Tata Consultancy Services will appoint 2,000 science grads, generally from Tier III cities and rustic regions, and turn them into software masters in the existing fiscal.

Mr S. Ramadorai, CEO and Managing Director, TCS said these candidates will be dealt as TCS employees from the first day, but will get 30 per cent lesser pay as compared to the engineering graduates.

Mr. Ramadorai added that the number of employees will be increased to 5,000 within two years under the science-to-software learning and development programme, known as ‘TCS Ignite.’

Designed as an intensive seven-month programme with live project experience, TCS Ignite fits out mathematics and science grads with the abilities requisite to hunt a career in the IT industry.

According to the company release, it builds up a foundation in software through a customized curriculum. It begins with the logic and problem solving methods and moves to their application in real world.

In a TCS Ignite pilot programme, 500 learners were initiated into the company.

The batch comprised of science graduates from more than 200 colleges in nine states. Above 60 per cent of them were women belonging to different states such as North East that has not been traditional talent sourcing terminus for IT companies.