TCS NQT Registration 2026: How to Apply on NextStep and TCS iON
Step-by-step guide to TCS NQT registration for 2026 freshers: NextStep portal walkthrough, eligibility, 190-minute test pattern, and Ninja/Digital/Prime CTC breakdown.
The TCS NQT runs on two separate platforms in 2026, and which one you register on depends on whether your target is TCS specifically or a shortlist across multiple companies.
Two Routes, One Integrated Test
The brand name “TCS NQT” covers two distinct products that are easy to conflate.
The TCS All India NQT Hiring is TCS’s own campus recruitment drive. Registration goes through the TCS careers portal at nextstep.tcs.com. It is free to register. This route is for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 graduating batches. Your score places you into a Ninja, Digital, or Prime offer track.
The TCS iON NQT is a commercial assessment sold on tcsion.com. It costs Rs 599 for the Cognitive variant (verbal, reasoning, numerical) or Rs 999 for the IT variant (adds advanced coding and programming). TCS accepts TCS iON NQT scores, and so do 4,000+ other companies. The score is valid for 2 years, and you can retake it to improve.
If TCS is your primary target and you are in the eligible batch, the NextStep route is the right one. The TCS iON NQT makes more sense if you want your aptitude score to work across multiple company portals simultaneously.
Eligibility: Who Qualifies in 2026
TCS specifies the following eligibility for its All India NQT Hiring drive:
- Graduating batch: 2024, 2025, or 2026
- Degree: B.Tech / B.E. / M.Tech / M.E. / MCA / M.Sc. in any specialisation
- Institution: AICTE or UGC recognised university or college
- Academic record: minimum 60% aggregate in Class X, Class XII, and across all semesters of your current degree
- Backlogs: no active backlogs at the time of application
- Work experience: up to 2 years of work experience is eligible; internship experience is not counted for salary fitment
If your college uses a CGPA system, convert to percentage by multiplying CGPA by 10, per the TCS NQT registration FAQ (7.2 CGPA converts to 72%). Tier-2 and Tier-3 college students meet the same criteria as students from any institution. The NQT score, not the college name, is TCS’s primary filter at this stage.
How to Register: Each Route Explained
Route 1: TCS NextStep (Direct TCS Hiring)
The March 2026 drive had registration open from 18 February to 20 March 2026, per the TCS NQT hiring page. Check the same page for the next announced cycle.
- Step 1: Go to nextstep.tcs.com and click Register or Login.
- Step 2: Create your profile under the IT section. Do not register under BPS; a BPS profile will disable the Apply for Drive option.
- Step 3: Enter your personal details: name, mobile number, email, and educational qualifications. Convert CGPA to percentage before filling the marks field.
- Step 4: Click Apply for Drive. This step is mandatory. Completing the registration form without clicking this button does not enter you into the hiring process.
- Step 5: Watch your registered email for test schedule communication from [email protected] (TCS iON’s sender address).
- Step 6: Appear at the allotted TCS iON centre on the scheduled date. The 2026 drive is in-centre only; no remote proctoring.
- Step 7: Shortlisted candidates receive further communication on next steps by email. TCS does not publish individual scores; shortlisting is communicated directly.
If your account gets locked after repeated failed OTP attempts, it releases after 4 hours. For urgent issues, contact [email protected] or call 18002093111.
Route 2: TCS iON NQT (Open Market Test)
- Step 1: Go to tcsion.com/hub/national-qualifier-test.
- Step 2: Log in with your TCS iON Digital Learning Hub credentials, or sign up as a new user.
- Step 3: Choose your variant: TCS iON NQT - Cognitive (Rs 599, verbal plus reasoning plus numerical) or TCS iON NQT - IT (Rs 999, adds advanced coding).
- Step 4: Click Buy Now and complete payment. Your hall ticket or login credentials are issued on successful payment.
- Step 5: For the in-centre assessment, your hall ticket arrives by email 2 days before the exam date.
- Step 6: Appear at the allotted TCS iON authorised exam centre.
- Step 7: After the test, your scorecard is sent to your registered email. Use it to apply on tcsion.com and on individual company portals that accept TCS iON NQT scores.
The TCS iON NQT is conducted every 2 to 4 weeks at authorised centres. You can retake it as many times as needed; the highest score across all attempts stays on record.
What the 190-Minute Test Looks Like
The TCS All India NQT uses an integrated test format, confirmed in the TCS NQT FAQ (Q4):
| Part | Duration | Sections |
|---|---|---|
| Part A: Foundation | 75 minutes | Numerical Ability, Verbal Ability, Reasoning Ability |
| Part B: Advanced | 115 minutes | Advanced Quantitative and Reasoning, Advanced Coding |
| Total | 190 minutes | Both parts mandatory for all candidates |
No negative marking. All questions are in English. Every candidate sits the same pattern; the offer track (Ninja, Digital, or Prime) is determined by your percentile after the test, not by choosing a separate paper.
For NQT aptitude questions section by section, FACE Prep’s dedicated guide covers the Foundation part in detail. For the Advanced section, the TCS coding preparation guide covers the coding patterns that appear in Part B.
Ninja, Digital, Prime: Where Your Score Lands You
| Offer Track | CTC (UG) | CTC (PG) | What Differentiates |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCS Ninja | Rs 3.4 LPA | Rs 3.6 LPA | Mass entry track; NQT plus standard technical plus HR interview |
| TCS Digital | Rs 7.0 to 7.5 LPA | Rs 7.0 to 7.5 LPA | Higher NQT cutoff; advanced technical interview required |
| TCS Prime | Rs 9.0 to 11.0 LPA | Rs 9.0 to 11.0 LPA | Top NQT percentile; extended technical plus AI or data project review |
Ninja CTC per TCS All India NQT FAQ (Q28); Digital and Prime bands per TCS CHRO March 2026 data. Internship experience is not counted for salary fitment at any track.
The TCS Ninja pattern guide covers what the Ninja-specific interview round expects after NQT shortlisting.
AI Skills and the Offer Track That’s Gaining Ground
The composition of TCS’s fresher hiring has shifted substantially over three years. Sudeep Kunnumal, TCS CHRO, stated at the AI Impact Summit in March 2026 that 60% of FY26 fresher hires are AI-skilled, up from 10 to 15% three years ago. TCS also reported 270,000 employees with advanced AI skills, triple the figure from a year before.
The Prime track is where that shift shows up in the hiring room. TCS Prime interviews now include an AI or data project review in the extended technical round. A high NQT percentile gets you to the Prime interview; what you have built with an LLM or a data pipeline determines whether you clear it.
That gap is practical to close before a final-year placement window. TinkerLLM at Rs 299 is a 30-day, project-first playground where you build working LLM applications rather than accumulate certificates.
Primary sources
Frequently asked questions
Is registering for TCS NQT free of charge?
Registration on TCS NextStep for the TCS All India NQT Hiring drive is free. The TCS iON NQT, an open-market test accepted by 4,000+ companies, costs Rs 599 for the Cognitive variant and Rs 999 for the IT variant.
What is the minimum aggregate required to apply for TCS NQT 2026?
TCS requires a minimum of 60% aggregate throughout your academic career (Class X, XII, and all semesters of your degree). No active backlogs are permitted at the time of application.
What happens if I skip the Apply for Drive button on NextStep?
Your registration is not counted if you do not click Apply for Drive on the TCS NextStep portal. Completing registration alone does not enter you into the hiring process; the Apply for Drive step is mandatory per TCS's official FAQ.
How many times can I retake TCS NQT?
There is no limit on attempts. You can retake TCS iON NQT whenever a new session is announced. The highest score from all your attempts is treated as your current score, and the score is valid for 2 years from the result date.
Can students from Tier-2 or Tier-3 colleges apply for TCS NQT?
Yes. TCS NQT is open to all students from AICTE or UGC recognised universities, irrespective of college tier. Eligibility is based on batch year, degree type, and 60% aggregate, not on college name or ranking.
What is the difference between TCS Ninja, Digital, and Prime tracks?
Your NQT score percentile determines which track TCS places you in. Ninja is the mass entry track at Rs 3.4 LPA for UG graduates. Digital (Rs 7 to 7.5 LPA) requires a higher NQT cutoff and advanced technical interview performance. Prime (Rs 9 to 11 LPA) is the top-performer track where AI and data project experience is now expected.
Is coding mandatory for TCS Ninja eligibility?
The TCS NQT Advanced section includes a coding component for all candidates. A weak coding score does not automatically disqualify you from Ninja consideration, but strong coding performance is required for Digital and Prime shortlisting.
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