Sector Snapshot · IT-Software

India's Software and Deep-Tech Talent Pool Leads the World

A fast-read primer on India's IT-software and technology sector — the backdrop against which we benchmark every company's cost structure in this category.

US$100 bn

Software product industry size target, 2025

28%

India's share of global STEM talent pool

1.8 lakh

DPIIT-recognised startups (3rd-largest ecosystem)

38th

Global Innovation Index rank, 2025

US$131.31 bn

Projected Indian AI market size by 2032

Talent and Employment Continue to Scale

India's share of the world's technical talent pool keeps growing, alongside a fast-expanding overall workforce.

India's Global Talent Share

STEM talent pool vs. software engineering professionals

28%

STEM Talent Pool

23%

Software Engineers

Total Employment (crore)

2017-18 → 2023-24

47.5cr

2017-18

64.33cr

2023-24

What's Pushing the Sector Forward

A huge talent pool, rising R&D investment, and a supportive policy framework define the sector.

Huge Talent Pool

28% of the global STEM talent pool, 5.8 million professionals

Rising Investment

Rs1 lakh crore Research, Development & Innovation Scheme
Tata Electronics investing $10.41bn in a Gujarat semiconductor facility

Policy Framework

Rs20,000cr allocated for R&D and innovation
A dedicated Deep Tech Fund of Funds

Recent Developments

A sample of the industry-wide and policy moves shaping the sector through early 2026.

→ India ranks 38th in the Global Innovation Index 2025, and 6th globally for IP filings.
→ India is the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 1.8 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups.
→ India's AI market is projected to grow to $131.31 billion by 2032, at a 42.2% CAGR.
→ India ranks 3rd in Stanford University's 2025 Global AI Vibrancy Ranking.
→ India's drone market could grow from $0.47 billion (2025) to $1.39 billion by 2030.
→ India filed over 86,000 AI patents between 2010 and 2025, with 63% originating domestically.

Companies We Benchmark in This Sector

Listed Indian IT-Software companies in tDoBe's cost-benchmarking coverage.

TCS

Infosys

HCL Technologies

Wipro

Tech Mahindra

LTIMindtree

Oracle Financial Services Software

Persistent Systems

Coforge

Mphasis

Hexaware Technologies

Tata Elxsi

KPIT Technologies

Fractal Analytics

Zensar Technologies

RateGain Travel

Intellect Design Arena

Sonata Software

See How These Companies Compare on Cost

The numbers above set the stage. Our Report translates it into a company-by-company cost benchmark — down to the category — so you can see exactly where a business sits against its peers.

Explore the IT-Software Report

Compiled from public government and industry sources, February 2026 update · Figures rounded · tDoBe sector snapshot, for informational purposes