The initiative includes four streams of programmes. While three will focus on the Microsoft Sales Specialist programme, the fourth is targeted at those who have already done the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer or Microsoft Certified Solution Developer.

The one-year programme for non-IT professionals will cost Rs 25,000, the six-month programme for IT professionals will cost Rs 13,000 and add a sales and marketing pool to the Indian software industry.

Microsoft India president Rajiv Nair pointed out that there was a tremendous gap of about 400,000 trained IT professionals per annum globally. In India alone, there was a shortage of between 30,000 to 40,000 IT professionals every year. He expressed the hope that its association with NIIT would help bring out more skilled IT professionals.

"Training of ITprofessionals is equally important as it gives customers value for the products they buy and enables them to make the right choice (read Microsoft technologies)," Nair said. However, the programme being based on Microsoft technologies will not be a limiting factor for the IT professionals as many marketing channels are quite broadbased, he added.

NIIT president and chief executive Vijay K Thadani pointed out the course would equip IT professionals with skills in Microsoft technologies and scientific methods in professional selling, besides creating a vast pool of trained IT professionals. The tie-up will leverage the respective core competence of NIS, NIIT and Microsoft, he said.