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Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
No computer science degree needed only to learn coding: Google's head of Android
Sameer Samat, Google's head of Android, believes the computer science degree needs a fresh 'rebrand,' according to a report by Business Insider. He explained that many people see it simply as learning to do Java coding, adding, "If that's what you want to do, you don't need a degree." Samat, who studied computer science at UC San Diego, disagrees with this narrow view. He said, "It's definitely not learning to code. It is the science, in my opinion, of solving problems." While coding is a part of the curriculum, the main focus lies in analysing problems, designing systems, and working collaboratively, he AI increasingly replacing the role of software engineers, many are beginning to question the value of a computer science degree. Automation is making it more difficult for graduates to land full-time roles and internships in the space. Recently, several tech leaders admitted to AI being used to generate 30% to 50% of work, especially coding, in companies such as Google and Salesforce, among others. However, reflecting on his own experience, Samat recalled learning to code during a time when Assembly language was being phased out. He said studying Assembly was valuable because it helped him understand how machines work at a deeper level. He believes that programming will always involve higher-level, more abstract languages. "Maybe someday it'll be natural language, where we're just talking about what we want, and something is building the underlying software for you," he said. But he added that this future is "not for a while."Samat also cautioned students against choosing computer science simply because it seems attractive to employers. He said, "I think it's really important that it be something that you're really excited about going deep in and really becoming a 5% top expert in the field."
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Google Android head Sameer Samat to engineers: Beyond the degree, you should have…
The experience taught Samat valuable lessons about operating with limited resources as a founder, skills that proved crucial when he eventually joined Google Google 's head of Android Sameer Samat told aspiring engineers that a computer science degree alone isn't enough to land positions at top tech companies , emphasising that candidates need to develop deep expertise in areas they're genuinely passionate about beyond their formal education. Speaking to engineers, Samat argued that the computer science major desperately needs rebranding, as it's commonly misunderstood as merely learning programming languages like Java. "If that's what you want to do, you don't need a degree," he said, explaining that true computer science education focuses on problem-solving methodologies, system design, and collaborative approaches rather than just coding skills. Computer Science education shifts focus from coding to problem solving The Android executive, who studied computer science at UC San Diego, emphasized that the discipline represents "the science of solving problems" rather than technical implementation. While coding remains important, Samat noted that breaking down complex problems, designing scalable systems, and working effectively in teams constitute the core value proposition of computer science education. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo As artificial intelligence increasingly automates fundamental programming tasks, questions about computer science degree practicality have intensified. AI tools now handle basic coding functions, making it challenging for some graduates to secure full-time positions and internships in competitive tech markets. Top tech companies demand specialised expertise beyond academic credentials Samat warned that students pursuing computer science solely because others value it won't impress prospective employers. Instead, he advocated for developing "passion" in specialized areas outside computer science, stating that degree credentials alone won't make candidates "relevant for some of the most important companies." Drawing from personal experience launching two startups in his twenties, one of which led to meeting Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Samat demonstrated how entrepreneurial ventures made him a more effective Google contributor. He emphasized that whatever additional interest candidates pursue, "it's really important that it be something that you're really excited about going deep in and really becoming a 5% top expert in the field." The Android head acknowledged that programming languages will continue evolving toward higher abstraction levels, potentially reaching natural language interfaces where developers simply describe desired outcomes. However, he doesn't expect this transformation "for a while," maintaining that foundational understanding of underlying systems remains valuable for serious software engineers. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Tech salaries: Python freshers get ₹11.5 LPA, backend leaders earn ₹49 LPA
Salaries in India's tech sectors are no longer rising uniformly across the board. According to the Instahyre Product-Tech PayCheck 2025 report, pay hikes are being driven by skill depth and domain expertise—particularly in backend engineering and DevOps—while early-career frontend and mobile roles are seeing stagnation or even decline. At the same time, Tier-2 cities like Indore, Jaipur, and Chandigarh are emerging as serious talent pools, with nearly 35–40% of skilled candidates in key roles now based outside the metros. Based on 54,000+ candidate profiles and 14,000 recruiter conversations, the report shows backend engineers continue to top the tech pay ladder. Backend Roles Dominate Salary Growth Freshers with Python skills now earn up to ₹11.5 lakh per annum, among the highest entry-level salaries in product tech. Seasoned backend professionals (10+ years) command up to ₹49.4 LPA, especially with expertise in system architecture and scalable infrastructure. Java and developers also show steady pay growth, driven by backend-heavy product ecosystems. Frontend, Mobile Roles See Flat or Falling Early-Career Pay Entry-level and JavaScript developers have seen a drop of up to ₹1.5 LPA, due to an oversupply of talent. Salaries rebound only beyond 6 years of experience, with senior frontend developers earning up to ₹36.3 LPA. Mobile developers—especially Android-focused juniors—have taken a ₹3 LPA pay cut, though iOS and React Native talent is catching up, reflecting the evolution of mobile ecosystems. DevOps, Cloud Skills Drive Big Paychecks DevOps remains one of the hottest functions in 2025: Kubernetes engineers start around ₹6.2 LPA. AWS-focused team leads can earn up to ₹35.9 LPA, thanks to the growing reliance on secure and scalable cloud infrastructure. Tier-2 Cities Step Into the Spotlight While Bengaluru continues to lead in overall tech hiring—particularly in backend (40%), DevOps (30%), and data science (29%)—a geographic shift is underway: 42% of backend engineers and 37% of frontend and mobile app developers are now based outside the top 5 metros. Tier-2 and RoI (Rest of India) cities are becoming cost-effective talent hubs, offering broader access and flexibility to recruiters. Flat Early-Career Pay, Higher Stakes for Specialization The report confirms a plateau in early-career compensation, especially for generalist roles. Only high-demand niche skills (e.g., full-stack expertise, cybersecurity, or AI/ML) now enable fresher salaries to grow faster. Companies are rewarding depth over breadth, with growing preference for engineers who can deliver high-impact features, not just code volume. Gender Gaps Persist, But Some Roles Show Promise Gender diversity remains a significant concern in India's tech hiring landscape. The report reveals that backend and network roles continue to be heavily male-dominated, with an 85:15 male-to-female ratio. DevOps, cybersecurity, and database roles show similar disparities. However, functions such as testing and quality assurance, data science, and certain frontend roles demonstrate relatively better inclusion, with a 70:30 male-female ratio in some pockets. Despite the industry's stated focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), companies are now prioritizing deep tech capability and specialization over diversity quotas in high-demand tech roles like AI, cloud, and data engineering. Top Skills for 2025: Java, Python, AWS, and Android The report identifies Java, Python, and as the most preferred backend skills. Java remains a staple, showing fivefold salary growth from entry-level to senior roles. In the data science arena, Python leads with 25% candidate preference, followed by Java and machine learning. For DevOps, AWS and Jenkins dominate in terms of compensation and popularity. Monitoring and CI/CD skills are seeing high adoption, with cost-optimization becoming a key hiring criterion. Mobile development continues to favor Android, though iOS and React Native are slowly gaining ground. Android holds 52% candidate preference, but the share has dropped slightly, indicating diversification in the mobile development stack. Testing and QA roles see Selenium as the preferred specialization, while in networks, CCNA and network security command the most attention. In IT security, information security and app security are ahead of cloud security, though the latter still holds strategic importance in multi-cloud deployments. Where the Talent Lives: Hottest Locations by Function Bangalore accounts for the highest share of experienced tech professionals across backend, DevOps, and data science. Hyderabad is a close second for backend and cybersecurity, while Pune is making inroads in testing, QA, and database management. RoI dominates early-career talent distribution in nearly every function. For example: 42% of backend talent is based in RoI. 37% of frontend and mobile app talent is in RoI. 35% of data science, IT security, and network professionals are also located outside the top metros. As Sarbojit Mallick, Co-founder of Instahyre, noted, 'The future of hiring lies in identifying deep tech talent early, investing in skill development, and being agile in workforce planning. Those who upskill and adapt will lead the pack.'
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Google's head of Android said the computer science major needs a 'rebrand'
Even Google's head of Android, Sameer Samat thinks the computer science major needs a rebrand. "It is thought of as, 'go learn how to do Java coding,'" Samat said of the major, adding that if that's what you want to do, "you don't need a degree." That's not how Samat, who studied computer science himself at UC San Diego, views a major in computer science. "It's definitely not learning to code," Samat said. "It is the science, in my opinion, of solving problems." While coding is a skill taught as part of the major, the discipline is more about breaking down problems, learning how to design a system, and collaborating on those tasks, Samat said. As software engineering becomes more automated, more individuals are beginning to question the practicality of pursuing a computer science degree. AI is increasingly handling fundamental tasks like coding, making it harder for some computer science graduates to secure full-time positions and internships. To be clear, Samat still thinks the degree is valuable and that "learning to code is really important," even as tools like Codex become more prominent and companies like Google and Meta and generate some code with AI. The head of Android said that when he learned to code, people had just stopped learning Assembly, a low-level programming language, and started coding in other languages. Samat said he still learned how to write code with Assembly because it was instructive on how the machine underneath works. There will always be a higher, more abstract language that computer programmers will learn to build new technology, Samat said. "Maybe someday it'll be natural language, where we're just talking about what we want, and something is building the underlying software for you," Samat said. But he doesn't think that time will come for "a while." Students shouldn't become computer science majors just because they think others will find it valuable, Samat said. The Android executive said that mindset won't necessarily be shared by their prospective employer, and job seekers should have "passion" outside of computer science. "I don't think that the degree enough is enough to make yourself relevant for some of the most important companies," Samat said, adding that you need to take it "to the next level." Samat draws from personal experience, having launched two startups in his early twenties, one of which led to an introduction to Sergey Brin. He said that building a startup early in his career ultimately made him a more effective contributor when he later joined Google. Whatever other interest you have, said Samat, "I think it's really important that it be something that you're really excited about going deep in and really becoming a 5% top expert in the field."
News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
TCS' New Bench Policy And Why It's Sparking Layoff Fears Among Employees — Explained
Last Updated: Thousands of employees at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) are staring at job uncertainty as the tech giant's new bench policy; here's why Thousands of employees at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) are staring at job uncertainty as the tech giant's new bench policy completes its first full cycle this week. Introduced on June 12, the policy enforces a strict 35-day cap on the time employees can remain on the bench—i.e., without being assigned to a billable project. Applicable to all staff across the company, the rule significantly tightens previous norms. Employees who fail to secure a project within this 35-day window may face career stagnation or even risk termination. TCS Bench Policy Leaves Employees Concerned Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) new bench policy has sparked widespread anxiety among employees, many of whom have turned to social media platforms like Reddit to express concerns. Several posts suggest employees are being pressured to accept roles unrelated to their training, while others cite difficulty in finding assignments near their preferred locations. 'This is the first step towards employment rationalisation based on utilisation. Brace for layoffs," one Reddit user wrote. A recent joiner shared, 'I was trained in Java, but within a month of being on the bench, I'm being pressured to join a support project that's far removed from Java or Python." Effective from June 12, 2025, TCS' revised deployment policy mandates that employees must be billable for at least 225 business days in a 12-month period, effectively capping bench time to 35 business days annually. The policy applies to all employees and aims to improve project utilisation and reduce unallocated time. Consequences of Extended Bench Time Internal communications indicate that prolonged unallocation could impact an employee's compensation, career growth, opportunities for overseas deployment, and even continuity of employment. Expectations from Employees on the Bench TCS expects employees on the bench to take initiative in finding projects. A company document states: 'It is the primary responsibility of the associate to proactively engage with the Unit/Regional RMG for seeking allocation and pursue suitable opportunities provided by the organisation." Mandatory Upskilling and Return-to-Office Mandate Employees on the bench are required to dedicate 4–6 hours daily to upskilling through platforms like iEvolve, Fresco Play, VLS, and LinkedIn Learning. Remote work is largely restricted during this period, with physical presence in the office mandated. How Many Employees Could Be Affected? While TCS hasn't disclosed official numbers, industry estimates suggest that typically 15–18% of employees at large IT firms are on the bench at any given time. With TCS employing around 613,000 people globally, the number potentially affected could be significant. On Wednesday, the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) urged Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to intervene, labelling the policy 'inhumane" and harmful to employee mental health. 'These are not non-performing employees, but skilled professionals temporarily without allocation… Instead of support, they are met with suspicion, coercion, and threats," said NITES president Harpreet Singh Saluja. The organisation also accused TCS of pressuring employees with threats of termination and denial of experience letters if they miss deployment deadlines. Yes. Some employees have voiced support for the policy, arguing that it may help weed out long-term benchers who have declined assignments or misused bench time. 'This may help TCS trim seriously underperforming resources—those stuck on TCS like a leech," one Reddit comment read. What Has TCS Management Said? TCS CEO and MD K Krithivasan defended the move in an interview with The Times of India, stating that the policy formalises long-standing expectations. 'It's always been expected that associates take responsibility for their careers. HR supports project placement, but associates are expected to proactively seek assignments. What you see now is just a more structured version of that," he said. He also noted that project allocation is driven by client demand, not employee preferences, though TCS does work to bridge skill gaps where needed. However, Krithivasan did not clarify whether salaries are being withheld for those benched beyond the 35-day limit. Why Now? The policy comes at a time when the IT industry is facing subdued demand due to global macroeconomic pressures and rising adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), which is automating many routine roles. 'We expect IT companies to tighten bench policies given the soft business outlook and increased demand for advanced skill sets," said Pareekh Jain, founder of EIIRTrend. He added that employee costs are weighing heavily on margins. Could Other Companies Follow? Experts believe TCS' move may prompt other IT firms to review their bench strategies. 'Tech firms must constantly align employee skills with evolving client demands. Revisiting bench policies encourages reskilling in high-demand areas like AI, cybersecurity, and digital engineering," said Nitin Bhatt, Technology Sector Leader at EY India. 'In the future, promotions and merit increases may depend more on skill proficiency than tenure or grade," he added. About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, More Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategies—only on News18. tags : tcs view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 18, 2025, 07:55 IST News business » markets TCS' New Bench Policy And Why It's Sparking Layoff Fears Among Employees — Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
