Illustration for: TCS proposes AI City as it expands UP workforce to 30,000 after 2024 MOU
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TCS proposes AI City as it expands UP workforce to 30,000 after 2024 MOU

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Tata Consultancy Services is gearing up for a major push in India’s most populous state, rolling out a plan that could reshape its regional footprint. The company has outlined a strategy to swell its Uttar Pradesh (UP) headcount to 30,000 employees, a leap that hinges on a new “AI City” concept designed to blend advanced analytics with local industry needs. While the proposal sounds ambitious, its viability rests on a recent partnership with the state’s labour and employment department.

The agreement, signed earlier this year, aims to tackle a persistent challenge: getting young people into stable, skill‑based jobs. Tata Group, the parent conglomerate, has signaled a willingness to back the state’s broader industrial agenda, positioning the initiative as more than a hiring spree. Here’s the thing: the memorandum sets the stage for both workforce expansion and a targeted effort to boost youth employability across UP.

*In 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government and TCS signed a memorandum of understanding through the state's labour and employment department to improve youth employability. At the time, Tata Group had conveyed its intent to actively participate in the state's industrial development and employment generat*

In 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government and TCS signed a memorandum of understanding through the state's labour and employment department to improve youth employability. At the time, Tata Group had conveyed its intent to actively participate in the state's industrial development and employment generation efforts, while the state government had reiterated its commitment to policy stability, transparent systems and a business-friendly environment to attract large investments, according to a statement issued last year. Under the agreement, TCS committed to supporting interview preparation, resume building, data creation, team management and personality development training, along with awareness programmes in emerging areas such as AI and other digital skills.

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The proposal to double TCS’s presence in Uttar Pradesh has moved from paper to discussion. In a courtesy meeting in Lucknow, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed plans to lift headcount at the Lucknow and Noida sites from roughly 16,000 to about 30,000. The numbers stem from a 2024 memorandum of understanding signed between the state’s labour and employment department and TCS, aimed at improving youth employability.

Tata Group has signaled its intent to take an active role in the state’s industrial development and job creation. Yet, whether the expansion will materialise on schedule remains uncertain; the MOU outlines goals but does not guarantee delivery. If the workforce reaches the proposed level, it could represent a sizable contribution to the region’s employment landscape, but the practical steps required to recruit, train and retain that many staff have yet to be detailed.

The dialogue reflects both ambition and caution, leaving observers to watch how the plan unfolds.

Further Reading

Common Questions Answered

What is the “AI City” concept that TCS is proposing in Uttar Pradesh?

The AI City is TCS’s proposed hub that blends advanced analytics with the specific needs of local industries in Uttar Pradesh. It is intended to serve as a catalyst for digital transformation while supporting the company’s goal of expanding its regional workforce.

How many employees does TCS aim to have in Uttar Pradesh after the proposed expansion, and what is the current headcount?

TCS plans to increase its Uttar Pradesh headcount to about 30,000 employees, up from roughly 16,000 staff currently located at its Lucknow and Noida sites. This expansion would more than double the company’s presence in the state.

Which government entities signed the 2024 memorandum of understanding with TCS, and what are its primary goals?

The memorandum of understanding was signed between the Uttar Pradesh government’s labour and employment department and TCS in 2024. Its main objectives are to improve youth employability, support industrial development, and ensure a business‑friendly environment with policy stability.

Who were the senior officials that reviewed the expansion plans in Lucknow, and what did they discuss?

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met in Lucknow to review the expansion. They discussed lifting the headcount at the Lucknow and Noida sites and the rollout of the AI City initiative to boost employment.