An Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad student has created history by securing the highest-ever placement package offered by the institute. Edward Nathan Varghese, a 21-year-old student, has received a massive job offer worth ₹2.5 crore per year. This is the biggest salary package since IIT Hyderabad was established in 2008.
Edward will join a Netherlands-based global trading firm, Optiver, as a software engineer. He is scheduled to begin work in July 2026. This record-breaking offer has brought pride not only to Edward and his family but also to IIT Hyderabad, which has seen a very strong placement season this year.
The institute shared the achievement on social media platform X and said that 2025 has been an outstanding year for placements. IIT Hyderabad secured 24 international job offers, and the average salary packages increased by 75 per cent compared to previous years. The institute credited the success to its students, faculty members, and the Office of Career Services.
Edward Nathan Varghese earned this prestigious job offer after successfully converting his summer internship into a pre-placement offer. Optiver had selected two students from IIT Hyderabad for a two-month internship. However, Edward stood out during this period and was offered a full-time role even before the placement season officially began.
This makes Edward the first student from IIT Hyderabad to receive a ₹2.5 crore annual package. Earlier, the highest package recorded by the institute was around ₹1 crore in 2017. In the 2023–24 academic year, the top package was ₹90 lakh, while in the year before that, it was ₹66 lakh. This shows how significant Edward’s achievement is in the institute’s placement history.
Apart from Edward, another student from the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department also received a high-paying offer of ₹1.1 crore this year. These figures highlight how IIT Hyderabad students are increasingly being recognised by top global companies.
The institute also shared placement data for postgraduate and undergraduate students. A total of 196 postgraduate students were placed with an average salary package of ₹22 lakh per year. Among undergraduate students, around 62 per cent of those who applied for placements received job offers. These numbers reflect the institute’s growing reputation among recruiters in India and abroad.
Edward Nathan Varghese was born in Hyderabad and later moved to Bengaluru, where he completed his schooling. From an early age, he showed strong interest and talent in academics, especially in mathematics and problem-solving.
He performed very well in competitive entrance exams. Edward secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 1100 in JEE Main and AIR 558 in JEE Advanced, which helped him gain admission to IIT Hyderabad. His strong academic background continued even beyond engineering. He also appeared for the Common Admission Test (CAT) and secured a rank of 120 with an impressive 99.96 percentile score.
Edward believes that his success is largely due to his interest in competitive programming. He said that he started focusing on competitive programming from his first year of engineering. Over time, he became one of the top 100 competitive programmers in the country.
According to Edward, the IIT tag also plays an important role in attracting top companies to the campus. He said that despite the challenging job market, he was confident that companies would continue to visit IIT Hyderabad for recruitment. He also felt that his consistent efforts over the years helped him stand out during the internship and selection process.
In an interview, Edward shared that competitive programming helped him develop strong problem-solving skills. These skills are highly valued by global trading and technology firms like Optiver. His performance during the internship showed that he could apply his knowledge effectively in real-world situations.
IIT Hyderabad praised Edward’s achievement and said that it reflects the quality of education and training provided by the institute. The Office of Career Services played a key role in helping students prepare for interviews, connect with recruiters, and explore international opportunities.
Edward’s success story has inspired many students across the country, especially those preparing for engineering and competitive exams. His journey shows that hard work, early preparation, and focused skill development can lead to extraordinary results.
As IIT Hyderabad continues to grow, such achievements are expected to further strengthen its position among India’s leading technical institutions. Edward Nathan Varghese’s record-breaking placement will remain a proud milestone in the institute’s history.
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