Cognizant Offers Freshers Up to Rs 18 LPA, Raises Questions About Industry Salaries

Cognizant Faces Backlash Over Alleged Fresh Graduate Hiring Initiative

Screenshots of an alleged Cognizant hiring call promising up to Rs 18 lakh per annum (LPA) to fresh graduates have been circulating on social media, sparking a heated debate around fresher compensation in the Indian IT sector.

The authenticity of the screenshots could not be immediately confirmed, but they claim that the company is recruiting for the role of "Ace – Full Stack AI Engineer" at two grades. According to the images, candidates selected as Associate are being offered Rs 12 LPA, while those placed at the Senior Associate grade are being offered Rs 18 LPA.

This alleged hiring initiative has drawn significant attention as it comes just two years after Cognizant faced backlash for offering Rs 2.5 LPA to fresh graduates, a salary level that became emblematic of wage stagnation in entry-level IT roles.

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What the Viral Screenshots Claim

The text visible in the circulating images states that the hiring initiative is "exclusively" for the Ace – Full Stack AI Engineer role and that existing Cognizant offers would remain valid even if candidates chose not to participate or were not selected.

The screenshots specify two compensation tiers:

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No details are provided on eligibility criteria, campus coverage, intake size, or whether the package includes fixed pay or performance-linked components. Cognizant has not issued a formal clarification confirming or denying the hiring plan as of publication.

Sharp Contrast with Rs 2.5 LPA Controversy

The viral claims have revived memories of Cognizant's 2024 hiring controversy, when the firm confirmed that some fresh graduates were being onboarded at salaries as low as Rs 2.5 LPA. That disclosure triggered heavy criticism across social media, particularly from young engineers who argued that such pay was out of step with rising living costs and skill expectations.

At the time, Cognizant had attributed the compensation to specific entry-level roles and long-term career progression models. Nonetheless, the episode marked one of the lowest publicly discussed fresher salary levels among large IT services firms.

The sharp contrast between Rs 2.5 LPA in 2024 and an Rs 18 LPA claim in 2026 has become the centre of the current debate.

Social Media Divided Over Pay Gap and Skills

Reactions across platforms reflect both scepticism and frustration over pay disparities within IT companies.

Many users have pointed out that the Rs 18 LPA package would be a significant improvement over the Rs 2.5 LPA offer made two years ago. However, others have expressed concerns that the pay gap between fresh graduates and experienced employees remains a pressing issue.

AI Hiring Focus Amid Stronger Financials

The alleged hiring initiative comes at a time when Cognizant has reported improving financial performance. The company's Q1 revenue rose 5.8 percent year-on-year to $5.4 billion, with management flagging steady deal momentum and maintaining guidance.

If confirmed, the Rs 18 LPA package would place the role among the highest-paying fresher offers within large IT services firms, though still limited to a narrow, high-skill talent pool.