Prime Highlight:
- Edward Nathan Varghese, a final-year computer science student at IIT Hyderabad, received a ₹2.5 crore annual package from global trading firm Optiver.
- The record-breaking placement reflects both his competitive programming skills and the institute’s supportive academic structure.
Key Facts:
- The offer is the highest in IIT Hyderabad’s history since its establishment in 2008, surpassing the previous top package of about ₹1 crore.
- Overall placements improved significantly, with the average package rising from ₹20.8 lakh in 2024 to ₹36.2 lakh in 2025, including 24 international offers in the first phase.
Background
A final-year computer science student at the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH), has received a ₹2.5 crore annual package, setting a new placement record for the institute. This achievement stands out in the current tough job market.
Edward Nathan Varghese, the student, will start working as a software engineer at Optiver, a global trading firm based in the Netherlands, in July. According to institute officials, this is the highest package ever offered to an IIT Hyderabad student since the institute was established in 2008.
Varghese received the offer after converting a two-month summer internship into a pre-placement offer. He was one of two students selected for the internship, which included initial training followed by a project assignment. He was the only intern to receive a full-time offer and will work at Optiver’s Netherlands office.
Born in Hyderabad and later educated in Bengaluru, Varghese said his strong background in competitive programming and the flexible academic structure at IIT Hyderabad helped him succeed. He ranked among the top 100 competitive programmers in the country and credited both faculty guidance and the institute’s curriculum for preparing him for the role.
The record-breaking offer comes along with other strong placement results at IITH. Another computer science student received a ₹1.1 crore package, raising the institute’s benchmark even higher. Until now, the highest offer at IITH was about ₹1 crore, made in 2017.
Placement data shows a major improvement in overall salaries. The average package rose by nearly 75% compared with last year, increasing from ₹20.8 lakh in 2024 to ₹36.2 lakh in 2025.
In the first phase of placements, which concluded in December, students received 24 international job offers.
The institute said it continues to focus on ensuring quality opportunities for both technology and core engineering students.
