Beyond Bengaluru: India’s Next GCC Cities (2025–2026)

India’s global capability centre (GCC) landscape is evolving fast. With over 1,800 GCCs contributing approximately $64.6 billion in revenue, the sector is no longer confined to Bengaluru, which still leads with over 875 centres and nearly 29 percent market share. However, the next wave of growth is spreading into new metros and tier-II cities, spurred by policy reforms, infrastructure expansion and corporate strategy.

Here are the top GCC destinations to watch through 2026.

Hyderabad: The Life Sciences and Fintech Engine

Hyderabad has emerged as Bengaluru’s strongest challenger, hosting over 355 GCCs, which account for around 21 percent of the national share. The city benefits from deep talent pools in life sciences, fintech and engineering, combined with robust infrastructure including HITEC City, Genome Valley and Special Economic Zones.

Recent expansion includes Dai-ichi Life scaling its Hyderabad centre from 60 to 600 engineers and Eli Lilly planning to hire up to 1,500 tech and data professionals. Companies like Roche, Bayer and Sandoz already have a strong presence here. ANSR is also planning to establish a major GCC campus in Visakhapatnam with up to 10,000 jobs, building further on the Hyderabad–Andhra corridor.

Advantages:

• Strong talent base in tech, fintech, and life sciences
• Established infrastructure and SEZs
• Supportive local policies and global brand presence

Outlook: Hyderabad will continue to attract R&D, AI and digital delivery GCCs, with dozens of new centres likely by 2026.

Chennai: Surging Demand and Proactive Planning

In the first half of 2025, Chennai absorbed 5.5 million square feet in office leasing, a 57 percent year-over-year increase. This demand is driven by global companies such as Bank of America, Shell, AstraZeneca and Workday expanding their GCC footprints.

Chennai offers strong engineering and product development talent, especially in automotive and BFSI sectors. Its growth is supported by infrastructure corridors like OMR, Tambaram and Ambattur. Nearby Coimbatore is also gaining ground among mid-market GCCs seeking cost-effective and skilled talent.

Advantages:

• Skilled workforce in automotive, BFSI, and engineering
• Strong infrastructure planning
• Attractive for both large and mid-cap firms

Outlook: Chennai could add 50 to 80 new centres by 2026, driven by both large and mid-sized firms.

Pune and Mumbai: Engineering Plus Financial Strength

Pune remains a mature hub for engineering, R&D and automotive technologies. Tata Elxsi recently opened a 1,000-engineer design centre in the city, citing its depth in automotive talent. Pune also hosts numerous IT and analytics centres.

Mumbai, India’s financial capital, anchors fintech and data analytics GCCs. JPMorgan is expanding in both cities, targeting a 5 to 7 percent annual headcount increase. US tech and BFSI firms continue to be major office occupiers in Mumbai, boosting its financial services GCC footprint.

Advantages (Pune):

• Leadership in ER&D and auto engineering
• Strong educational ecosystem and skilled workforce

• Financial capital status attracts fintech and BFSI GCCs
• Strong connectivity and talent in analytics and compliance

Outlook: Pune may see 40 to 60 new GCCs focused on ER&D and analytics, while Mumbai could gain 30 to 50 more, especially in financial services.

NCR (Noida and Gurgaon): A Digital and Consulting Hub

The National Capital Region remains one of India’s top six GCC markets. It is a preferred destination for consulting, data analytics, cybersecurity and cloud services, with strong demand from tech and service firms.

Incentives from adjacent Uttar Pradesh include 30 to 50 percent land subsidies, 25 percent capital grants and full stamp-duty waivers to attract GCCs to cities like Lucknow, Kanpur and Prayagraj. UP’s New GCC Policy aims to generate 200,000 jobs over five years.

Advantages:

• Proximity to decision-makers and regulatory hubs
• Talent base in analytics, cloud and digital services
• Aggressive policy support from UP

Outlook: NCR could add 50 to 70 new centres by 2026, while cities in UP could see 20 or more mid-scale centres in the same timeframe.

Tier-II Titans: Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad/GIFT City, Kolkata

Visakhapatnam:

Andhra Pradesh is fostering an R&D hub in Visakhapatnam through reforms and infrastructure investment. ANSR has signed an MoU for a 10,000-job GCC campus in the city, positioning it as a major innovation destination.

Advantages:

• Government-backed tech corridor
• Large-scale hiring potential and planned infrastructure

Outlook: Rapid growth with strong government backing could make Vizag a top-tier mid-scale GCC hub by 2026.

Coimbatore:

This secondary tech hub is increasingly attractive to mid-sized firms for engineering and manufacturing IT roles. It offers a cost-effective alternative for firms expanding from Chennai.

Advantages:

• Affordable operations with high-quality engineering talent
• Preferred by mid-cap firms expanding from South India

Outlook: Expected to attract a steady stream of mid-sized GCCs focused on product development and IT support.

Ahmedabad/GIFT City:

GIFT City is emerging as India’s top tier-II GCC destination. With 35+ existing centres and benefits like a 10-year tax holiday, subsidized power and world-class infrastructure, it is drawing firms like IBM, Oracle and S&P Global. It has been designated as India’s first international financial services centre.

Advantages:

• Strategic IFSC status and policy incentives
• Modern infrastructure tailored to BFSI and fintech sectors

Outlook: GIFT City will continue to be a magnet for financial and tech GCCs, especially from BFSI-focused global firms.

Kolkata:

West Bengal’s Silicon Valley Tech Hub is a 250-acre park expected to generate 100,000 direct tech jobs. The park offers dedicated zones for AI, data, and R&D GCCs.

Advantages:

• Dedicated government-developed IT ecosystem
• Significant hiring potential in data and AI fields

Outlook: Poised for future growth, especially in AI and digital services with policy alignment.

Strategic Framework: Tier-I vs Tier-II GCC Locations

Implications for Founders, COOs & Hiring Leads

• Founders / COOs: Resource diversification and reduced dependence on saturated metros. Build redundancy and leverage lower-cost innovation with no compromise on quality.
  
• Hiring teams: Prepare for geographic mix. Design hybrid talent models that combine top metro leadership with tier‑2 execution.
  
• EOR models & compliance: Engage local employment partners or Employer‑of‑Record services for smoother onboarding, payroll, and regulatory compliance.
  
• Operations / Facilities: Plan for office skilling; smaller campus-like infrastructure may be necessary to create branded experience in less mature office markets.
  
• Talent / Workforce: Moderate ramp-up. Outreach and skilling partnerships are essential to tap regional universities and training pools.

The 2025–26 GCC Map of India

• Top Hubs: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai continue to dominate in high-value work
• Emerging Metros: Pune, Mumbai, NCR reinforce leadership in engineering and fintech
• Tier-II Growth: Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Lucknow, Kanpur see mid-scale expansion

India could surpass 2,000 GCCs by 2026. With revenues potentially doubling to over $110 billion by 2030, the sector’s decentralization is key to unlocking inclusive, innovation-led growth.

Sources: Economic Times, Times of India, Zinnov, DNB, Reuters, Inductus, Analytics India Magazine, GCC RISE, Wikipedia