If you cleared GATE 2025, mark this date: NLC India Limited has opened 143 Graduate Executive Trainee posts for 2026 across four engineering branches. Applications run from 13 November to 14 December 2026.
NLC India, a Navratna enterprise under the Ministry of Coal, runs lignite mines, thermal power stations and renewable energy projects. For a young engineer, a trainee post here is a route into large power and mining operations, with postings in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, among other locations. The detailed notification, issued on 4 November 2026 under Advertisement Number 10/2026, settles the questions candidates have been asking since the short notice appeared: how many posts, in which branches, on what pay, and on what basis.
143 posts, four branches
The vacancies are spread across Mechanical, Electrical, Civil and Mining engineering:
- Mechanical (ME): 66 posts
- Electrical (EE): 44 posts
- Civil (CE): 23 posts
- Mining (MN): 10 posts
Candidates apply for one Area only, and shortlisting happens within that Area: Area 1, thermal power stations, 80 posts; Area 2, mines and allied services, 37 posts; Area 3, renewable energy and projects, 18 posts; Area 4, services and support, 8 posts. The Area cannot be changed after submission.
Who can apply
Only GATE 2025 scores are valid, and only in the paper code that matches your discipline. A score from any other year will not count. You must also have completed your degree by 1 November 2026, which is also the cut-off date for age.
Mechanical candidates need Mechanical or Mechanical and Production Engineering; Electrical candidates need Electrical, Electrical and Electronics, or Power Engineering; Civil candidates need Civil or Civil and Structural Engineering; Mining candidates need Mining Engineering. Degrees described as equivalent will not be considered.
On marks, the bar is 60 percent for unreserved, EWS and OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates, and 50 percent for SC and ST candidates, with no rounding off.
Age as on 1 November 2026 is capped at 30 years for unreserved and EWS candidates, 33 for OBC (non-creamy layer) and 35 for SC and ST candidates, with extra relaxation for persons with disabilities up to 58 years overall.
Pay, training and the bond
Trainees join in the E-2 grade, Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,60,000 a month plus dearness allowance and a 35 percent common allowance, with an approximate cost to company of Rs 14.50 lakh a year. After one year, they move to the E-3 grade, Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,80,000.
Other benefits include performance related pay, medical cover and group insurance. Note the bond: Rs 3,00,000, with at least three years of service after training and no transfer request in the first three years from joining.
How selection works
There is no separate written test. Final merit is GATE 2025 score (80 marks) plus personal interview (20 marks), with Area-wise shortlisting, document verification and a medical examination.
Document verification is strict: without originals, valid category certificates, or a no objection certificate where required, a candidate will not be allowed to sit for the interview. OBC and EWS certificates must have been obtained on or after 1 April 2026.
Important dates and fee
- Online registration opens: 13 November 2026, 10 am
- Online registration closes: 14 December 2026, 5 pm
- Last date for online fee payment: 14 December 2026, 11.45 pm
- Last date to submit for those already registered and paid: 16 December 2026, 5 pm
- Age and qualification cut-off: 1 November 2026
The fee is Rs 854 for unreserved, EWS and OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates, and Rs 354 only for SC, ST, persons with disabilities and ex-servicemen. Payment is online via SBI E-Collect and is non-refundable.
How to apply without a costly mistake
Apply only via the careers section of nlcindia.in once the link goes live on 13 November. Register with your GATE 2025 registration number, and keep your mobile number and email active, as all messages come by SMS and email.
Keep documents ready: a recent photograph and signature in JPEG format, plus certificates and mark sheets in one chronological PDF up to 2.5 MB. A second PDF overwrites the first, and illegible documents can lead to rejection. Do not wait for the last day.
FAQs
How many posts are there in NLC India GET Recruitment 2026?
There are 143 Graduate Executive Trainee posts: 66 in Mechanical, 44 in Electrical, 23 in Civil and 10 in Mining.
Is GATE 2026 valid for this recruitment?
No. Only GATE 2025 scores in the matching discipline paper are valid.
When does the application window open and close?
Applications open on 13 November 2026 at 10 am and close on 14 December 2026 at 5 pm.
What is the salary during training?
Trainees are paid in the E-2 grade, Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,60,000, with an approximate cost to company of about Rs 14.50 lakh a year. After training, they move to the E-3 grade.
Is there a written exam?
No. Selection is based on GATE 2025 score (80 marks) and personal interview (20 marks), followed by document verification and a medical examination.
For GATE 2025 qualifiers in these branches, this is a clean PSU opportunity: no fresh written test and a defined training path. Check the official notification on nlcindia.in, fix your Area, and get documents ready before 13 November.
