India&rsquo;s largest IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is facing public scrutiny after its CEO K. Krithivasan received an annual compensation of ₹26.5 crore, even as the company announced the layoff of over 12,000 employees globally during FY25.
As per the company&rsquo;s annual report, Krithivasan&rsquo;s salary included a base pay of ₹1.39 crore, ₹2.12 crore in perks and benefits, and ₹23 crore in commission. The raise represents a 4.6% hike from the previous fiscal year.
The revelation has sparked criticism online, especially after reports confirmed that 2% of TCS&rsquo;s global workforce &mdash; amounting to 12,261 jobs, will be eliminated. The layoffs predominantly impact mid- and senior-level professionals, reportedly due to a shift in operational focus and evolving skill needs.
Critics have pointed to the widening pay disparity within the organisation. Krithivasan&rsquo;s compensation stands at nearly 330 times the median salary of an average employee.
Social media platforms saw strong reactions, with one user writing, &ldquo;If the top 100 executives took modest pay cuts, thousands of jobs could have been saved.&rdquo; Many are questioning the ethics of leadership pay amid large scale AI driven transformation and mass job cuts. 
Leadership Compensation at Glance:
<ul>
<li data-start="1697" data-end="1811">NG Subramaniam, former COO and Executive Director, earned ₹11.55 crore before stepping down in May 2024.</li>
<li data-start="1697" data-end="1811">Independent Directors Hanne Sorensen and Pradeep Kumar Khosla were each paid ₹2.74 crore.</li>
<li data-start="1697" data-end="1811">Keki Mistry, another independent director, earned ₹3.06 crore, including commission and sitting fees.</li>
<li data-start="1697" data-end="1811">Chairman N. Chandrasekaran received only ₹2.1 lakh as sitting fees, with no commission.</li>
</ul>
TCS clarified that the layoffs were not cost-driven but due to challenges in redeploying talent that no longer matches the company&rsquo;s evolving skill demands, especially as AI and automation reshape the IT landscape.
With India&rsquo;s IT sector undergoing a seismic shift due to new technologies, the debate around leadership pay versus employee welfare is expected to intensify further.

TCS CEO Earns ₹26.5 Cr Amid 12,000 Job Layoffs

Krithivasan's 4.6% pay hike draws flak as TCS lays off 2% of global workforce in FY25

TCS CEO Earns ₹26.5 Cr Amid 12,000 Job Layoffs

Krithivasan's 4.6% pay hike draws flak as TCS lays off 2% of global workforce in FY25

July 30, 2025 | 19:39 IST