The most-whispered question of placement season deserves a straight answer. It hinges on one distinction companies care about deeply: standing arrears vs history of arrears.
The two terms that decide everything
- Standing (active) arrears: subjects currently uncleared on drive day. This is what most eligibility rules mean by “no arrears”.
- History of arrears: you failed at some point but have cleared everything since. Many companies ignore history entirely; some cap it (e.g., “no more than X history”).
What companies typically require
- Mass recruiters (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, Accenture class): commonly no standing arrears at the time of the drive/joining, with ~60% or ~6.0-6.5 CGPA across academics. History of arrears is often tolerated within limits.
- Product companies/startups: criteria vary widely — some don’t ask at all, some mirror mass-recruiter rules. Skills weigh heavier here.
- Every company differs per drive: the eligibility block in each announcement is the only authority — criteria even change year to year for the same company (eligibility decoded).
If you have arrears right now (the plan)
- Register and clear them at the very next session — the Nov/Dec window matters enormously for final-years because many joinings require all-clear by onboarding (registration guide).
- Keep attending eligible drives: plenty of drives allow standing arrears — read every announcement instead of self-rejecting.
- Watch for “clear by joining” clauses: many offers to students with arrears are conditional on clearing before the joining date — that’s your real deadline.
- Don’t hide arrears: background verification checks marksheets; misdeclaring ends offers permanently. Declare accurately, always.
An arrear is a delay, not a disqualification — cleared fast, it fades to a footnote. The arrear guide covers the clearing mechanics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do companies allow standing arrears in campus placements?
Many mass recruiters require no standing arrears on drive day, while others permit them with a clear-by-joining condition. Each drive’s announcement states its own rule — read it rather than assuming, and never self-reject without checking.
Does history of arrears affect placements?
Far less than standing arrears — many companies ignore cleared history entirely; some cap the count. A cleared backlog with an otherwise decent record rarely blocks mass-recruiter eligibility.
Can I get placed if I clear my arrears in final year?
Yes — commonly. Clearing at the next available session restores eligibility for later drives, and several companies extend offers conditional on being all-clear by joining. Speed of clearance is what matters.