A major IT firm in India has done the unthinkable. After recruiting many candidates by promising a pay package of Rs 6.5 lakh per annum, it has suddenly asked them to join the company for Rs 3 lakh less salary.

As per a report brought out by Money Control, the company in question is Wipro. "The IT major offered freshers lower pay amid delays in onboarding. Candidates with a package of Rs 6.5 lakh per annum (LPA) who were awaiting onboarding received emails from the company asking if they wished to join at Rs 3.5 LPA," the report today said.

The report has sparked angry reactions. "Rs 3.5 LPA adjusted for inflation is much lesser compared to what folks would get 10 years ago. Assuming these postings are in Metros, this is barely enough to survive," a Twitter user wrote.

Another user said, "Accounting for inflation, Rs 3.5L today is equivalent to Rs 1.5L salary in 2010. I used to get Rs 3-3.5L as average starting pay then. Even Rs 6.5L today is Rs 2.7L from 2010."

There is a view that employees will start to moonlight if the pay is too low. "After accepting these offers on lower pay, employees will obviously look for part-time work to earn some extra money," wrote a Twitter user.