A never-ending debate is that about the quality of Indian software developers. It is said that most developers around the world begin coding at a ridiculously young age. However, it will surprise many to know that in India, only one in ten start coding before the age of 15. The number is three out of ten elsewhere!
See the difference? Hence, we have always heard time and again that Indian software developers are ok-to-mediocre coders, are not technically competent, and most times, clueless.
Robert Baptiste, a French hacker who challenged UIDAI's security (the agency that issues Aadhaar) in 2018 tweeted,
“I use to work with Indian developers and sometimes it’s very painful. Seriously, you are a senior developer and you don’t know how to use Git? You are a backend developer and you don’t know how to do a curl request?” (sic)
Baptiste explained his statement in subsequent tweets. He stated the core problem of Indian developers was that they lacked curiosity. He further added that not knowing something is no biggie, but then one needs to be curious.
"Sometimes, the candidates are googling basic questions during the interview," he tweeted. "Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of good developers in India and it's ok to don't know something. But at least, if you don't know something to be curious, try to learn it and understand. The lack of curiosity is really a blocker for me." (sic)
It is a well-known fact that a significant percentage of people working for technology giants across the globe are none other than Indians. They are considered high-quality resources there.
Also, the country houses top colleges and universities for computer programming, such as IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, and others.
So why are Indian software developers considered bad? Is the scenario different only in their motherland and not elsewhere? Let’s dig deeper:
Inefficient education system
Of course, the Indian education system doesn't help. It is only focused on exams and knowledge is not a priority. Schools and colleges aim to mold students with high scores.
Hence, a good percentage of students mug up textbooks. Most teachers rely on books, giving students little or no practical experience.
An engineering student, on average, has to study more than 40 subjects in 8 semesters; this equals almost 6,000 hours of classes and more than 300,000 pages of information.
Of the 6,000 hours, only around 500 hours are spent on hands-on lab work. If students read so many books but don’t get practical experience, what can they learn?
Also, students are mostly forced to take tests that reflect retention and not actual understanding.
It is said that the amount of new technical data doubles every 2 years. However, most educational institutions still teach outdated technologies. Students starting a 4-year engineering degree may find that half of what they learn in year one is obsolete by year three.
Research says around 1.5 million engineers graduate every year in India, with 80% not employable. Then some become teachers—thus continues the vicious cycle!
Fault in hiring processes
Going by current hiring patterns, it doesn’t seem like most companies prioritize coding talent.
Rudimentary coding knowledge and a degree suffice for many jobs, and many “graduates” end up warming benches at plush offices.
Developer hiring at scale is often reduced to shortlisting based on academic performance, a FizzBuzz test (read technical interview tips – beyond FizzBuzz), and simple pen-and-paper code exercises.
Individual assessment is ideal but not feasible at scale. Some IT companies in India hire 3,000–5,000 students from a single college.
So individually assessing each candidate becomes unthinkable. But if companies want good coders, they need to start with better hiring processes—asking the right questions is essential.
The customary, “How would you rate yourself in XYZ language?” doesn’t work outside the context of real-world problems.
Coder by profession not passion
Most engineers choose IT because it’s seen as a desirable white-collar job. Many end up in engineering due to parental or peer pressure.
Even non-IT background students opt for IT jobs due to salary prospects. Lacking passion, they work just for the paycheck.
Many such employees work mechanically, unaware of what they’re really doing—leading to stagnation in skills and innovation.
Passion fuels quality work. A coder who never programs outside their job, runs side projects, or explores tech events is unlikely to improve significantly.
Lack of opportunity to work on cutting-edge tech
The Indian IT industry is largely service-based. It comprises companies that work on products already created by clients, offering testing, database, and support services.
This leaves little room for R&D or innovation. Service companies work under strict deadlines with fixed client specs, reducing developer flexibility.
Coders are trained to maintain existing technologies instead of creating new ones, unlike in product-based companies that encourage exploration and innovation.
Clearly, there’s a link between these factors and the quality of developers in India. Maybe it's the curse of rudimentary methods, or maybe experienced devs think the old ways are “good enough.”
But there’s reason for hope—“change is the only constant.”
Many talented developers in India are underutilized. The industry must foster a growth mindset and support communities that encourage learning and development.
Companies should promote participation in such communities to help developers break out of their comfort zones.
How to find a good software developer in India?
First, define what makes a good developer. A good developer:
- Asks questions
- Has good communication skills
- Is honest
- Is responsive
- Keeps deadlines
- Maintains integrity
- Suggests improvements
- Takes ownership of requirements
- And most importantly, knows how to code
Read more on how universities can use online assessment platforms for students HERE.
Look for talent in specialized forums like StackOverflow and GitHub. These platforms attract developers who enjoy sharing and solving problems.
Coding platforms like HackerEarth help connect with a 2.5M+ developer community that participates in challenges to improve their skills.
Meanwhile, check out HackerEarth Recruit, a platform that enables efficient technical screening, helping companies build strong tech teams.
With a library of over 15,000 questions, tech leads and even non-tech recruiters can assess developers at scale for virtually any technical role.
(Also read – Advantages of using online assessments for students)
