Last Updated on December 10, 2025 5:34 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
A Akhter / New Delhi
The Ministry of Labour & Employment on Wednesday signed an MoU with Microsoft to expand employment opportunities, strengthen AI-driven skilling efforts, and enhance global mobility for India’s workforce. The agreement, formalised in New Delhi in the presence of Union Labour & Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, marks a major government–industry collaboration aimed at modernising India’s labour ecosystem.
Under the partnership, Microsoft will encourage over 15,000 employers and partners from its global network to join the Ministry’s National Career Service (NCS) platform. This is expected to widen access to formal jobs, support high-growth sectors, and unlock more overseas opportunities for young Indian professionals.
The MoU also expands AI-led skilling initiatives through DigiSaksham, which aims to train millions in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital productivity tools to meet fast-evolving industry requirements worldwide.
Calling the initiative a major step forward, Dr. Mandaviya said the collaboration reflects a shared vision to leverage India’s demographic strength and build a “globally competitive, digitally skilled, and future-ready workforce.” He added that Microsoft’s participation would accelerate job access and reinforce India’s role in global labour mobility.
Satya Nadella praised India’s rapid progress in expanding social protection, noting that the e-Shram platform has brought millions of unorganised workers into the security net while enabling real-time policymaking. He also expressed Microsoft’s commitment to supporting the creation of an Employment Digital Public Infrastructure (Employment DPI), which he said can spark private-sector innovation and deliver scalable, interoperable labour-market solutions.
According to the Ministry, Microsoft’s Azure and AI capabilities will be central to modernising employment services, strengthening the NCS, improving e-Shram analytics and labour market intelligence, and enhancing job-matching mechanisms. The partnership will also tap Microsoft’s partner ecosystem to boost employer outreach and drive wider adoption of the NCS across industry, training institutions, and other stakeholders.
During his visit, Nadella met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announced Microsoft’s largest-ever investment in Asia — a commitment of US$17.5 billion (about ₹1.5 lakh crore) to develop AI infrastructure and capabilities in India.
PM Modi wrote on X: “When it comes to AI, the world is optimistic about India… Happy to see India being the place where Microsoft will make its largest-ever investment in Asia.”
Nadella responded with a post praising India’s AI potential:
“Thank you, PM Narendra Modi, for an inspiring conversation on India’s AI opportunity… Microsoft is committing US$17.5B to help build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities needed for India’s AI-first future.”
Nadella also met Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss AI for public good, emerging technologies, and data sovereignty. Vaishnaw wrote that Microsoft’s investment underscores India’s emergence as a reliable global technology partner and will help the nation advance from digital to AI public infrastructure.
