Global consulting firm Accenture said on Monday it will hire 8,000 professionals over the next six months to take its total headcount in India to 35,000, more than its workforce in the US.

Accenture's Chairman and CEO William D Green said the company plans to add 8,000 people by August 31 this year.

"At the end of the year, we expect to have 35,000 people in India," he told a press meet in Bangalore.

The company has more than 15,000 professionals at its Bangalore centre.

"At 35,000 people, India will become the largest country (in terms of the company's headcount), surpassing the US (where it has about 30,000 employees)," he said.

Green, who joined the company in 1977, termed the development as "pretty impressive." Company officials said of the projected 35,000 workforce (representing a 52 per cent increase over last year), 10,000 would be in the business process outsourcing space.

Green praised the contribution of the Indian staff for the growth of the company, which generated net revenues of $16.65 billion for the fiscal ended August 31.