In a bold move that contrasts with recent IT sector headwinds, Infosys CEO Salil Parekh has confirmed plans to hire around 20,000 college graduates in fiscal year 2026. This announcement comes shortly after TCS revealed its decision to lay off 12,000 employees, sparking widespread concern in India’s IT ecosystem.
“We recruited over 17,000 people (gross hiring) in Q1 and plan to bring in about 20,000 freshers this year,” Parekh told The Times of India. The statement underscores Infosys’ commitment to long-term talent development and its strategy to stay ahead in the AI-driven digital transformation wave.
The announcement is particularly noteworthy as it comes at a time when the industry is witnessing hiring slowdowns, bench reductions, and onboarding delays, particularly among senior-level professionals.
Parekh also spoke about the evolving role of AI in business. According to him, AI has increased productivity by 5% to 15% in software development and even more in customer support and knowledge-based tasks.
However, he emphasized that AI doesn’t replace human insight. For example, Infosys Finacle—its core banking platform—delivers up to 20% productivity improvement by blending automation with human oversight.
On the topic of salary revisions, Parekh confirmed that hikes were concluded for Q4 and Q1 of the previous fiscal. “We are evaluating the timing for the next round. As always, it will follow our standard review cycle,” he said, maintaining transparency with employees and stakeholders.
At a time when automation is reshaping delivery models and legacy players are tightening costs, Infosys is signaling stability. While rivals like TCS and Wipro cut costs and restructure, Infosys is betting on talent and innovation to lead future growth.
Infosys’ hiring announcement offers a glimmer of hope for thousands of tech graduates. In a volatile environment, its balanced approach—embracing AI while continuing to invest in human capital—sets a progressive tone for the Indian IT sector.
