Oracle India, which is likely to have a staff strength of about 4,000 by the end of the current fiscal ending 31 May 2004, will maintain a similar trend in its "reverse brain drain" phenomenon.

The firm hired nearly 1,000 people during the previous fiscal ending 31 May 2003. Nearly 10 per cent were either Indians from Oracle's US offices wanting to return to India or Indians from other companies in the US. Currently, Oracle India has a workforce of 3,159.

Oracle hired 95 people of Indian origin in FY02 and hired 62 more in FY03, with a few more scheduled to join shortly. These recruitments have been at all levels, including senior management.

Shrihari Udupa, director-HR, Oracle India Pvt Ltd, said, "The economic situation in the US has contributed to the reverse brain drain to some extent. There is no reason why the trend should not sustain this year, if it does not increase."

"Elaborating on the reasons for Indian professionals to return to homeland, Udupa said, "The most preferred job profile for any software professional is product development and top end consulting.

"Earlier, US was hiring our top class talent from some of the best colleges to these jobs. The second was the maintenance job and lower end consulting. Indian software companies were sending people for such jobs and US would not import these guys.

"The last in terms of value chain is BPO. Today, the entire trend has reversed. What pulls is not the lower cost. Its only the talent pool."

The thrust on quality staff in Oracle is most evident in the hiring rate. A 0.8 per cent hiring rate means that nearly 150,000 applications were screened last year in order to select the 1,000 best-in-class people.

"When these Indian professionals in US become aware of the quality of jobs available here, coupled with the fact that they are able to work from their own backyard, the trend will continue," Udupa added.

Though the reason for homecoming is varied, the decisive factor for these professionals is whether the learning curve is going to take a beating.

"The job content and learning opportunity are the deciding factors. They are convinced that India will only continue to contribute to their knowledge and experience," explained Udupa.

As a result, the 80:20 ratio of onsite:offsite work has also reversed and has changed the rules of the game, he said.

Udupa also clarified that the "low cost price" of Indian IT would not mean that Indian firms will dictate terms.

"Every business has a 'cost of doing business'. This will be the deciding factor irrespective of immense opportunities."