Last updated: October 2026
TCS, India's largest IT company, made headlines in 2025 when it announced job cuts for the first time at this scale. Here is what actually happened, who was affected, and what it means if you work at TCS or want to join.
TCS layoffs timeline
- July 2025: TCS announced it would reduce its global workforce by about 2%, or roughly 12,000 people, over the following year. It said the cuts would mostly affect mid and senior levels, as part of becoming a "future-ready" organisation with more AI and automation.
- FY26 (year to March 2026): TCS ended the year with 584,519 employees, down 23,460 from a year earlier.
- April 2026: TCS said the restructuring exercise was complete. Its HR team said the overall drop was not only due to the restructuring, but also to tighter bench policies and voluntary exits.
Who was affected?
- Mostly mid and senior-level employees, according to the company's own statements.
- Employees who were on the bench (not on a project) for long periods faced tighter rules.
- Freshers and junior engineers were not the main focus of the cuts.
Is TCS still hiring?
Yes. TCS said it onboarded about 44,000 trainees in FY26 and had already made around 25,000 campus offers in India by April 2026. It has said it will remain one of the largest recruiters of freshers. Fresher hiring still happens mainly through the TCS NQT.
What to do if you were affected
- Check your exit terms. Understand your notice period payout, severance, gratuity and PF transfer.
- Update your resume. Lead with projects, clients and measurable results, not just your designation.
- Turn on "open to work" on LinkedIn and tell your network directly.
- Use referrals. Many ex-TCS employees move to other IT services firms, GCCs and product companies.
- Apply to companies that are actively hiring, not just big names.
What it means for the IT industry
TCS's cuts were part of a wider shift in Indian IT. Companies are using more AI and automation, keeping smaller benches, and looking for people with cloud, data and AI skills. At the same time, fresher hiring has continued at large firms. Infosys, for example, said in April 2026 that it had not done layoffs in the past year and planned to hire about 20,000 freshers. See our India layoffs tracker 2026 for other companies.
Frequently asked questions
How many people did TCS lay off?
TCS announced cuts of about 2% of its workforce (around 12,000 people) in July 2025. Its total headcount fell by 23,460 in FY26, which TCS says also includes voluntary exits and other changes.
Are TCS layoffs over?
In April 2026, TCS said its restructuring exercise was complete.
Is it safe to join TCS as a fresher?
TCS continues large-scale fresher hiring. As with any job, focus on building skills in demand, such as cloud, data and AI.
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Sources: company statements and reporting by People Matters and Business Today (April 2026), and news reports from July 2025.
