Cognizant responds to criticism regarding its salary offers

Its says Rs 2.52L pkg applies only to non-engineering undergraduates

It had come under heavy criticism

Cognizant has responded to growing social media criticism regarding its salary offers for fresh graduates, clarifying that the widely discussed ₹2.52 lakh annual salary applies only to non-engineering undergraduates, not engineering graduates. The IT giant faced backlash after the lower salary figure began circulating online, sparking ridicule and concern among job seekers.

Also Read: Cognizant’s salary package of Rs 2.5 lakh per annum irks netizens

In a statement on Sunday, Cognizant emphasized that it offers significantly higher compensation packages for engineering graduates, ranging from ₹4 lakh to ₹12 lakh annually. “Our recent job posting for talent from non-engineering backgrounds, with a 3-year undergraduate degree has been grossly misrepresented,” said Surya Gummadi, EVP and President of Cognizant Americas. “This job posting, with compensation of ₹2.52 lakhs annually, was only for candidates with a 3-year undergraduate degree and not for engineering graduates.”

The company also addressed criticism over annual salary hikes, which some employees claimed were as low as 1%. Cognizant clarified that this figure represents the lower end of the 1-5% range, with increments based on individual performance.

Cognizant hires fresh graduates from both engineering and non-engineering backgrounds for various roles. The company explained that the ₹2.52 lakh salary was mistakenly perceived as the standard package for all freshers due to the parallel recruitment processes for different degree holders.