Within months of bagging a landmark contract from India Post, Infosys is positioning itself as a serious player in India's e-governance arena by beating bigger rival Tata Consultancy Services to win the next phase of a flagship project by corporate affairs ministry.

The second-largest Indian IT company is likely to displace its bigger Mumbai-based rival TCS to bag the new phase of the MCA-21 project, beginning January 2013, according to a government official who did not want to be identified. The size of the contract is estimated to be Rs 300-400 crore for six years. 

Since its inception in 2002, MCA-21 has made it easier for companies to register, change ownership details, and file balance-sheets and profit and loss statements online. "We received bids from top IT firms for continuance of MCA-21 project. The new term will be for 6 years, post which if the ministry so desires, we can look at an extension of 2 years," said a senior MCA official involved with the project. (Economic Times)