Edward Nathan Varghese, a final-year Computer Science and Engineering student at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H), has made history by securing the highest placement package ever offered at the institute, a staggering ₹2.5 crore per annum. The offer comes from Optiver, a Netherlands-based global trading firm, where Varghese will join as a software engineer starting in July 2026 after converting his two-month summer internship into a Pre-Placement Offer (PPO).
At just 21 years old, Varghese outshined peers in a competitive placement season, securing this remarkable offer through his first and only interview during the cycle. Born in Hyderabad and raised partly in Bengaluru, he credits his success to rigorous preparation, strong competitive programming skills and the prestige of the IIT tag. His achievement not only sets a new benchmark for IIT-H but also highlights the growing global demand for top Indian technical talent, particularly in high-end software and quantitative roles.
The 2025–26 placement season also saw a surge in overall outcomes, with average packages rising by about 75 %, reflecting broader momentum in campus hiring despite challenging market conditions
