Infosys, Ministry can give reason for MCA21 glitch

Software services company Infosys, which recently won the contract to manage the internet portal for India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs - earlier handled by rival Tata Consultancy Services - has said that it has fulfilled all its commitments and that only ministry can provide reason for recent glitches.

In the last few weeks, MCA21, the portal used by companies to file key documents has been marred by snags delaying business transactions and registrations. The MCA21 website has data of over six lakh companies registered in India.
"It's a large complex project and whenever there is some transition, there will be some hitches. I think we have fulfilled all our commitments. You have to talk to the ministry to find out the real reason behind that," said Infosys board member and India business head V Balakrishnan.

The portal is often used by companies, chartered accounts, investors and various other stakeholders to upload documents including financial results and annual reports and access information. Transition of the project from TCS to the new vendor Infosys was fraught with troubles that disrupted the normal functioning of the portal.

TCS initially helped build and manage the portal, before ministry chose Infosys as a supplier when the term of the first contract ran over. The project, worth $50 million to provide services, application support and infrastructure operations is five years.

"Ministry has put out a message, saying the systems will stabilise by the end of February. Please ask the ministry," Balakrishnan said.