Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, HCL Technologies: Campus Hiring Slashed for 2026 Batch as AI and Automation Reshape IT Jobs

The Indian IT sector is witnessing a significant reduction in campus hiring for the upcoming 2026 graduate batch, with leading companies like Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd, and HCL Technologies Ltd expected to hire fewer students compared to previous years. This marks the third consecutive year of decreased campus recruitment by these IT services giants and multinational corporations' technology centers.

The primary drivers behind this hiring slowdown are the rapid advancements in automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which are reshaping how IT work is done. Companies are shifting their focus from mass hiring of graduates for general coding and application development roles to seeking talent with specialized skills in AI, cloud computing, and data analytics. This necessitates that engineering graduates prove their mettle in niche areas, moving beyond foundational programming skills.

Several factors contribute to this trend. Global market uncertainties, including tariff-related issues in the US, and the stabilization of post-COVID demand have made IT firms more cautious. Furthermore, companies are increasingly engaging multiple IT vendors, reducing the need for large, single-vendor outsourcing contracts that previously fueled bulk hiring. Automation itself leads to a non-linear growth model where revenue can increase without a proportional rise in headcount.

Colleges are adapting to this new reality. For instance, the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jamshedpur, has set a minimum compensation floor of ₹6 lakh per annum for campus placements to ensure better opportunities for its students, moving away from the typical lower entry-level packages offered by IT firms. While IT services hiring is slowing, demand remains robust for specialized roles within Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and in non-IT core sectors such as engineering, manufacturing, and semiconductors.

Impact

This news has a significant impact on the Indian stock market, particularly affecting the valuations and future growth prospects of major IT services companies like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and HCL Technologies. Reduced campus hiring suggests a slowdown in the sector's expansion, potentially leading to lower investor confidence and stock price volatility for these firms. It also has broader economic implications by influencing the employment landscape for a large number of engineering graduates, a key demographic in India's workforce.

Rating: 8/10

Difficult Terms Explained

• Automation: The use of technology to perform tasks that were previously done by humans, increasing efficiency and reducing manual effort.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): A field of computer science focused on creating systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Cloud Computing: The delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet ("the cloud") to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.
• Data Analytics: The process of examining large and varied sets of data to uncover hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends, customer preferences, and other useful information.
• IT Services Companies: Businesses that provide IT support, software development, consulting, and other technology-related services to clients.
• Campus Hiring: The process through which companies recruit potential employees directly from educational institutions, such as universities and colleges.
• Global Capability Centres (GCCs): Offshore centers established by multinational corporations to provide a range of business processes and IT services.
• Tariff-related uncertainties: Risks or unpredictability associated with government taxes (tariffs) imposed on imported or exported goods, which can affect business costs and supply chains.
• Post-COVID overhang: The lingering economic, social, or business effects and uncertainties that remain in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Linear Model: A business growth strategy where growth is directly proportional to the input of resources, such as hiring more employees to handle more projects and increase revenue.
• Bench Strength: In IT services, this refers to employees who are currently not assigned to any client project but are available for deployment.