Tech startups ramp up fresher hiring as IT hiring takes a hit

Fresher hiring for software engineers in the country is going through a metamorphosis as Indian IT majors distances itself from bulk hiring instead hiring for more AI-focused and specialised roles in buckets. While firms like Wipro, HCL Tech and Tech M have refrained from sharing targets for fresher hiring in FY27, TCS has cut its fresher intake to around 25,000 much lower than the 44,000 it onboarded in FY26.

Meanwhile, Infosys has stuck to 20,000 as their target for fresher hiring in FY27, same as FY26.