India is home to nearly 1,700 Global Capability Centres (GCCs), accounting for approximately 53 percent of all such centres worldwide, according to a new report by Vestian Research. Concentrated across tier 1 and tier 2 cities, GCCs in India have grown well beyond their original back-end support roles to become strategic hubs for innovation, research and development.
Bengaluru leads the national tally with 487 GCCs—representing 29 percent of India’s total—followed by Hyderabad with 273 centres, the fastest-growing GCC hub in the country. Delhi-NCR houses 272 GCCs, Mumbai has 207, and Pune accounts for 178. Together, these cities represent 94 percent of the total GCC footprint in India. The remaining 6 percent are distributed across locations such as Kolkata, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Indore, Mysuru, and others.
Vestian estimates that the total number of GCCs will exceed 2,100 by FY28, growing at a compound annual rate of 8 percent. On average, about 150 new centres are expected to be established each year.
The IT sector continues to dominate the GCC landscape, accounting for 49 percent of India’s total, followed by the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector with 17 percent. Healthcare and Lifesciences, Engineering and Manufacturing, Consulting Services, and Telecom and Media collectively comprise 19 percent of the GCC presence.
India’s appeal lies in a combination of competitive operating costs, a large and skilled workforce, improving infrastructure, favorable policy incentives, and a reliable business environment. Vestian CEO Shrinivas Rao noted that while India offers compelling advantages, careful location selection remains vital for long-term success.
Globally, the number of GCCs has reached 3,200. Since their emergence in the 1990s, GCCs have evolved from cost-efficient offshore entities to full-fledged centres of strategic capability, transforming how companies leverage talent and operations in emerging markets.
