Why Both Packages Attract Zero Income Tax
All three packages — ₹3.36L, ₹3.6L, and ₹4.5L CTC — result in zero income tax under the new tax regime for FY2024-25. Here's why:
After subtracting employer PF and gratuity from CTC, the gross annual salary for these packages falls below ₹4.5L. After the ₹75,000 standard deduction, taxable income is under ₹7 lakh. The Section 87A rebate completely eliminates tax on income up to ₹7 lakh under the new regime. Result: ₹0 TDS every month.
This changes once salary crosses approximately ₹8–9 LPA CTC — that's when the 5% tax slab kicks in meaningfully. For freshers at TCS and Infosys, the full gross-to-net gap is just PF + professional tax.
TCS Package Variants in 2026
| Package type | Annual CTC | Monthly in-hand | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja / standard | ₹3.36 LPA | ~₹24,400 | Campus via NQT, general pool |
| Digital | ₹7 LPA | ~₹52,000 | Selected NQT high scorers |
| Prime | ₹9 LPA | ~₹65,000 | Premier institutes, competitive selection |
Infosys Package Variants in 2026
| Package type | Annual CTC | Monthly in-hand | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Engineer (SE) | ₹3.6 LPA | ~₹26,300 | Standard campus hire |
| Specialist Engineer | ₹4.5 LPA | ~₹33,500 | Technical assessment qualifiers |
| Digital Specialist | ₹6.5–9 LPA | ~₹48,000–65,000 | InfyTQ high performers, premium colleges |
The Real Strategy: Use TCS/Infosys as a Launchpad
The most financially optimised path for a TCS or Infosys fresher is not to stay — it's to use the 2-year experience stamp on your resume to move to a product company or funded startup. The salary trajectory looks like this:
- Year 0: TCS/Infosys at ₹3.36–4.5 LPA
- Year 1–2: Skill-building, certifications, contribute to real projects
- Year 2–3 switch: Product company at ₹10–18 LPA — a 200–400% increase
This jump is consistently seen across the market. The key is what you do in the 2 years — engineers who build real skills (cloud certifications, open-source contributions, side projects) make the jump successfully. Those who just complete tickets do not.