SECL Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 1,055 Mining Sirdar, Surveyor & Foreman Posts

If you are looking to build a rock-solid career in the core energy sector of India, your golden opportunity has just arrived. South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), one of the most profitable subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL), has officially rolled out a massive recruitment notification for the posts of Mining Sirdar, Deputy Surveyor, and Assistant Foreman (Electrical) for the year 2026.

Whether you hold a dedicated Mining Diploma, an Electrical Engineering Diploma, or valid statutory certificates from DGMS, this recruitment drive brings a substantial 1,055 vacancies across SECL's extensive network of underground and opencast mines. The application window is highly specific—officially opening on April 15, 2026, and officially closing on May 14, 2026.

Let us break down absolutely everything you need to know about this recruitment. We will cover the highly specialized job profiles, the exact salary structures in INR as per the National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA), the strict statutory certification requirements, and a deep dive into the selection process.

About the Recruiter: South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) & Coal India

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) needs no introduction in the industrial sector. It is a "Miniratna" Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) operating directly under the Ministry of Coal, Government of India. As the largest coal-producing subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), SECL operates heavily across the coal-rich states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Serving in SECL is not just a standard PSU job; it is the backbone of India's energy security. The coal mined by SECL directly powers the nation's thermal power plants, steel mills, and heavy industries.

If selected for these Supervisory (T&S Grade C) posts, you will be appointed as a permanent PSU employee. You will benefit from an incredibly secure career, high-paying wage board revisions, comprehensive medical facilities for your entire family, and the pride of being a frontline leader in India's critical mining operations.

Posts and Breakdown: Qualification, Age, Location & Salary Overview

Before we get into the granular details of the specific roles, here is a quick bird's-eye view of what SECL is demanding from its applicants. Note: Statutory certificates from the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) are the most crucial part of this recruitment.

Basic Educational Qualifications: You need to possess a Matriculation (10th) certificate along with specific statutory certificates (like Mining Sirdar or Surveyor Certificate of Competency) issued by DGMS. Alternatively, candidates with a 3-year Diploma in Mining, Mine Surveying, or Electrical Engineering along with relevant supervisory certificates are highly preferred.

Valid Gas Testing & First Aid: For mining-specific roles, holding a valid Gas Testing Certificate and a valid First Aid Certificate is absolutely mandatory at the time of application.

Age Limit Criteria: Candidates need to be between 18 to 30 years of age as of the crucial cut-off date mentioned in the notification (usually the closing date of applications). (Standard government age relaxations apply: 3 years for OBC-NCL, and 5 years for SC/ST candidates. Departmental candidates have no upper age limit).

Job Location: Candidates selected for these posts will be deployed across the various underground and opencast mines of SECL. These are primarily located in the coal-rich districts of Chhattisgarh (such as Korba, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Koriya) and Madhya Pradesh (such as Shahdol, Anuppur, Umaria).

Salary Summary Overview: The financial package is strictly governed by the National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA-XI). All three posts fall under the Technical & Supervisory (T&S) Grade 'C'. The starting basic pay is a highly attractive INR 31,852.56 per month. With additional allowances like Dearness Allowance (DA), Underground Allowance (if posted in UG mines), Attendance Bonus, and specialized mining allowances, your starting in-hand salary comfortably sits between INR 45,000 to INR 55,000+ per month.

Detailed Overview of Each Post

Wondering what exactly you will be doing deep underground or at a massive open-cast quarry? Here is the detailed breakdown of the three distinct technical categories you can apply for:

Mining Sirdar (T&S Grade C)

Who can apply: * Option A: 10th pass + Valid Mining Sirdar Certificate of Competency issued by DGMS + Valid Gas Testing Certificate + Valid First Aid Certificate.

• Option B: 3-year Diploma in Mining Engineering + Valid Overman’s Certificate of Competency issued by DGMS + Valid Gas Testing & First Aid Certificates.

The Job Role: The Mining Sirdar is the frontline supervisor and the absolute safety anchor of a coal mine. You will be actively working inside underground (UG) or opencast (OC) mines. Your primary duty is to inspect the roof and sides of the mine for stability, test for hazardous gases (like methane and carbon monoxide), ensure proper ventilation, and strictly supervise the miners to prevent accidents. It is a high-responsibility field job requiring immense alertness.

Deputy Surveyor (T&S Grade C)

Who can apply: * Option A: 10th pass + Valid Surveyor Certificate of Competency issued by DGMS.

• Option B: 3-year Diploma in Mining Engineering or Mine Surveying + Valid Surveyor Certificate of Competency issued by DGMS.

The Job Role: Surveyors are the geographical map-makers of the mining world. You will be responsible for conducting precise land and underground surveys using advanced instruments like Total Stations and Theodolites. You will calculate the volume of coal excavated, map out the direction of new mining tunnels, ensure boundary limits are not breached, and update statutory mine plans required by the government.

Assistant Foreman - Electrical (T&S Grade C)

Who can apply: 10th pass + 3-year Diploma in Electrical Engineering + Valid Electrical Supervisory Certificate of Competency issued by the State Licensing Board, which must be valid for working in coal mines.

The Job Role: Mines rely heavily on massive, high-voltage electrical machinery—from massive draglines and coal-cutting machines to deep underground ventilation fans and water pumps. As an Assistant Foreman, you will supervise the installation, maintenance, and safe operation of all heavy electrical equipment. You ensure that no spark or electrical fault causes a fire or explosion in highly volatile coal dust environments.

Important Dates

Do not wait for the last day to submit your application. PSU recruitment portals tend to get incredibly slow during the final 48 hours due to massive traffic. Keep these dates firmly in mind:

How to Apply

Ready to take the leap? The application process is entirely online. Applying is straightforward if you have your DGMS certificates scanned, compressed, and ready to go. Follow these exact steps:

1. Head to the Official Portal: Open up your browser and go to the official SECL website at https://secl-cil.in/. Navigate to the "Careers" or "Human Resource" tab.

2. Register or Login: Click on the active link for "Employment Notification for Mining Sirdar/Dy Surveyor/Asst Foreman 2026". Register using your mobile number and email ID.

3. Fill in the Details: Enter your personal details, exact educational marks, and crucially, your DGMS/Electrical Supervisory Certificate numbers, dates of issue, and validity periods.

4. Upload Documents: You will need scanned copies of your 10th mark sheet, Diploma, DGMS certificates, Gas Testing, First Aid certificates, Caste certificate (if applicable), signature, and a recent passport-size photo. Crucial Note: If your DGMS certificates are not uploaded clearly, your application will be immediately rejected during scrutiny.

5. Pay the Fee: Proceed to the payment gateway. Unreserved (UR), OBC, and EWS candidates must pay a non-refundable fee of INR 1000/- plus applicable GST (Total approx. INR 1180/-). SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, and Departmental candidates are entirely exempted from paying the fee.

6. Submit & Print: Submit the form and immediately download the PDF application copy. Save it safely, as you will be required to submit a hard copy along with self-attested documents if you are shortlisted for Document Verification.

Selection Process

SECL follows a straightforward, merit-based selection process with no interviews for these supervisory posts:

Phase 1: Written Test (OMR Based / CBT) Candidates whose online applications are successfully scrutinized will be called for a Written Examination.

• Format: The exam usually consists of 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).

• Syllabus: The paper is heavily technical. It will cover statutory mining laws (Mines Act 1952, Coal Mines Regulations 2017), safety protocols, technical domain knowledge (Mining/Surveying/Electrical), and a small section on general awareness.

• Qualifying Marks: UR/EWS candidates must score a minimum of 50 marks, while SC/ST/OBC candidates must score a minimum of 40 marks to qualify.

• No Negative Marking: Historically, SECL does not penalize for wrong answers in this specific exam, meaning you should attempt all 100 questions.

Phase 2: Document Verification (DV) & Initial Medical Examination (IME) Candidates will be shortlisted for DV based strictly on their merit in the written test. You must present the original DGMS certificates, Gas Testing, and First Aid certificates. If any certificate is found invalid or expired on the cut-off date, the candidate is instantly disqualified.

Finally, you must clear the Initial Medical Examination (IME) as per the stringent medical standards laid down by Coal India Limited for mining operations (including strict checks for color blindness, vision, and lung health).

Last Exam's Details and Previous Trends

Understanding how SECL and Coal India conduct their technical recruitment gives you a strategic advantage:

• 2023 (The Mega Drive): SECL released an identical notification for 405 Mining Sirdars and Dy. Surveyors. The exam was conducted via an OMR sheet. The cut-off for the General category was exceptionally high (often crossing 85+ out of 100) because the paper had no negative marking and focused heavily on direct CMR-2017 (Coal Mines Regulations) questions.

• 2024-2025 (Internal Promotions & Minor Fillings): During this period, SECL focused on department internal promotions to fill upper supervisory roles, leading to a build-up of fresh T&S Grade C vacancies at the base level.

• 2026 (The Current Drive): With a massive 1,055 vacancies, this is one of the largest drives in recent years. Because statutory certificates are mandatory, the applicant pool is restricted to serious, qualified candidates only. Success depends entirely on mastering the technical syllabus and DGMS regulations.

Important Links

Here are all the direct, official links you need for this recruitment. You can use the links below to navigate to SECL's career portal and download the latest PDF directly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. I have a B.Tech in Mining Engineering. Can I apply for the Mining Sirdar post? Yes, B.Tech/B.E. Mining Engineering degree holders can apply, provided they possess a valid Overman's Certificate of Competency or higher (like Second Class/First Class Mine Manager's Certificate) issued by DGMS, along with valid Gas Testing and First Aid certificates.

2. Are female candidates allowed to apply for these mining posts? As per recent amendments to the Mines Act, female candidates are permitted to work in opencast mines between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and in specific technical roles. However, you must carefully read the official 2026 notification to see if SECL has earmarked specific vacancies for women in this drive, as many of these roles require 24/7 underground deployment.

3. My Gas Testing/First Aid certificate has expired. Can I still apply? No. Your Gas Testing and First Aid certificates must be absolutely valid on the crucial date/closing date of the online application (May 14, 2026). If you apply with an expired certificate, your application will be rejected during document scrutiny.

4. Will there be an interview for these posts? No. As per the Ministry of Coal and CIL guidelines for T&S Grade C posts, there is no personal interview. Selection is based 100% on the merit generated from the Written Test scores.

5. Is there any negative marking in the SECL written exam? Historically, SECL written exams for Mining Sirdar and Deputy Surveyor do NOT have negative marking. However, always verify this specific rule on the front page of your exam booklet or CBT instruction screen on exam day.

6. I am currently working in another Coal India subsidiary (like BCCL or CCL). Can I apply? Yes, departmental candidates of Coal India and its subsidiary companies can apply. There is no upper age limit for them, and they are exempted from the application fee. However, they must apply through the proper channel and produce an NOC (No Objection Certificate).

7. Can I apply for both Mining Sirdar and Deputy Surveyor if I have the certificates? Usually, candidates are advised to apply for only ONE post because the written examinations for all these technical posts are often conducted on the exact same day and at the same time.

8. What is the probation period after joining? Candidates selected for these T&S Grade C posts will generally be placed on a probation period of 6 months. Upon satisfactory completion, they will be confirmed in their respective roles.

9. Do I get extra allowances if posted in an underground mine? Yes. Working inside an underground mine is challenging. SECL employees posted in underground mines receive an "Underground Allowance" which is calculated as a specific percentage of their basic pay, significantly increasing their gross salary compared to office or opencast workers.

10. What documents are mandatory to carry during the Written Exam? You must carry a printed hard copy of your Admit Card, a valid original Photo ID proof (like Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, or Voter ID), and two recent passport-size photographs. Electronic gadgets are strictly banned.