TCS NQT 2026 registration is open now for the October cycle. Applications close 7 October 2026 and the test is on 19 October 2026, held only at TCS iON authorised exam centres. Your scorecard is valid 2 years and is accepted by TCS and 4,000+ other corporates. Students passing out between 2021 and 2027, and freshers with under 2 years’ experience, are eligible. Variants start at ₹599.
Job Summary
About TCS NQT 2026
The TCS National Qualifier Test (NQT) is the single gateway to all TCS fresher roles — Ninja (₹3.36 LPA), Digital (₹7 LPA) and Prime (₹9+ LPA for select profiles). One registration covers all three tracks; your test score decides which interview track you’re invited to. The test is conducted online and in TCS iON centres across India.
TCS NQT 2026 exam pattern
The test runs up to ~155 minutes in two parts — a 75-minute Foundation section everyone takes, and an optional Advanced section that qualifies you for Digital and Prime interviews. There is no negative marking.
Salary structure — Ninja vs Digital vs Prime
These three tracks are how TCS itself hires freshers through its NextStep drives — your NQT score decides which interview you are invited to, and you don’t choose a track while applying. Worth being clear on the distinction: the October cycle above is the TCS iON NQT, a paid assessment whose scorecard 4,000+ companies accept. TCS treats that score as one input into its own hiring, and it announces NextStep campus drives separately. Salary depends entirely on which company hires you, so treat the figures below as TCS’s published fresher bands rather than a guarantee attached to the test.
Foundation section only. Entry-level development and support roles across TCS units.
Requires Advanced section. Full-stack, cloud and data engineering roles with faster growth track.
Top scorers from Advanced + coding. R&D and product engineering profiles at TCS Pace.
Eligibility criteria
- UG, PG and Diploma students in their pre-final or final year — any stream or degree
- Candidates passing out between 2021 and 2027, with a degree and specialisation
- Freshers and working professionals with less than 2 years of experience
- Age between 17 and 30 years
- No percentage or backlog cut-off is stated for the TCS iON NQT itself — individual corporates that accept the score set their own filters, and TCS’s own NextStep drives typically ask for 60% throughout with no active backlogs
How to apply
Open the official TCS iON NQT page and pick your variant — Cognitive (₹599), IT (₹999), Non-Tech (₹599) or BFSI. Prep-pack bundles cost more.
Sign in with your TCS iON Digital Learning Hub account (or create one), then complete the registration form with your name, email, phone and assessment mode.
Pay for the variant to confirm your seat. Applications close 7 October 2026, and the test is conducted only in-centre at TCS iON authorised exam centres.
Download your hall ticket — it reaches your registered email 2 days before the exam — and sit the test on 19 October 2026. Your scorecard is then valid for 2 years.
Selection process
After the written test there are two rounds: a technical interview (DSA basics, your projects, one programming language of your choice) and a combined managerial + HR round (scenario questions, relocation, willingness to work in shifts). Digital and Prime interviews go deeper — expect coding on a shared editor and questions on OOP design. Offer letters are typically released 3–6 weeks after interviews.
Documents required
- Updated resume (single-column, PDF) — try our free Resume Builder
- Class X, XII and semester-wise graduation marksheets
- Government photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / passport)
- Passport-size photograph as per portal specifications
- Gap/backlog justification letter, if applicable
Preparation tips from selected candidates
- Solve the last 3 years of NQT numerical ability sets — the pattern repeats heavily
- For the Advanced coding section, practise arrays, strings and hashing in one language you know well
- Attempt at least two full-length timed mocks — time pressure fails more candidates than difficulty (use our free aptitude practice tests)
- Prepare a 90-second self-introduction — see our 5-part formula with sample answers
TCS NQT 2026 — FAQs
Is there any registration fee for TCS NQT 2026?
Yes. The TCS iON NQT is a paid assessment. As listed on the official TCS iON page, NQT – Cognitive and NQT – Non Tech are ₹599 each and NQT – IT is ₹999, inclusive of taxes; prep-pack bundles cost more. Pay only on tcsion.com — anyone else collecting a fee is not affiliated with TCS. Separately, TCS’s own NextStep campus drives are free to register for, and those are announced on the NextStep portal.
What is the difference between Ninja, Digital and Prime?
They are salary tracks: Ninja ≈ ₹3.36 LPA, Digital ≈ ₹7 LPA, Prime ≈ ₹9+ LPA. Your NQT score decides which track interview you are invited to — one test covers all three.
Can 2024 batch graduates with a job gap apply?
Yes, 2024 batch is eligible if the total education/career gap does not exceed 24 months and you can state a valid reason during verification.
Is the NQT score valid for other companies?
Yes — the NQT score card is valid for 2 years and is accepted by several other corporates hiring through the TCS iON Job Listing portal.
Ready to apply?
Read the eligibility above, keep your resume ready, and apply on the official portal only. No fees — ever.
Apply on official portal →