<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
UNAUDITED   CONDENSED   CONSOLIDATED   FINANCIAL   STATEMENTS  INCLUDED  IN  THE
REGISTRANT'S  FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001058290
<NAME>                        Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         52,836
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  18,633
<ALLOWANCES>                                   267
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               77,522
<PP&E>                                         22,645
<DEPRECIATION>                                 9,786
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 95,378
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          19,820
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       186
<OTHER-SE>                                     59,946
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   95,378
<SALES>                                        95,978
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               95,978
<CGS>                                          49,425
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  49,425
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               28,310
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             (1,779)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                19,591
<INCOME-TAX>                                   7,327
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            12,264
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   12,264
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.61