Paytm trims 1% of staff post-appraisals, lines up 4,000 AI-led hires by March 2027

One97 Communications will cut roughly 400 roles after annual appraisals while ramping up a 4,000-strong hiring drive across AI, product, tech and merchant services over nine months. The pivot follows the RBI-triggered Payments Bank shutdown and four straight profitable quarters, with headcount currently at 40,000 and 800 added in the last two months.

— Source publishedTue, 9 Jun, 2026, 13:53 IST·First seen Tue, 9 Jun, 2026, 14:18 IST·Source Financial Express · BrandWagon

What happened

Paytm plans to hire 4,000 staff over nine months focused on AI, product, tech and merchant services, while cutting 1% (~400) post-appraisals. Restructuring

Key facts

  • 4,000 hires by March 2027
  • 1% layoffs (~400)
  • 40,000 current workforce
  • 800 added in last 2 months
  • 4,500 jobs cut last year
  • share price Rs 1,057.4
  • +2.49%

Why this matters

Aggressive AI/merchant-services hiring post-Payments Bank wind-down hints at platform repositioning—scan for acqui-hire targets, fintech-AI tuck-ins, and partnership openings while Paytm rebuilds its tech moat.