 19.
Note: the notice’s upload list names only the photo, signature and affidavit. The other rows are items it says must match your profile or go along with the application.
Do both steps. Registering only on the Apprenticeship portal, or only on hindustancopper.com, leaves your application not finally submitted.
Check that your name, parents’ names, date of birth and Aadhaar details match your mark sheets. A mismatch can get you disqualified.
Apply for one trade only. If you send several applications, only the first one is counted.
If you passed ITI in 2025 or earlier, get the stamp-paper affidavit ready before you start the form.
Keep your email and mobile number active, and keep visiting hindustancopper.com, because the notice says any change will be posted only there.
Do not apply if you hold a Diploma or B.E., or are in another apprenticeship contract. The notice says such applications will not be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for HCL Malanjkhand apprentice 2026? You can apply online from 05.11.2026, and the last date is 24.11.2026.
How many apprentice seats are there? There are 171 seats across 19 trades, and Electrician has the most with 36.
What qualification do I need? You need a 10th pass for every trade, plus an ITI in the same trade for trades 4 to 19 such as Fitter, Welder and Electrician.
What is the age limit? You must be 18 to 25 years old on 01.11.2026, with 5 extra years for SC and ST and 3 extra years for OBC.
Is there an application fee? The notice does not mention any application fee.
How do I apply? Register on the Apprenticeship India portal and apply to HCL Malanjkhand there, then fill the online form on hindustancopper.com, because both steps are compulsory.
Is there a written exam? No, the notice describes a merit list made from 10th marks (70%) and ITI marks (30%), or 10th marks alone (100%) for trades with no ITI.
How much is the stipend, and will I get a job after training? The notice says the stipend is as admissible under the rules without giving an amount, and it promises no job at HCL after training.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
