“Is This the New Normal?”Tech Founder Sparks Debate over Alarming Talent Crunch in India
Runable founder Umesh Kumar triggered a heated discussion after revealing that fewer than five out of 1,000 backend engineer applicants submitted decent code, raising concerns about India’s declining tech talent.
A recent post by Runable founder Umesh Kumar has ignited widespread discussion across tech circles in India. His candid admission about a severe shortage of qualified backend engineers has shed light on what many believe is an escalating crisis in the tech recruitment ecosystem.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kumar expressed frustration after a recent hiring round turned out to be alarmingly underwhelming. "We got around 1000 applications for a backend engineering role in just the last 2-3 days, and guess how many were decent? < 5," he wrote.
Kumar stated that the coding submissions received were largely “absolute trash”, with many being either non-functional or obviously AI-generated.
India seriously has a big f***ing talent problem. We got around 1000 applications for a backend engineering role in just the last 2-3 days, and guess how many were actually decent? < 5.
— Umesh Kumar (@itsumeshk) June 30, 2025
We asked for a basic, simple coding task. The submissions? Mostly absolute trash.…
He did not mince words when pointing out the dismal standards: “Honestly, forget high standards; is it too much to ask for code that compiles?” His concern was not just about skill deficiency but also about applicants failing to meet the most fundamental requirements.
Highlighting the competitive remuneration on offer, Kumar revealed that the backend role comes with a base pay of ₹50 lakh annually, along with perks such as relocation, food, and the opportunity to collaborate with top-tier professionals. “So yes, at this pay scale, expecting code that runs is justified,” he added emphatically.
Clarifying the company’s streamlined hiring structure, he emphasized that their process was intentionally “straightforward”, a simple coding task, followed by two short calls with the CEO and CTO, and a one-day paid trial. “We aren’t Big Tech, dragging you through months of interview hell just to reject you,” he noted, underlining Runable's time-efficient and respectful approach to recruitment.
Importantly, this was not a junior or entry-level role. Kumar, an IIT-Roorkee alumnus, shared that the company’s Bengaluru-based infrastructure engineering position required over three years of experience, offering ₹25-45 lakh per annum, plus equity options. He also linked Runable’s careers page to seek genuinely skilled professionals.
In his closing remarks, Kumar questioned if his experience was unique or part of a broader decline: “Am I the only one facing all this, or is this becoming the new normal in hiring nowadays?
His post struck a chord, with several professionals echoing similar sentiments. One user commented, “One of the biggest issues with hiring today is people applying for jobs they're wildly unsuited for.” Another noted that the oversaturation of aspiring software engineers, driven more by lucrative pay than genuine passion, has diluted quality.
This incident brings into focus deeper issues plaguing India’s tech landscape, credential inflation, misplaced aspirations, and the growing dependency on generative tools without foundational knowledge.
