Bengaluru Software Developer’s Rapid Salary Surge Sparks Praise and Skepticism Online
A Bengaluru-based software developer, Arka Mazumder, claims a rapid salary rise from Rs 3.2 LPA to Rs 80 LPA in three years, sparking widespread praise and skepticism online. His journey from TCS to Google has ignited debate over career growth, salary jumps, and credibility in India’s tech industry.
In an Instagram video, Mazumder said that he began his work with TCS at the age of 23 and earned Rs 3.2 LPA. He later transferred to Kuku FM two years later, earning Rs 14 LPA before landing a job with Google for Rs 80 LPA. He stated that he began his career in 2021 as an assistant system engineer under TCS's Ninja programme, earning Rs 3.2 LPA. After college, he characterised himself as "wide-eyed and eager to learn".
After completing TCS's digital programme (Wings 1), he was promoted to system engineer in 2022, raising his pay to roughly Rs 7 LPA. Around the same time, he began preparing intensively for data structures and algorithms (DSA), which are typically regarded important for product-based IT employment.
In 2025, Mazumder stated that he joined Google at a salary of Rs 80 LPA, calling it the "biggest leap" in his career. He further stated that even after accepting the position, he continued to work on complex topics like graphs, attempts, and dynamic programming, bringing his LeetCode total to over 750 tasks. "Like every other BTech student, I aspired to work at Google while in college. I ended up at TCS at Rs 3.2 LPA due to lack of guidance and constraints in a Tier-3 college," Mazumder said, adding that "this is just the beginning." He also stated that he plans to retire in five years and launch his own business.
The claims triggered mixed reactions on social media. While many praised him, several questioned the steep increase from Rs 15 to Rs 80 LPA. "Rs 15 LPA to Rs 80 LPA sounds really unrealistic," one commenter said. Another asked, "How did you convince them to do this? Wasn't the latest drawn salary considered?"
Others responded more critically. One user said, "Fourteen years in TCS… earning one-ninth of your salary," while another asser
ted, "A person with 80 LPA will not disclose on such platforms." Another comment read, "It's not real."
Mazumder has continued to reply to critiques, maintaining that his path is real and driven by meticulous planning and strategic shifts. "People only see my Rs 80 LPA package at Google," he said. "They don’t see the struggle behind it." The episode highlights ongoing debates over compensation growth, career mobility, and credibility of success narratives within India’s technology sector.

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