Common Services Centre (CSC) said it has tied up with IT services major Infosys in order to upskill 6 crore rural citizens with digital skills across India through the Infosys Springboard.

CSC is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which is under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). Infosys Springboard is a digital platform for reskilling and for improving the employability.

“Through this engagement, CSC and Infosys will work together to upskill students and learners from underprivileged communities in rural and semi-urban areas across India and help them develop vocational and professional skills,” CSC and Infosys said in a joint statement.

“We have a mandate of training 6 crore rural citizens in digital skills under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA). Infosys Springboard will help us bridge the digital divide and add value to our goal of inclusive education through CSCs,” said Dinesh K. Tyagi, Managing Director, CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.

Amidst an increasing need for skill enhancement of students to boost market readiness and employability in a digital era, Infosys and CSC will work together to bridge the digital divide, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, through learning programs, Tyagi added.

“We are thrilled to embark on this skilling initiative with CSC and contribute to the development a digital economy… We believe this collaboration with CSC will help us provide meaningful opportunities for millions of learners from underserved communities across the country,” said Thirumala Arohi, Senior Vice President and Head of Education, Training and Assessment, Infosys.

Infosys’ Springboard comprises over 4,900 courses and 1.6 lakh learning resources. It aims to enhance the digital literacy of students and help them become competent in digital technologies. The platform also offers programming challenges, virtually proctored assessments, certifications by Infosys, and a host of social learning features.