New Delhi: The Ministry of Labour-Microsoft MoU was formally signed today in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening employment linkages, expanding AI-led skilling initiatives, and preparing India’s workforce for global opportunities.
Ministry of Labour-Microsoft MoU to Expand Employment Access via NCS
A key component of the Ministry of Labour-Microsoft MoU is Microsoft’s commitment to onboard more than 15,000 employers and partners from its global network onto the Ministry’s National Career Service (NCS) platform.
This initiative is expected to substantially expand access to formal employment, support high-growth sectors, and strengthen pathways for international mobility of Indian professionals and youth.
The partnership aims to develop a workforce that can meet both domestic and global demand, positioning India as a reliable source of skilled talent for emerging industries worldwide.
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Ministry of Labour-Microsoft MoU to Scale AI Skilling Through DigiSaksham
Under the Ministry of Labour-Microsoft MoU, AI-driven skilling programmes will be further expanded through the DigiSaksham initiative.
These efforts will equip millions of young people with future-ready capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and digital productivity tools, aligned with global industry standards.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the collaboration reflects a shared ambition to leverage India’s favourable demographic dividend and create a digitally skilled, globally competitive workforce.
He noted that Microsoft’s participation will accelerate employment access, deepen skilling outcomes, and strengthen India’s leadership in global labour mobility.
Social Security and Employment Digital Public Infrastructure in Focus
Highlighting progress in social protection, the Union Minister said that India’s coverage has increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, benefiting over 94 crore citizens.
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He added that embedding AI into platforms such as e-Shram and the National Career Service is strengthening social security delivery and supporting the goal of extending social protection to 100 crore citizens by March 2026.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella praised India’s achievements in expanding social security coverage and acknowledged the role of the e-Shram platform in bringing unorganised workers into the social protection framework.
He also expressed Microsoft’s interest in supporting India’s next phase of building an Employment Digital Public Infrastructure (Employment DPI), citing its potential to unlock private innovation and enable interoperable labour market solutions at scale.
Leveraging Microsoft’s Azure and AI capabilities, the MoU will support the modernisation of employment services, enhancement of labour market intelligence, and wider adoption of the NCS platform among employers, training partners, and institutions.
