Computing, IT & AI

IT services industry and the global delivery model

1968-2000s CETCS (F. C. Kohli), Infosys (N. R. Narayana Murthy and co-founders), Wipro and othersTCS founded 1968; Infosys 1981; Software Technology Parks of India 1991Pan-Indian / unspecified

1968

Software built for clients worldwide by teams split between their offices and development centres in India.

Dated: 1968–2005
As scholars put it: 1968-2000s CE
Originator: TCS (F. C. Kohli), Infosys (N. R. Narayana Murthy and co-founders), Wipro and others
Source text: TCS founded 1968; Infosys 1981; Software Technology Parks of India 1991
Region: Pan-Indian / unspecified
Discipline: Computing, IT & AI
Evidence: Documented
Confidence: High
Verification: Verified-web

Background

Tata Consultancy Services was founded in 1968 and Infosys in 1981. Software Technology Parks of India (1991) gave exporters satellite data links and tax incentives, so work could be delivered remotely. Remediation of the Year 2000 date problem in the late 1990s brought large contracts and global recognition.

Significance

Indian firms turned offshore delivery into a standard industry model, combining distributed teams with process discipline. The sector employs about six million people and earns most of its revenue from exports.

Fair to say

Offshore outsourcing was practised elsewhere too; India's contribution was scale and the delivery model, not the idea of outsourcing.

Path to modern innovation

IT and business process services contribute roughly 7.5% of India's GDP.

Modern value

About $315 billion industry revenue (NASSCOM estimate, FY 2026).

Global impact

Made Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai global software centres.
Created a large pool of engineers who later founded product and start-up companies.