BUCHANAN INGERSOLL
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                         (Incorporated in Pennsylvania)
                              650 College Road East
                           Princeton, New Jersey 08540



                                                               August 10, 2000

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
500 Glenpointe Centre West
Teaneck, New Jersey  07666

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Cognizant Technology Solutions  Corporation,  a
Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  in  connection  with the filing by the
Company of a registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration  Statement"),
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the registration of an
additional  1,000,000  shares (the  "Shares")  of the  Company's  Class A Common
Stock, $.01 par value, issuable under the Company's 1999 Incentive  Compensation
Plan (the "Incentive Plan").

     In  connection  with the  Registration  Statement,  we have  examined  such
corporate records and documents,  other documents,  and such questions of law as
we have deemed  necessary or  appropriate  for purposes of this opinion.  On the
basis of such examination, it is our opinion that:

     1.   The  issuance  of the  Shares  in  accordance  with  the  terms of the
          Incentive Plan has been duly and validly authorized; and

     2.   The Shares,  when issued,  delivered and sold in  accordance  with the
          terms  of  the  Incentive  Plan  and  the  stock  options,   or  other
          instruments authorized by the Incentive Plan, granted or to be granted
          thereunder, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     We  hereby  consent  to the  filing  of this  opinion  as  Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     BUCHANAN INGERSOLL
                                     PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION


                                     By:/s/ David J. Sorin
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                            David J. Sorin, a member of the firm