  The leading order production of an SM singlet-like scalar has primarily been
realized through the gluon fusion process by mixing with the $SU(2)_L$ scalar
doublet of the model. The dominant part of the physical state, i.e., the
singlet component, does not have any role in its direct production. Focusing on
such a state with a mass smaller than the SM-like Higgs scalar, we calculate
the dominant next-to-leading (NLO) order corrections to its production
cross-section. With these improved cross-sections, the present and future LHC
limits may become somewhat more stringent.
