India’s Global Capability Centres (GCC) sector is projected to grow by leaps and bounds, with market revenues expected to reach USD 99-105 billion by 2030. GCCs in the country currently generate USD 64.6 billion in export revenue and employ over 1.9 million people across more than 1,700 centres.
As per the nasscom-Zinnov report, the GCC landscape in India has evolved dramatically between FY2019 and FY2024, adding over 400 new centres and expanding the total GCC talent pool by 24 per cent, with an average headcount of more than 1,130 employees per centre.
The report mentioned that the growth has solidified India’s position as the “GCC Capital of the World,” hosting 17 per cent of global technology capability centres. Moreover, the Americas dominate the sector, with over 1,000 GCC units operating from India.
The report also mentioned a growing shift towards higher-value work, with engineering, research, and development (ER&D) GCCs showing 1.3 times faster growth than the overall GCC sector, contributing USD 36.4 billion in revenue. Global roles within Indian GCCs have expanded significantly, with more than 6,500 such positions, including over 1,100 held by women leaders.
Additionally, around 220 GCC units are now located in Tier-2 and Tier-I=3 cities such as Ahmedabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Coimbatore, further diversifying the GCC ecosystem.
Meanwhile, mid-market enterprises and unicorns are increasing their presence in the country, with around 40 global unicorns establishing centres in India by 2024.
It was also found that AI was driving future GCC growth. More than 185 GCCs have set up dedicated AI/ML Centres of Excellence (COEs), employing over 1.2 lakh AI professionals. These centres are developing use cases in areas such as customer experience, risk assessment, demand forecasting, and coding automation.
In a statement, Sindhu Gangadharan, Chairperson, nasscom, said, “GCCs have rapidly evolved from being operational hubs to becoming true engines of innovation and strategic growth. Their maturity in digital capabilities, engineering excellence, and advanced technology solutions is truly remarkable. As they advance along the maturity curve, they are increasingly positioned to lead global agendas, secure critical managerial roles, and shape decision-making processes, setting the stage for India to become a global leader in digital transformation and sustainable business practices.”