Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Karnik Kiran
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ExlService Holdings, Inc. [EXLS]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
280 PARK AVENUE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/03/2012
(Street)

NEW YORK, NY 10017
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (right to buy) (1) $ 22.265 01/03/2012   A   6,213     (2)   (3) Common stock, par value $0.001 per share 6,213 (4) 6,213 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Karnik Kiran
280 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10017
  X      

Signatures

 /s/ Lazbart Oseni, Attorney-in-Fact   01/05/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) On January 3, 2012, ExlService Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") issued options (the "Options") to purchase shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Option Shares"), to certain of its directors in accordance with the Company's compensation program for non-employee directors.
(2) The Options were granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company's 2006 Omnibus Award Plan and the Company's compensation program for non-employee directors. Subject to the following sentence, and subject to the reporting person's continued service with the Company, the Options shall become vested and exercisable as to 100% of the Option Shares subject thereto on December 31 of the year of grant. In the event of death or disability of the reporting person after the date of grant but prior to the vesting date specified in the preceding sentence, then the Options shall vest pro rata up to the date of such event.
(3) The Options shall expire at the end of the period commencing on the date of grant and ending at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the day preceding the tenth anniversary of the date of grant. In the event of death or disability of the reporting person, any portion of the Options that does not vest as set forth in footnote (2) above shall immediately expire.
(4) Not applicable.
 
Remarks:
Mr. Oseni is the Company's Head of Administration and Accounts.

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