Bengaluru, India Infosys Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh received total remuneration of ₹826 million during fiscal year 2026, marking a 2.5% increase from ₹806 million in the previous financial year, according to the company's latest annual report. The modest rise comes at a time when India's information technology sector is navigating slower global demand and growing disruption from artificial intelligence technologies.
Stock Awards Remain Largest Pay Component
A major share of Parekh's compensation continued to come from stock-based incentives. Infosys reported that he earned ₹507.5 million through exercised restricted stock units (RSUs) and related stock-option benefits during FY26, slightly higher than the ₹495 million recorded a year earlier.
His compensation package also included a fixed salary of ₹85 million and variable pay and incentives totaling ₹233.5 million.
During the financial year, Parekh exercised 272,400 RSUs granted under the company's 2015 stock plan and 64,690 RSUs under the 2019 scheme.
Dollar Value Declines Despite Higher Rupee Earnings
While Parekh's remuneration increased in rupee terms, its value in U.S. dollars declined due to currency fluctuations. His FY26 compensation was valued at approximately $8.7 million, compared with $9.44 million in FY25.
The decline reflects the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar during the year.
Industry Faces Growth Challenges
The compensation disclosure comes amid a challenging environment for India's $315-billion IT services industry. Companies are dealing with cautious client spending, macroeconomic uncertainty, and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence solutions that are reshaping technology services.
Infosys has projected revenue growth between 1.5% and 3.5% for FY27, below some market expectations. The company reported revenue growth of 3.1% in FY26.
Comparison With Industry Peers
Among major Indian IT firms, Tata Consultancy Services CEO K Krithivasan earned approximately $2.96 million in FY26. Annual compensation details from other large technology companies, including HCLTech and Wipro, are yet to be disclosed.
Parekh, who became Infosys CEO in 2018, remains the company's longest-serving non-founder chief executive. His current five-year term is scheduled to conclude in March 2027.
