Honestly, there is no retention policy in TCS. People put down paper only to go onsite. That's the only tested path in TCS. Rest are all depends on how much your manager is willing to keep you in the project. In TCS, a single rupee increment in your salary has to be approved from the segment or ISU head, and this is not an easy process. It needs constant followup with multiple stakeholders, clarifying their unnecessary queries and the reason for keeping you. There could be a scenario where your manager might be answerable for not making a backup resource. And even if your manager is willing to do all these steps, that does not qualify that he will be succeeded; it also depends on how much your manager is influential in the account. If your manager succeeded and you got your pay hike, then also you would not be out of danger; TCS might add a maximum salary increment in your QVA, and later during the appraisal cycle they may reduce your performance band and lower down your in-hand salary. This happened in the past with similar situations. So if your target is to stay in TCS or go onsite, then fine; otherwise, it's a clear gamble with your career. Take wise decisions. This is ground reality.