Cognizant was founded in Chennai and India remains the centre of its global delivery, with the large majority of its workforce based in the country. Its Indian teams handle software development, digital engineering, consulting and business process work for clients in North America and Europe.
Ownership and structure
Cognizant runs its India operations through wholly owned Indian subsidiaries of the US listed parent.
What India does for Cognizant
India is the centre of Cognizant's global delivery, home to the large majority of its workforce and its biggest delivery centres in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Investment and deals
In June 2025 Cognizant committed Rs 1,583 crore to a new campus in Visakhapatnam that is planned to create 8,000 jobs by 2029, and it broke ground on the site in December 2025.
Cognizant's India business
Cognizant began in Chennai in 1994 as Dun and Bradstreet Satyam Software with about 50 employees. Its India workforce stood at about 256,900 at the end of 2025, out of roughly 351,600 worldwide.
In 2019 it crossed 200,000 employees in India making it one of the largest multinational employers in the country. In 2025 it planned to hire 20,000 freshers that year.
Key moves in India
- 1994: The company started in Chennai as Dun and Bradstreet Satyam Software, a joint venture of Dun and Bradstreet and Satyam Computers, with about 50 staff.
- 1997: The business was renamed Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Dun and Bradstreet bought out Satyam's 24 percent stake.
- 2008: Cognizant acquired T Systems India, a systems integration business.
- 2009: It acquired the UBS India Service Centre.
- 2024: Hyderabad overtook Chennai as its largest Indian centre, with both cities above 50,000 employees.
- 2025: Cognizant broke ground on an 8,000 seat campus in Visakhapatnam.
Where it operates
Cognizant runs its India business from Chennai. It also has a presence in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
At a glance
- Home country: United States
- Global headquarters: Teaneck
- Sector: Technology & AI
- Business: IT services
- Role of India: Global delivery and operations, R&D and engineering hub
- India head office: Chennai
- India offices: Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad
- India headcount: 256,900+ (2025)
- In India since: 1994
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