TCS may hire up to 9,000 staff in '04/'05

SINGAPORE: India's largest software services provider, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., will hire about 8,000 to 9,000 people in the year ending March 31, 2005, its chief executive said.

"This year, we will certainly hire close to about 8,000-9,000 people," S. Ramadorai, said on the sidelines of a conference.

The Bombay-based firm, part of India's second-largest industrial conglomerate Tata Group, said last month it added a net 2,521 staffers during the quarter ended December 31.

Shares of TCS, which listed in August 2004, ended up 0.31 percent at 1,309.65 rupees on Thursday. The main Bombay index closed 1.4 percent higher.