Global information technology and consulting company Cognizant has announced plans to recruit roughly 25,000 fresh graduates in 2026, signalling a major talent push as demand for digital and software services continues to grow. This hiring initiative is among the largest freshers recruitment plans in the Indian IT sector for the year and reflects renewed optimism around business growth and project demand.
The initiative will primarily target entry-level roles and is designed to tap into the country’s extensive pool of engineering and technology graduates. Cognizant’s recruitment drive is expected to take place across multiple campus placement seasons and job fairs throughout 2026, giving students from diverse academic backgrounds opportunities to begin careers in software development, testing, data analytics, cloud computing and other tech domains.
Strengthening Workforce for Digital Services
Cognizant’s expansion in freshers hiring comes amid ongoing demand for digital transformation services — including cloud, AI, automation and cybersecurity — where the company sees strong market opportunities. By bringing in a large cohort of early-career professionals, Cognizant aims to build capabilities in high-growth areas while also feeding its talent pipeline for long-term strategic projects.
Fresh recruits are expected to undergo structured training and upskilling programmes as part of their onboarding, ensuring they develop competencies aligned with client requirements and technological trends. This training focus is especially important given the rapid pace of change in tech stacks and platforms used in enterprise IT solutions.
Boost for Campus Recruitment Ecosystem
The announcement also signals a broader recovery in campus hiring after several years of cautious recruitment in the Indian IT industry — where many firms scaled back entry-level hiring during global economic uncertainties. With Cognizant’s sizeable freshers intake, students across engineering, computer science and related disciplines can expect increased placement opportunities in 2026.
Institutions hosting technical and management programmes are likely to see expanded placement slots, while coaching and training partners may also gear up to support candidates in interview preparation and skill readiness. The move is expected to have a positive ripple effect across the early-career job market this year.
Implications for Indian IT Sector
Cognizant’s recruitment drive reflects confidence in demand for IT services in both domestic and international markets. It comes as companies increasingly invest in digital solutions, including enterprise applications, cloud migrations, data analytics and business process automation — areas where fresh tech talent plays an influential role.
For fresh graduates, the hiring plan opens doors to lucrative career starts with training-oriented roles that can accelerate professional growth. For the industry, it highlights a shift back toward volume hiring at entry levels, which could intensify competition among IT firms for top campus talent in 2026.
