Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Indian IT Fresher Hiring Uptick Reflects Emerging AI Opportunities
Last year, Indian software companies stopped hiring many new college graduates because of worries about artificial intelligence and the world economy.
This year, big companies like TCS and Infosys are hiring new graduates again.
In just three months, TCS hired 14,000 fresh graduates.
Infosys hired 4,000 graduates from college campuses.
TCS wants to hire about 25,000 new graduates this year, and Infosys wants to bring in about 20,000.
That is a big change from last year, when campus hiring was almost frozen.
Some experts thought AI would replace many entry-level engineering jobs, but companies still need new engineers for their projects.
The jobs are changing, though.
Companies now pay much more to graduates who have AI skills.
Some top students have even received salaries close to one crore rupees.
TCS onboarded 14,000 freshers in the April-June quarter and plans to hire around 25,000 freshers in the current fiscal year (FY27).
Infosys hired 4,000 freshers from college campuses in the June quarter and targets about 20,000 fresher hires in FY27.
The uptick marks a recovery from last fiscal year, when campus hiring was largely frozen due to AI-led automation and business growth uncertainty.
IT firms are paying AI-skilled freshers more, with Infosys offering up to Rs 21 lakh and HCLTech Rs 18-22 lakh annually.
Some graduates from premium colleges like IITs reportedly received packages close to Rs 1 crore from top global tech firms for advanced AI skills.
- Who
- TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, Tech Mahindra and other Indian IT services firms, along with fresh engineering graduates and HR industry experts.
- What
- An uptick in fresher hiring in the Indian IT industry, with higher pay packages for entry-level engineers with advanced AI skills.
- When
- Since the beginning of the current fiscal year (FY27), including the April-June quarter.
- Where
- India, including engineering college campuses; Infosys is headquartered in Bengaluru.
- Why
- Recovering demand for entry-level engineers and AI-driven shifts in skill requirements, despite earlier predictions that AI automation would hurt fresher hiring.
AI Will Cut Entry-Level IT Jobs
AI Creates New Opportunities for Skilled Freshers
AI's Impact on Fresher Hiring
AI Will Cut Entry-Level IT Jobs
Analysts predicted that AI automating repetitive tasks done by L1 and L2 IT engineers would significantly reduce the need for freshers, with some making doomsday predictions for fresh engineering graduates.
AI Creates New Opportunities for Skilled Freshers
The actual hiring uptick suggests these predictions were exaggerated, as TCS plans about 25,000 and Infosys about 20,000 fresher hires in FY27.
AI as Job Destroyer vs Job Creator
AI Will Cut Entry-Level IT Jobs
AI automates several tasks, lowering the requirement for people with legacy skills and making bulk hiring of freshers less likely going forward.
AI Creates New Opportunities for Skilled Freshers
AI is also creating many new jobs, shifting skill requirements toward AI expertise and opening huge global opportunities for skilled fresh graduates.
- TCS freshers onboarded (April-June)
- 14,000
- TCS FY27 fresher hiring target
- Around 25,000
- Infosys campus hires (June quarter)
- 4,000
- Infosys FY27 fresher hiring target
- Around 20,000
- Infosys AI-skilled fresher pay
- Up to Rs 21 lakh per year
- HCLTech AI-skilled fresher pay
- Rs 18 lakh to Rs 22 lakh per year
- Top IIT graduate packages
- Close to Rs 1 crore per year
