Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) has set a new placement benchmark after a final‑year student secured a record‑breaking job offer of ₹2.5 crore per annum; the highest ever in the institute's history.

Who Is the Student?
Edward Nathan Varghese, a 21‑year‑old final‑year Computer Science and Engineering student at IITH, received the package offer from Optiver, a Netherlands‑based global trading firm. He will join the company in July 2026 as a software engineer at its Netherlands office.
The offer came through a pre‑placement offer (PPO) after Edward converted his two‑month summer internship at Optiver into a full‑time position. The internship included two weeks of training followed by a six‑week project assessment. Of the two IITH students selected for the internship, Varghese was the only student to convert it into a PPO.
According to media reports, Optiver was the only company he interviewed with during the placement season.
IIT Hyderabad's Placement Context
The ₹2.5 crore offer now stands as the highest salary package ever recorded at IIT Hyderabad since its establishment in 2008, surpassing previous top offers of around ₹1 crore.
Alongside this achievement:
According to institute officials, while headline figures are notable, the placement strategy also emphasises securing quality offers for all eligible students across disciplines.
Why This Offer Is Significant
Student Background & Preparation
Edward pursued competitive programming during his time at IIT Hyderabad and held leadership roles related to the campus placement ecosystem. While individual preparation strategies vary, a combination of strong technical skills and internship performance contributed to this opportunity.
This achievement not only highlights the exceptional performance of a young engineer on the global recruitment stage but also underscores the evolving placement dynamics at India's premier technical institutes.