Leadership Appointment · PSU Appointments
Rekha Pandey Takes Charge as Director – HR at Mahanadi Coalfields, Coal India
With over 32 years of experience in human resource management, industrial relations and employee welfare, Rekha Pandey assumes a key leadership role at Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Limited.
The appointment
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, has appointed Rekha Pandey as Director – Human Resources (HR), effective October 23, 2026. Bringing over 32 years of extensive experience in human resource management, personnel administration, employee welfare and industrial relations, Pandey assumed charge at MCL's corporate headquarters in Sambalpur, Odisha.
Before taking on this senior HR leadership position, Pandey served as General Manager – HR/CSR at Coal India Limited's corporate headquarters in Kolkata. Her appointment represents an important leadership transition within India's public sector coal industry, bringing decades of institutional experience to one of Coal India's major coal-producing subsidiaries.
As Director – HR at Mahanadi Coalfields, Pandey will oversee the organisation's human resource management functions, with responsibilities encompassing personnel policies, industrial relations, employee welfare, workforce administration and organisational development.
The appointment adds to the latest HR appointments and PSU leadership changes in October 2026, reflecting the importance of experienced human resource professionals in managing workforce priorities across India's public sector enterprises.
Rekha Pandey's Appointment Follows PESB Selection and Government Approval
Pandey's appointment follows a formal selection process initiated by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), which recommended her candidature for the position of Director (Personnel) at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited on July 14, 2026.
The selection process involved interviews with 11 senior professionals drawn from Coal India Limited, its subsidiaries, other Central Public Sector Enterprises and government departments.
Pandey, who was then serving as General Manager – HR/CSR at Coal India Limited, emerged as the recommended candidate for the position. The appointment subsequently received approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), paving the way for her assumption of charge on October 23, 2026.
The role is also referred to as Director (Personnel), the designation used in the PESB selection process, while subsequent appointment reports identify Pandey as Director (Human Resources).
The appointment places her in a board-level leadership position at MCL, with responsibility for coordinating and implementing personnel and industrial relations policies in line with the company's operational requirements.
Over Three Decades of Experience in HR, Employee Welfare and Industrial Relations
Rekha Pandey brings more than three decades of professional experience in the Indian coal sector, with expertise spanning human resource administration, industrial relations, employee welfare and workforce management.
Before joining Mahanadi Coalfields, she was associated with Coal India Limited's corporate office in Kolkata, where she handled responsibilities across HR and corporate social responsibility.
Her experience at Coal India provided exposure to personnel management and workforce-related functions within the country's largest coal-producing public sector organisation.
Earlier, Pandey held several responsibilities at Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), another Coal India subsidiary. Among her previous positions was General Manager (Welfare), where her work involved employee welfare, personnel-related functions and industrial relations.
She spent a substantial part of her professional career at CCL, serving in senior personnel management roles between June 1994 and September 2024 before subsequently moving into a corporate-level general management role.
Her professional background encompasses both operational and corporate HR functions, providing experience in workforce management across different levels of the coal industry.
Educational Qualifications and Professional Associations
Pandey holds a postgraduate qualification in Personnel Management from the Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, an institution known for management education with a focus on human resources and industrial relations.
She also earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Economics from Maharani College, Jaipur.
Beyond her corporate assignments, Pandey has maintained associations with professional organisations working in the field of human resource management and training.
These include the National Institute of Personnel Management (NIPM) and the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD). She is also an office-bearer of the Forum of Women in Public Sector, reflecting her involvement in professional networks supporting women's participation and leadership within public sector enterprises.
Her academic background, professional associations and extensive experience across Coal India entities contribute to her profile as a senior HR and industrial relations leader in the public sector.
Key HR and Workforce Priorities at Mahanadi Coalfields
As Director – Human Resources, Pandey assumes responsibility for an important function within MCL's corporate leadership structure.
The coal mining industry presents complex workforce management requirements, particularly in areas such as employee safety, industrial relations, labour welfare, workforce deployment, training, organisational development and regulatory compliance.
Within this environment, human resources plays an important role in ensuring that operational requirements are aligned with employee welfare, workforce productivity and sustainable organisational practices.
Pandey's extensive experience in personnel administration and industrial relations will be particularly relevant to MCL's ongoing workforce management requirements.
Her leadership responsibilities are expected to involve strengthening HR processes, supporting employee engagement, coordinating personnel policies and facilitating effective industrial relations across the organisation.
The appointment also comes at a time when public sector enterprises are increasingly focusing on workforce capability development, digital HR systems, succession planning and organisational effectiveness.
While MCL has not announced a detailed new HR transformation roadmap associated with Pandey's appointment, her experience in employee welfare and personnel management provides a foundation for addressing these organisational priorities.
About Mahanadi Coalfields Limited: A Key Coal India Subsidiary
Headquartered in Sambalpur, Odisha, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coal India Limited, operating under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India.
Established in April 1992, MCL operates primarily across Odisha's major coal-bearing regions, including the Talcher and Ib Valley coalfields.
The company plays a significant role in India's domestic coal production and supplies coal to power generation facilities and other industrial consumers.
As a Schedule B Miniratna Central Public Sector Enterprise, MCL operates within an industry where large-scale workforce administration, industrial relations, employee welfare and operational coordination remain important management functions.
With Pandey taking charge of the HR function, the company gains an experienced senior executive familiar with the personnel management systems and industrial relations environment of the Coal India group.
Women's Leadership and HR Appointments in India's Public Sector
Rekha Pandey's appointment also highlights women's participation in senior leadership positions within India's public sector enterprises, particularly in traditionally male-dominated industries such as mining and energy.
Her progression from personnel management and welfare functions to a board-level HR leadership position represents a notable professional milestone.
The development is relevant to wider discussions surrounding women in leadership, executive succession and career progression within Central Public Sector Enterprises.
For organisations managing large, geographically distributed workforces, HR directors play an important role in aligning personnel administration with organisational objectives while maintaining employee relations and workforce continuity.
Pandey's appointment is another significant development in the latest PSU appointments, Coal India HR leadership changes and senior HR appointments in 2026.
Her experience across Central Coalfields, Coal India Limited and now Mahanadi Coalfields reflects continuity of expertise within the Coal India group.
Rekha Pandey Begins New Leadership Chapter at MCL
Following her assumption of charge on October 23, 2026, Pandey has begun her responsibilities as Director – HR at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited.
Her participation in an employee awareness initiative on e-waste management at MCL headquarters was also acknowledged in an October 28, 2026, Ministry of Coal communication, confirming her engagement in the company's ongoing organisational activities.
With more than 32 years of experience spanning human resources, industrial relations and employee welfare, Pandey's appointment brings substantial sector-specific expertise to MCL's leadership team.
As the organisation continues to support India's coal production and energy requirements, effective HR management, workforce development and employee engagement will remain important components of its operational and organisational priorities.
Sources
PSU Watch: Rekha Pandey assumes charge as Director (HR)