Archive · 18 Jul 2026
Indian IT firms prioritize AI skills for freshers
Indian IT companies are still hiring fresh engineering graduates, but they now want them to have special skills in artificial intelligence (AI).
Companies like TCS and HCLTech are creating a special group of fresh graduates with advanced AI skills called 'Forward Deployed Engineers' (FDEs).
These FDEs help customers use AI without any problems.
Engineering colleges need to update their teaching to include more AI skills so that students are ready for jobs when they graduate.
The government should also help by making sure colleges work with companies to teach these important skills.
This way, young engineers can get good jobs and India can become less dependent on foreign technology.
Indian IT companies continue to hire fresh engineering graduates, with TCS and HCLTech onboarding 14,000 and 1,000 freshers respectively in Q1.
Companies are creating a new elite cadre of fresh graduates with advanced AI skills called 'Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs)' to integrate AI platforms for customers.
Engineering colleges need to update their syllabus to include market-driven AI skills to make graduates more market-ready.
The central government should promote industry-academia engagement to impart practical AI skills and establish more centers of excellence.
The shift towards AI-skilled freshers indicates a brighter future for engineering graduates despite recent fluctuations in hiring.
- Who
- Indian IT services industry, engineering colleges, fresh engineering graduates
- What
- Shift in hiring trends towards AI-skilled freshers, need for updated AI syllabus in engineering colleges
- When
- Current and future hiring trends, ongoing transformation in fresher hiring
- Where
- India, engineering colleges, IT companies
- Why
- Rising adoption of AI, need for engineers to deploy AI platforms seamlessly, outdated syllabus in engineering colleges
- Companies
- TCS, HCLTech, Infosys, Wipro
- Freshers hired by TCS in Q1
- 14,000
- TCS's planned fresher hiring for FY27
- 25,000
- HCLTech's fresher hiring in Q1
- 1,000
- HCLTech's total headcount decline in Q1
- 3,000
- New role for AI-skilled freshers
- Forward Deployed Engineers (FDE)
- Purpose of FDEs
- Integrate AI platforms and solutions for customers
- Government's role
- Promote industry-academia engagement for AI skills