'India has talent problem': Startup CEO claims 1,000 applicants failed basic coding task for Rs 50 lakh role

Umesh Kumar’s post—which has attracted more than 4,00,000 views—resonated with many in the tech community.

Umesh Kumar, CEO of Bengaluru-based startup Runable and alumnus of IIT Roorkee, sparked intense debate on social media after revealing a flood of unsuitable applications for a backend engineering role at his company.

In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Kumar shared his frustration: “India seriously has a big f***ing talent problem. We got around 1,000 applications for a backend engineering role in just the last 2–3 days, and guess how many were actually decent? < 5. We asked for a basic, simple coding task.The submissions? Mostly absolute trash… AI‑generated crap everywhere. … Code that doesn’t even run. … is it too much to ask for code that actually compiles?”

He went on to explain his company’s streamlined hiring process: “Here’s our process straightforward: Simple coding task; CEO call (15 mins); CTO call (45 mins); Paid one‑day trial with the team; Offer. Done.”

He emphasised that despite not being “Big Tech”, Runable offered competitive salaries of Rs 50 lakh with relocation and meal allowances: “So yes, at this pay scale, expecting code that actually runs is justified.”

India seriously has a big f***ing talent problem. We got around 1000 applications for a backend engineering role in just the last 2-3 days, and guess how many were actually decent? < 5.

We asked for a basic, simple coding task. The submissions? Mostly absolute trash.… — Umesh Kumar (@itsumeshk) June 30, 2025

Kumar’s post—which has attracted more than 4,00,000 views—resonated with many in the tech community. An X user remarked, “It’s gonna get a lot harder to find great talent with students using AI in college.” Another added: “Can’t even make an Insta basic feed frontend without AI.”

Several also reflected on longstanding issues: “This has been happening since 2002. … couldn’t write a single working line of code.”

Critics of the hiring model also weighed in: “By requiring a coding task before speaking to the person, you filter out ALL good talent, and end up with whoever is desperate.” Another suggested, “You should mention the range of CTC or LPA for the job position—it can lead to some serious submissions.”

Kumar’s concerns echo wider lamentations about India’s engineering workforce. Nearly half of engineering graduates lack essential industry‑relevant skills, according to studies. A NASSCOM-backed estimate suggests India must add 3.5 million digitally skilled professionals by 2026 to meet climbing demand.

TeamLease Digital forecasts a sharp increase in AI and emerging tech jobs—up to 900,000 roles over 18 months—while recognising the talent pipeline remains underdeveloped.

Meanwhile, the IIT‑Roorkee alumnus’s observation aligns with reports from startups struggling to hire senior engineers. Recent data show India has fewer than 2,000 senior engineers capable of supporting foundational AI products.

Industry leaders argue universities must collaborate more closely with employers. Tech hiring experts note that many entry-level candidates lack real-world coding experience, emphasising the importance of assessments and benchmarking platforms .

Some startups have shifted to remote technical challenges and bootcamp-style onboarding to bridge the gap. Others, like ixigo and CRED, recruit from tier‑2 colleges then invest in six‑month intensive training