Bureaucrat shares 40-year-old appointment letter from TCS Mumbai. His 'princely salary' was...

The offer letter, dated June 20, 1984, indicated that Rohit Singh had been hired as a trainee with a monthly stipend of Rs 1,300.

A retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer recently shared memories of his early career, revealing the modest salary he was offered at the outset of his professional journey. Rohit Kumar Singh, a 1989 batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, disclosed details of his first job offer from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Mumbai in 1984, shortly after graduating from IIT-BHU.

Singh, who retired as Secretary to the Government of India and is currently a member of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), shared his TCS appointment letter from 40 years ago on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote: “A little more than 40 years ago, I got my first job at TCS Mumbai through campus recruitment at IIT BHU.”

The offer letter, dated June 20, 1984, indicated that Singh had been hired as a trainee with a monthly stipend of Rs 1,300. Reflecting on his starting salary, he remarked, “With a princely salary of 1,300 Rupees, the ocean view from the 11th Floor of the Air India Building at Nariman Point was regal indeed!”

A little more than 40 years ago, I got my first job at TCS Mumbai through campus recruitment at IIT BHU.With a princely salary of 1300 Rupees, the ocean view from the 11th Floor of Air India Building at Nariman Point was regal indeed! pic.twitter.com/A9akrhgu7F
Rohit Kumar Singh (@rohitksingh) September 29, 2024

The document, signed by TCS, outlined the terms of his employment, including eligibility for a house rent subsidy as per company regulations. The letter stated: “In addition, you will be eligible for House Rent Subsidy as per the rules.” Singh was also required to submit proof of age to finalise his appointment.

In his post, Singh went on to reveal the salary he received when he later joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1989. As a probationer in the IAS, his salary increased to Rs 2,200 per month.

Singh's academic background included a degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT-BHU, followed by a Master’s in Computer Engineering from Clarkson University in New York. Later, during his IAS career, he pursued a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University.