Now, an ISO standard for BPOs - Nasscom

Chennai: IT industry body Nasscom is working on setting up an ISO standard for BPO and ITeS companies in India, said International Youth Center Vice President Raju Batnagar at a review meeting of Indian software companies association, reports Financial Express.

"A study group involving 35 industry experts from 14 countries is being constituted to study the feasibility and need for benchmarking based on which Nasscom would set up a work group to draft the parameters of benchmark in association with ISO," he said.

About the initiative drive to enroll BPO/ITeS workers in the NSR (national skill registry) database, Bhatnagar said that approximately 5.5 lakh knowledge workers have registered themselves in the database so far. The issuing of tax refunds from the government via ADRs (alternative dispute resolution) mechanisms was set in motion three months ago and the apex body is in the process of framing safe harbour provisions to the AD

According to Bhatnagar, the organization has submitted a 39-point charter which includes extension of 10A and 10B clause of Income Tax Act and scrapping of service tax levy on packaged software. Cognizant MD and Nasscom executive council member Chandrasekhar said that Nasscom-Mc Kinsey forecast of Indian IT industry touching the $175 billion mark by 2020 is possible only if structural change, cyclical change and mega trends are focused upon.