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1. What is TCS NQT

  • TCS NQT is a standardised assessment conducted by TCS (through its exam‐wing TCS iON) for freshers as a gateway into entry‐level roles. 

  • The purpose: Evaluate cognitive abilities (verbal, reasoning, numerical), programming / technical skills, and domain readiness for IT/IT-services roles. 

  • The score/qualification in NQT is valid for around 2 years, and you can appear for it multiple times (subject to rules) to improve score. 

  • Based on performance, candidates may be eligible for different “profiles” or job tracks within TCS such as “Ninja”, “Digital”, “Prime”. 

2. Exam Pattern & Eligibility

Exam Pattern

  • The exam typically has a Foundation Section + an Advanced Section (for higher profiles). Example: Foundation ~75 mins, ~60-70 MCQ/non‐MCQ; Advance ~~115 minutes, with ~18-20 MCQ and 2‐3 coding questions. 

  • One typical pattern (2025) as per sources: ~92 questions, total duration ~180 minutes. Sections: Numerical Ability, Verbal Ability, Reasoning Ability, Programming Logic, Hands-on Coding. 

  • For higher profiles (Digital, Prime) coding/technical focus is stronger. 

Eligibility & Other Details

  • Freshers (UG/PG) from various streams (engineering, science, etc) are eligible; often pre-final/final year students also can apply. 

  • Mode: Typically in-centre at TCS iON authorised test centres. TCS Ion

3. Salary Details & Job Profiles

Here’s a breakdown of the salary and profiles for freshers through TCS NQT:

Entry Salary

  • For the “Ninja” profile: Around ₹3.36 lakhs per annum (LPA) for UG freshers. 

  • For the “Digital” profile: Around ₹7 LPA (UG) as cited.

  • For the “Prime” profile: Up to ₹9.0 LPA (UG), and for PG up to ₹11.5 LPA as per some sources. 

  • In general, freshers’ salary range is often cited as between ~₹3.36 LPA to ~₹7 LPA depending on the profile. 

Incentives & Benefits

  • Apart from base CTC, there are performance‐linked incentives: e.g., “Readiness Incentive” and “Competency Incentive”. 

  • First year stipend/bonsu may apply depending on training programs (e.g., in the “TCS Xplore” programme). 

  • Example: Bonus of ₹40,000 if you pass one exam but fail other; ₹60,000 if both passed, in some streams within TCS. 

Career Growth / Long Term Salary

  • With experience and progression, salaries rise. For example, for roles at senior consultant or higher within TCS the salary can go to ~₹20 lakhs per year or more. 

  • According to Glassdoor, average base pay for “TCS NQT” related roles is ₹4-26.6 LPA depending on experience. 

  • Note: Annual increases depend on business conditions, performance, role level. For instance TCS planned salary hikes for many staff in 2025. 

4. Career Growth Path & What to Expect

Once you join via NQT, here’s how your career can typically evolve:

  • Initial years (0-2 years): You’ll typically be in an associate role, working on projects, possibly on basic software development, QA, support, etc depending on profile.

  • Mid-level (3-5 years): You may move into roles like Senior Associate / Team Lead / Specialist, working on bigger modules, perhaps specialising in a technology stack. Growth will depend a lot on upskilling (new technologies, certifications) and performance.

  • Advanced roles (5+ years): Possibilities of roles like Consultant, Senior Consultant, Manager, or technical specialist roles. Salary and responsibilities rise accordingly.

  • Growth drivers:

    • Technical skills & certifications (in high-demand areas like data engineering, AI, cloud) accelerate growth.

    • Performance on projects, ability to deliver outcomes.

    • Ability to move into roles of responsibility (leadership, solution architecting).

  • Profile differentiation: If you enter via a higher profile like “Digital” or “Prime”, your starting responsibilities and growth potential might be higher (better tech, more complex projects) compared to “Ninja”.

  • Company policy / macro factors: External business environment, company internal policies also matter. For example, TCS has introduced policies about bench time, performance metrics which can affect career progression. 

5. Summary: Should You Attempt TCS NQT?

Yes — if you’re a fresher/pre-final year student looking to get into IT/IT services, TCS NQT is a good entry pathway with a strong brand name.
Key pros: structured selection, multiple profiles/roles, defined starting salary, good growth possibility.
Things to keep in mind:

  • The salary in starting years for some profiles (especially “Ninja”) is modest (~₹3.3 LPA) compared to some niche roles in other companies.

  • Growth depends heavily on your skills, performance, ability to move into more complex roles.

  • Being in the “right” profile and project matters for long term progression.

  • Keep upskilling so you don’t get stuck in the same role/profile.