Infosys Faces Criticism for Firing 400 Trainees Over Tougher Training Rules

The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has strongly criticized Infosys’ recent decision to terminate hundreds of trainees for failing internal assessments, as reported by The Economic Times.

Mass Terminations at Infosys Mysore

On February 7, nearly 400 employees at Infosys’ Mysore campus were summoned in groups and given termination letters due to their inability to meet the company’s revised qualifying standards. According to reports, trainees were called in groups of 50 people, asked to bring their laptops, and taken into a guarded room with bouncers inside for the meeting, which started at 9:30 AM.

Infosys removed the trainees after they failed the evaluation test three times in a row. Many of these employees had waited over two years after graduation to get this job, only to be let go after a few months of training.

Fearing job loss, many trainees rushed to book taxis and buses to return home, struggling to explain the situation to their families.

More Trainees at Risk

On February 14, another 450 trainees will attempt their third and final evaluation. It remains unclear how many will retain their jobs. Some sources suggest that up to 4,500 trainees currently in training may face a similar fate.

Before the terminations, affected employees received an email instructing them to keep the situation confidential and not discuss or share the meeting details with anyone.

Trainees Claim the System is Unfair

Some trainees, speaking anonymously, claimed that Infosys tightened the eligibility criteria for the 2024 batch, making it much harder to pass.

They also said trainers warned them that the exam structure would make it difficult to succeed. Compared to 2022, the training program now covers a broader syllabus in a shorter time, making it almost impossible to meet the passing requirements.

Previously, freshers had more flexible testing options and could still advance in the company despite failing some tests. Now, Infosys has overhauled the system, making the process significantly tougher at a time when the IT industry is struggling with lower demand.

Increased Difficulty in Training

In 2022, Infosys trainees had to pass two key phases:

1. Generic Phase – Two exams (FA1: Java, FA2: Database Management Systems)
2. Technology Stream Phase – Advanced skill-based training

Key changes in 2024:

• The Java exam (now called F1) includes three coding challenges and multiple-choice questions, while the DBMS test (FA2) requires candidates to write eight queries instead of four.
• The passing criteria increased from 50% to 65% in each section.
• Training hours increased to 200+ hours, with an extra 8 hours of self-study daily—a near-impossible workload.
• The DBMS training period was cut to just 10 days, despite requiring 100 hours of study.

As a result, failure rates have skyrocketed. Of the 930 trainees who started training on October 7, only 160 passed on the first attempt, with 140 more passing on the second try. By January 2025, over 630 trainees had failed due to the increased difficulty.

Higher Termination Rates & Salary Disparities

Earlier, trainees were allowed three attempts and could progress even if they failed some sections. Now, they must pass the generic phase before moving forward.

Termination rates, which were previously below 10%, have now jumped to 30-40%.

Additionally, sources pointed out salary discrepancies, where system engineers earning ₹20,000 per month are being trained under the same curriculum as specialist programmers earning ₹70,000 per month.

Infosys Responds

Infosys defended its decision, stating that its assessment process has been in place for over 20 years and is a standard procedure for new employees.

The company emphasized that freshers receive extensive foundational training at its Mysuru campus and must pass internal assessments to keep their jobs. Infosys clarified that all trainees are given three attempts to clear the tests, and those who fail cannot continue with the company.

“This process ensures that we maintain high-quality talent for our clients,” Infosys stated.