New Delhi: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Mr. N. Franklin Jayakumar, currently serving as Director (Technical) at South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), for appointment as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL). The recommendation was made during the PESB meeting held on July 8, 2026, marking a significant leadership development for Coal India Limited’s Singrauli-based subsidiary.
PESB Selects N. Franklin Jayakumar for NCL’s Top Post
The Public Enterprises Selection Board announced the outcome of the selection process for the post of CMD of Northern Coalfields Limited after interviewing eligible candidates on July 8.
Following the selection process, Mr. N. Franklin Jayakumar emerged as the recommended candidate to lead NCL, one of the largest coal-producing subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL).
His appointment is expected to strengthen the company’s operational leadership, particularly at a time when India’s coal sector continues to play a vital role in ensuring energy security.
Read also: Leadership Updates: D. Sunil Kumar Named Additional Finance Director of Northern Coalfields Limited
He Will Succeed B. Sairam
Jayakumar is set to succeed Mr. B. Sairam, who took charge as CMD of Northern Coalfields Limited in March 2024.
In December 2025, B. Sairam was entrusted with the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director of Coal India Limited, resulting in a dual leadership responsibility. Since then, the CMD position at NCL has effectively remained under an interim arrangement, making the appointment of a full-time CMD an important step for the company.
Over Three Decades of Mining Experience
Mr. N. Franklin Jayakumar brings more than 30 years of experience in coal and lignite mining across India and overseas.
He joined South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) as Director (Technical) and Director (Project & Planning) in February 2024 and assumed charge as Director (Technical Operations) on January 1, 2025.
Prior to joining SECL, he served at NLC India Limited as:
- Executive Director (Coal Coordination)
- Project Head of the Talabira II & III Opencast Coal Project
Earlier in his career, he spent 18 years (1993–2011) with Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), where he held several key positions in highly mechanized underground and opencast coal mines.
He also headed operations at a 5-million-tonne-per-annum (5 MTPA) coal mine in Indonesia for five years (2011–2016), gaining valuable international mining experience.
Strong Academic and Professional Credentials
Mr. Jayakumar graduated in Mining Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, Chennai, in 1992.
His educational qualifications also include:
- Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering and Management from the Central University of Hyderabad
- MBA in Human Resource Management from Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu
He also holds:
- First Class Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency issued by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS)
- Fellowship of the Institution of Engineers (India)
Apart from his corporate responsibilities, he has served on the Board of the Skill Council for Mining Sector and contributed to the Ministry of Coal’s Crisis Management Plan.
NCL CMD Post Vacant Since December 2025
The top post at Northern Coalfields Limited has remained vacant since December 16, 2025, when then CMD B. Sairam moved to Coal India Limited as its Chairman-cum-Managing Director.
To ensure continuity, the Ministry of Coal had approved an interim arrangement under which Sairam continued to hold additional charge of NCL for six months.
With PESB now recommending Jayakumar, the company is expected to get dedicated leadership after the necessary government approvals.
Eleven Senior Executives Appeared for the PESB Interview
A total of 11 senior executives from leading public sector organizations appeared before the Public Enterprises Selection Board for the prestigious post of CMD, Northern Coalfields Limited.
The candidates included senior officials from Coal India Limited, Central Coalfields Limited, Eastern Coalfields Limited, South Eastern Coalfields Limited, CMPDI, NALCO, and the Railways.
The shortlisted candidates were:
- Om Prakash Mishra – Executive Director (Community Development), Coal India Limited
- Pawan Kumar Mishra – Director (Finance), Central Coalfields Limited
- MD Anzar Alam – Director (Finance), Eastern Coalfields Limited
- Darla Sunil Kumar – Director (Finance), South Eastern Coalfields Limited
- Chandra Shekhar Tiwari – Director (Technical & Operations), Central Coalfields Limited
- Ramesh Chandra Mohapatra – Director (Technical – Project & Planning), SECL
- Ashutosh Dwivedi – Director (Technical), Coal India Limited
- Rajeev Kumar Sinha – Director (Technical/Engineering Services), CMPDI
- Pankaj Kumar Sharma – Director (Production), National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)
- N. Franklin Jayakumar – Director (Technical), South Eastern Coalfields Limited (Recommended)
- Anup Kumar Satpathy – Chief Safety Officer Principal, South East Central Railway
Leadership Expected to Strengthen NCL’s Operations
Industry observers believe that Jayakumar’s extensive experience in underground mining, opencast operations, project execution, mine planning, and international coal production will help Northern Coalfields Limited enhance productivity, improve operational efficiency, and support Coal India Limited’s long-term production targets.
His appointment comes at a crucial time when India is focusing on increasing domestic coal production to meet rising energy demand while ensuring sustainable mining practices.
About Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL)
Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) is a Miniratna company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Coal India Limited under the Ministry of Coal. Headquartered in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, NCL operates some of India’s largest opencast coal mines across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The company is a major supplier of thermal coal to power plants and plays a critical role in meeting the country’s electricity generation and energy security needs.
Read also: Northern Coalfields Signs ₹67.57 Lakh MoU for Fish Hatchery in Singrauli to Boost Rural Livelihoods
