Infosys, the Indian IT giant once known for its stagnant ₹3.5 lakh per annum packages for freshers, has dramatically raised its entry-level salaries to ₹21 lakh for select roles. The company is now recruiting engineering and computer science graduates with compensation ranging from ₹7 lakh to ₹21 lakh, as it seeks to attract digitally native talent and enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities.
Infosys has rolled out attractive salary packages for various Specialist Programmer roles, aiming to hire fresh talent for its AI-first strategy. The positions include:
Specialist Programmer L3 (Trainee): ₹21 LPA
Specialist Programmer L2 (Trainee): ₹16 LPA
Specialist Programmer L1 (Trainee): ₹10 LPA, plus a ₹1 lakh joining bonus
Recruitment will take place through both campus hiring and off-campus initiatives. Shaji Mathew, CHRO of the Infosys group, revealed that the company is adopting an AI-first approach to strengthen its technological capabilities.
Infosys has faced criticism for maintaining the starting salary for freshers at ₹3.5 lakh per year. While this base pay remains unchanged, the company has raised the maximum salary for select entry-level roles to ₹21 lakh annually. This move has sparked significant conversation, with many taking to social media to share their thoughts on the new pay structure and the company’s recruitment approach.
Reactions on social media have been mixed. Some praised the move, while others criticized the "up to ₹21 LPA" claim. “The ‘up to 21 LPA’ figure does not reflect the overall reality,” wrote X user Aniket Sahu, noting that most offers were much lower.
Infosys’s announcement has also been met with widespread mockery, with many calling it a “scam.” Critics argued that the pay hike applies only to a few niche roles, while most freshers are still being offered salaries as low as ₹6 lakh. “It’s just a lollipop,” one user commented, dismissing the announcement as misleading. “Some roles now pay up to ₹21 LPA, but others pay under ₹5 lakh,” added another. Nevertheless, many were still surprised by the ₹21 lakh offer.