NASSCOM has conducted a comprehensive study with the Boston Consulting Group to identify eight technologies, poised to grow tremendously, both nationally and globally, in the coming decade, along with associated 55 job roles and corresponding skills required for those technologies. Now, with its new FutureSkills platform, it aims to create a marketplace of best-in-class training providers/virtual labs and certifications for the new job roles and skills, with customized pathways for learning. This has been launched by NASSCOM and the industry with help from the Central government. 

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) 2018 and launched the FutureSkills platform through video conference in New Delhi. This new initiative aims to upskill two million IT employees and skill two million youth in eight technologies starting with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The technology professionals and the youth will be skilled and re-skilled in AI, Virtual Reality, Robotic Process Automation, Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, 3D Printing, Cloud Computing, Social, and Mobile.

NASSCOM said: “The platform for reskilling and upskilling of the workforce in new and emerging ICT technologies complement the government's Digital India initiative. While Digital India is working on steps to increase domestic electronic production, BPO promotion schemes for employment, this platform will make talent available for India and the Indian industry to embrace opportunities from emerging technologies.”

NASSCOM has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to collaborate in fostering, cultivating and strengthening reskilling initiatives. 

Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government would extend all possible help to NASSCOM and the industry in the initiative. NASSCOM President R. Chandrashekhar said the initiative would be significant for the IT industry to achieve its aspiration of $350 billion IT exports, from the current $150 billion, by 2025.

As a part of the MoU, NASSCOM and MeitY will work together to enable skill development and continuous learning not only for individuals in the IT-ITeS industry and its aspirants but also employees belonging to other sectors. 

This platform and initiative can play a crucial role in enabling the existing workforce to acquire new skills in the emerging technologies.  It is a step by NASSCOM and Central Government towards the goal of creating an industry-ready workforce.