How 6 Indian GCC Cities Became the Backbone of Global Capability Centres

In 1985, Texas Instruments planted the seed for India’s rise as a global hotspot for innovation by establishing the country’s first multinational Software Design Center, its freight even arrived via bullock cart. This humble beginning in Bengaluru quickly evolved into a tipping point: the engineers there began driving global innovation, not just supporting operations.

Seeing Bengaluru’s success, global giants like Microsoft moved into Hyderabad, with IBM, GE, and others setting up centers in Bengaluru, NCR, Pune, and beyond. This sparked India’s transformation into a product development powerhouse.

Today, six Indian Tier‑1 cities, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, NCR (including Delhi), and Chennai, together host around 92% of the nation’s Global Capability Centers (GCCs), totaling over 1,760 centers and nearly 2 million employees (as of FY25)

Each city brings a unique edge:

• Bengaluru stands out with its innovation depth and R&D talent, contributing roughly 40% of the country’s GCC innovation capacity
• Hyderabad offers world‑class infrastructure, SEZs, and a pro‑business environment, hosting over 355 GCCs, nearly 21% of the national total
• Mumbai continues to attract financial services giants thanks to its legacy as India’s financial capital
• Pune appeals with Centers of Excellence for BFSI and manufacturing players like BNY Mellon, American Express, and more
• Chennai combines lower attrition with a strong manufacturing‑IT synergy, making it especially valuable for stable, hybrid GCC structures
• NCR shines in BPM and business processes, backed by a dense talent and services landscape

This clustering of GCCs is powered not just by talent and infrastructure, but by robust state policies, Karnataka’s innovation-focused incentives, Maharashtra’s export initiatives, and Tamil Nadu’s semiconductor ambitions all serve to reinforce the ecosystem.

The GCC model itself has evolved from cost‑efficient delivery hubs to global innovation engines leading AI, R&D, and digital transformations.

Looking ahead, India is expected to host between 2,100 to 2,200 GCCs by 2030, employing 2.5 to 2.8 million professionals, with a projected ecosystem value exceeding $100 billion.

In essence, those six cities sculpted India’s identity as the GCC Capital, with strategic foundations in talent, infrastructure, policy, and innovation leadership.

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