Microsoft India and Ministry of Labour to Provide Computer Science Training to 10 Million Jobseekers Registered on NCS

New Delhi: Microsoft India announced a partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) to launch DigiSaksham – a collaborative digital skills training initiative to empower jobseekers in an increasingly tech driven economy. This joint initiative is an extension of the government’s ongoing engagement to upskill youth from rural and semi-urban areas, said a press release from the company.

Through this initiative, Microsoft, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment will provide 10 million active registered jobseekers on the National Career Service (NCS) platform, access to inclusive computing and computer science training, equipping them with the skills required to thrive in a digital economy. Conceptualized and designed by Microsoft India, DigiSaksham will be implemented in the field by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India (AKRSP-I). The program will impact more than 300,000 job seekers in the first year, training them in subjects like programming languages, data analytics, software development fundamentals and advanced digital productivity.

The initiative was launched in New Delhi in the presence of Bhupender Yadav, Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment, Government of India, Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Labour and Employment, Government of India, Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, and Apoorva Oza, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme-India.

Speaking about the partnership, Anant Maheshwari, president, Microsoft India, said: “Ensuring equitable access and opportunity to digital technology and skills will be vital for realizing the Digital India vision. Our collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment reflects our commitment to bridge the digital equity gap and empower the youth of India to succeed in a digital economy. We have a unique opportunity to become an increasingly important tech engine of the world. Providing equal opportunity and access to digital skills for all will be the key to long-term economic and social value creation for India.”

DigiSaksham will leverage the strengths of MoLE’s platform, National Career Service (NCS) to equip youth with skills and industry-recognized credentials that increase access to employment opportunities and promote skills-based hiring. Jobseekers registered on the NCS portal will be trained in specialized technology modules aligned with their existing educational qualifications. The technology modules will be taught at intermediate and advanced levels, equipping participants with digital skills.

How Microsoft India and Ministry of Labour and Employment Upskilling Program Works
DigiSaksham is an extension of Microsoft’s global commitment to help 25 million people acquire digital skills in a COVID-19 economy. This project aims to support the existing government ecosystem by upskilling job seekers through a four-step approach:

• Facilitation: AKRSP(I) will curate sector skills requirements and develop customized learning paths to improve the employability of jobseekers.
• Content Integration: Microsoft’s technical course curriculum will be integrated on the NCS portal via the Global Skills Initiative to enable access for 10 Million active registered jobseekers.
• Jobseeker Training: The program will directly train 300K+ beneficiaries across India through a two-pronged approach, a blended model with online training on the Microsoft Community Training (MCT) platform, and in-person workshops at select Model Career Centers.
• MCT is an Azure-based platform that supports personalized learning for a large-scale mobile-based community. MCT will be integrated on www.ncs.gov.in, where registered jobseekers will enroll in virtual instructor-led training on technical skills like Programming Languages, Data Analytics, Software Development Fundamentals, and Advance Digital Productivity, etc.
• Pursuant to Government educational institute reopening guidelines, AKRSP-I, in consultation with NICS will identify Model Career Centre’s (MCC) to organize instructor-led boot camps on emerging technologies like Cloud, AI, and Data Analytics to reach 2400 beneficiaries across four MCC’s.
• Employment Assistance: The program will support youth trained and certified under DigiSaksham with placements at four select Model Career Centers. A placement officer will be deputed to facilitate industry-specific placements and explore hyperlocal employment opportunities.