IT giant Cognizant is under scrutiny after a job listing offering freshers a salary of ₹2.52 lakh per annum went viral, drawing widespread criticism. The controversy comes in stark contrast to the earnings of Cognizant’s CEO, Ravi Kumar Singisetti, who was named India’s highest-paid IT sector CEO, with a staggering compensation of ₹186 crore last year, the news outlet The Hindustan Times reported. This vast disparity has sparked outrage on social media, with many pointing out the meager starting salary relative to the cost of living in major cities.
The news outlet further said that Ravi Kumar Singisetti, who took over as CEO in January 2023, received a one-time stock reward that significantly boosted his earnings. However, the recent job listing has led to questions about wage fairness and the treatment of entry-level employees in the IT industry. Social media platforms have been flooded with comments criticizing Cognizant for offering a salary that many believe is insufficient to cover basic living expenses, especially in metropolitan areas, while top executives earn record-breaking figures.
