If you graduated in 2024 or 2025 batch and are still searching for your first job — this is the most important article you'll read this year. India's IT sector is in full hiring mode in 2026. TCS alone plans to hire 42,000 freshers. Infosys is targeting 20,000. The window is open — but it moves fast. Here's every top company, their exact salary packages, eligibility rules, and where to apply.
✅ Employee Table Verified: All companies and salary figures in this article are sourced from official career pages and verified hiring announcements as of May 2026. Browse verified job listings →
📋 Quick Jump
- TCS — 42,000 fresher openings
- Infosys — ₹6.25 to ₹21 LPA
- Wipro — Turbo & WILP tracks
- Accenture — ASE & packaged app roles
- Cognizant — GenC programme
- HCLTech — 4× pay for elite track
- Capgemini — ISEP & IGET
- Tech Mahindra — Smart Academy
- LTIMindtree — NxtGen hiring
- IBM — Entry-level AI & Cloud roles
- How to apply & pro tips
- Salary comparison table
1. 🏆 TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) — India's Biggest Fresher Recruiter
TCS is India's single largest employer of fresh graduates, and 2026 is no exception. The company plans to hire approximately 42,000 freshers this financial year — making it one of the biggest off-campus drives in Indian corporate history.
TCS Hiring Tracks & Salaries
| Track | Salary (LPA) | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Ninja (Standard) | ₹3.36 LPA | General IT services |
| Digital | ₹7 LPA | Cloud, AI, Analytics |
| Prime | ₹11 LPA | Advanced coding, system design |
How to apply for TCS fresher jobs: Register on the TCS iON National Qualifier Test (NQT) — this is the gateway exam for all TCS tracks. Score high in NQT → get shortlisted for your matching track automatically.
Eligibility: BE/BTech/ME/MTech/MCA/BSc IT — 60% throughout with no active backlogs. Gap in academics should not exceed 2 years.
🔍 Employee Table Tip: TCS NQT scores are valid for 1 year. Even if you miss one drive, your score carries over to the next batch recruitment. Find TCS fresher openings on Employee Table →
2. 💼 Infosys — Highest Fresher Salary Jump in 2026 (Up to ₹21 LPA)
Infosys made headlines in 2026 by significantly raising entry-level pay for specialised roles — packages now go up to ₹21 LPA for Specialist Programmer L3, a massive jump from previous years. The company is hiring 20,000 freshers for FY2026 and has already onboarded 12,000 in H1.
Infosys 2026 Fresher Roles & Packages
| Role | Salary (LPA) | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Specialist Engineer (DSE) | ₹6.25 LPA | ₹75,000 joining bonus |
| Specialist Programmer L1 | ₹10 LPA | ₹1 lakh joining bonus |
| Specialist Programmer L2 | ₹16 LPA | — |
| Specialist Programmer L3 | ₹21 LPA | — |
Selection process: Online test (aptitude + coding) → Technical interview → HR interview. Infosys also runs HackWithInfy and InfyTQ coding challenges — performing well here fast-tracks you to SP/DSE roles.
3. 🚀 Wipro — 10,000–12,000 Freshers Targeted in 2026
Wipro is targeting 10,000–12,000 freshers in 2026, focusing on cloud, cybersecurity, and digital transformation roles. The company runs specialized tracks — Turbo and WILP (Wipro Integrated Learning Program) — where top coding performers earn up to ₹6.5 LPA.
How to get in: Apply via Wipro's official careers page → clear the NLTH (National Level Test for Hiring) or WILP exam → technical + HR rounds. Strong performers in the coding section are automatically considered for the Turbo track.
4. 🌐 Accenture — ASE & Packaged App Roles for Any Graduate
Accenture is one of the most inclusive fresher employers — they hire from any graduation stream (not just CS/IT) for their Associate Software Engineer (ASE) roles. The selection test covers cognitive ability, technical MCQs, and a communication round — no heavy coding required for the standard track.
Pro tip: Accenture frequently runs off-campus drives via AMCAT. Register on AMCAT, give the Accenture test, and you'll be directly shortlisted if you score above the cutoff — no campus required.
5. 🏢 Cognizant — GenC Programme: Hire, Train, Deploy
Cognizant's GenC (Generation Cognizant) programme is purpose-built for freshers. After being selected, you go through an intensive training program before being deployed to a live project — making it one of the best companies if you want proper on-the-job training, not just a job. The GenC Next track (for higher scorers) starts at ₹5–6.5 LPA.
6. ⚡ HCLTech — Up to 4× Higher Pay for Elite Fresher Track
HCLTech made a bold move in 2026 — they revised their elite fresher hiring strategy to offer up to 4× higher pay for a select cadre of top-performing graduates. If you have a strong GitHub profile, competitive coding experience, or AI/ML project work, aim for their elite track. The standard track starts at ₹3.8 LPA but the premium band can go well above ₹10 LPA.
7. 🇫🇷 Capgemini — ISEP & IGET Tracks for Freshers
Capgemini runs two fresher tracks: ISEP (Immediate Selection for Engineering Program — standard, ₹3.8 LPA) and IGET (Infra & Cloud — higher package for DevOps/Cloud candidates). The selection test includes GameBased Assessment (GBA) + technical + HR rounds. Their hiring is consistent throughout the year with quarterly off-campus drives.
8. 📱 Tech Mahindra — Smart Academy & Fresher Bulk Hiring
Tech Mahindra offers the Smart Academy for Digital Technologies — a unique program where selected freshers get 3–6 months of paid training and are then absorbed into live projects. This is ideal if you want to transition from a non-IT background into tech. They also hire through walk-in drives which are frequently updated on Employee Table.
9. 🔷 LTIMindtree — NxtGen Programme for 2025 Batch
LTIMindtree (formed from the merger of L&T Infotech and Mindtree) offers one of the best fresher packages in the mid-size IT segment. Their NxtGen fresher hiring programme targets engineering graduates with strong fundamentals. Selection includes a coding assessment on HackerRank + 2 rounds of technical interviews. A CGPA of 7.0+ is preferred.
10. 🤖 IBM — Entry-Level AI, Cloud & Consulting Roles in India 2026
IBM India is actively hiring freshers for AI, Cloud, and Consulting roles in 2026. Their entry-level "Application Developer" and "Associate System Engineer" roles offer strong learning paths with IBM's internal certification programs. IBM also runs the IBM SkillsBuild program — completing it gives you a certified edge during their hiring process.
📊 Salary Comparison Table — All 10 Companies at a Glance
| # | Company | Min Package | Max Package | Freshers Hiring | Key Programme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TCS | ₹3.36 LPA | ₹11 LPA | 42,000 | NQT / Ninja / Digital / Prime |
| 2 | Infosys | ₹6.25 LPA | ₹21 LPA | 20,000 | DSE / SP L1–L3 |
| 3 | Wipro | ₹3.5 LPA | ₹6.5 LPA | 10,000–12,000 | NLTH / Turbo / WILP |
| 4 | Accenture | ₹4.5 LPA | ₹8 LPA | Large volume | ASE / AMCAT |
| 5 | Cognizant | ₹4 LPA | ₹6.5 LPA | Ongoing | GenC / GenC Next |
| 6 | HCLTech | ₹3.8 LPA | ₹14+ LPA | Elite cadre | Elite track (4× pay) |
| 7 | Capgemini | ₹3.8 LPA | ₹7.5 LPA | Quarterly drives | ISEP / IGET |
| 8 | Tech Mahindra | ₹3.25 LPA | ₹5.5 LPA | Bulk hiring | Smart Academy |
| 9 | LTIMindtree | ₹5 LPA | ₹8 LPA | Off-campus | NxtGen |
| 10 | IBM | ₹5.5 LPA | ₹12 LPA | Open roles | SkillsBuild |
🎯 How to Apply for Fresher IT Jobs in 2026 — Step-by-Step
Fix your resume first
Use an ATS-friendly single-column format. Include a GitHub link, internships, and at least 2 projects with measurable outcomes. 80% of rejections happen here — at the resume screening stage.
Register on TCS iON & AMCAT immediately
These two assessments are the gateway to TCS (NQT) and Accenture/Capgemini (AMCAT). Your score is valid for 1 year and used by multiple companies.
Apply to 5–10 companies simultaneously
Don't wait for one to respond before applying to others. Fresher hiring cycles move in batches — apply in bulk to maximize your chances.
Set up job alerts on Employee Table
We manually verify every listing before it goes live. Subscribe to free job alerts — new off-campus drives are posted every day and slots fill up within hours.
Practice 30 minutes of DSA every day
Every company on this list tests basic Data Structures & Algorithms in their coding rounds. LeetCode easy + medium questions for arrays, strings, and recursion — that's all you need for the service company track.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Which IT company has the highest fresher salary in India in 2026?
Infosys offers the highest fresher salary in 2026 — up to ₹21 LPA for the Specialist Programmer L3 role. Among mass recruiters, Infosys's SP track now leads the market.
Can I apply to TCS and Infosys at the same time?
Yes, absolutely. There is no rule preventing you from applying to multiple IT companies simultaneously. In fact, applying to 5–10 companies at once is strongly recommended for freshers.
What is the minimum percentage required for IT fresher jobs in 2026?
Most major IT companies (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant) require a minimum of 60% aggregate throughout academics (10th, 12th, and graduation) with no active backlogs.
How do I find verified fresher off-campus drives in 2026?
Employee Table manually verifies all fresher job listings before publishing. You can browse daily updates at employeetable.in or subscribe to free email alerts to get notified the moment a new drive opens.