Cognizant gives a different hike as IT co changes retirement age from 58

Cognizant has increased the retirement age for its employees in India from 58 to 60 years, bringing it in line with broader market practices, ToI reported. This change applies to all employees in the country, including those who have relocated on-site without a change in payroll. “This change aligns with common market practice and our commitment to attract and retain experienced talent,” the company stated in a memo reviewed by The Times of India.

Most IT companies in India currently set their retirement age at 58, making Cognizant’s move a notable shift in policy aimed at leveraging experienced professionals in a competitive talent landscape.

Speaking at an event in India, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S shared with PTI the company’s vision for India’s role in its global operations. Ravi, who recently received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2025 award from President Droupadi Murmu, highlighted India’s growing significance in the global technology landscape.


Also Read: Cognizant's future 'predominantly India-based': CEO Ravi Kumar S

“Cognizant is a pretty large employer. We have 250,000 employees in India. Earlier, we operated from big cities, now we operate from small cities... Our endeavour is to take it to the smaller cities, so we opened in Indore,” he said.

Ravi also reiterated India’s critical role in the company’s future. “Our future is predominantly India-based. We do believe that India is going to be the office of the world, the technology hub of the world for the next decade. And we want to power the Cognizant global story with the talent from India,” he said in an interaction with PTI.

With over 250,000 employees in India, Cognizant’s decision to expand operations into smaller cities reflects a strategic push to tap into untapped talent pools outside major metropolitan hubs. This move aligns with the broader trend in the IT industry to decentralize operations and foster growth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

By raising the retirement age and doubling down on its India-based talent strategy, Cognizant aims to solidify its position as a leader in the global IT services market while aligning its operations with India’s evolution into a global technology powerhouse.