A final-year computer science student at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H), Edward Nathan Varghese, has secured a record-breaking Rs 2.5 crore annual package from Netherlands-based firm Optiver, defying a challenging job market. This marks the highest salary ever offered to a student at the institute since its establishment in 2008. Varghese will join the firm as a software engineer in July.

Record-Breaking Offer and Summer Internship Success

At just 21, Varghese converted a two-month summer internship at Optiver into a pre-placement offer (PPO), becoming the sole PPO recipient among the two interns selected. “This was the first and only company I interviewed for. I was ecstatic when my mentor indicated the offer,” he told Times of India. Born in Hyderabad and later schooled in Bengaluru, Varghese credited his strong competitive programming background, ranking among the top 100 nationally, and IIT-H’s flexible curriculum for helping him secure the position.

Strong Placement Season Across IIT Hyderabad

The 2025 placement season at IIT-H saw remarkable growth. Apart from Varghese, another computer science student received a Rs 1.1 crore offer. The average package across the campus jumped nearly 75 percent from Rs 20.8 lakh in 2024 to Rs 36.2 lakh in 2025. In the first phase of placements, students secured 24 international offers, while 62 percent of undergraduate registrants and 196 of 650 postgraduate students have been placed so far, with average packages of Rs 36.2 lakh and Rs 22 lakh, respectively.

Mayur Vaidya, faculty in charge of the Office of Career Services, emphasized that the institute prioritizes providing quality opportunities for all students, including core engineering and postgraduate candidates, rather than focusing solely on top packages.

This record-setting placement season reflects both the global demand for IIT Hyderabad talent and the growing strength of its academic and career development programs.