New Delhi, April 6 (NationPress) The leasing activity of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India soared to an impressive 9.1 million square feet during the January to March 2026 quarter, marking the highest quarterly GCC absorption ever recorded, as per a report released on Monday.

This substantial growth occurred alongside the nation's overall office real estate sector, which achieved a gross absorption of 20.7 million sq ft, representing the highest quarterly figure to date, according to data from CBRE South Asia Pvt Ltd.

When compared to the 19.7 million sq ft absorbed in Q1 2025, the overall leasing increased by 5 percent this year, highlighting the robust structural resilience of the office market as demand from occupiers remains strong.

"The unprecedented GCC leasing activity is a clear indication of India's emerging role as a global hub for high-complexity capability functions," remarked Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO for India, South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa at CBRE.

It's noteworthy that this demand is not limited to a single industry but spans multiple sectors, including e-commerce, technology, and BFSI, with a growing influence from mid-market and nano GCCs, alongside established Fortune 500 companies, he added.

The GCC ecosystem in India is experiencing a democratization process with the rise of mid-market and nano GCCs, indicating a shift toward more varied operational models.

Mid-market GCCs are transforming into high-maturity hubs, taking complete ownership of global products and delivering high-value services in areas like FinTech, SaaS, and digital engineering.

At the same time, nano GCCs are emerging as nimble, specialized units focused on rapid AI prototyping and niche research and development (R&D), often making use of managed workspace formats to facilitate quicker setups and phased growth.

The report also pointed out that GCCs accounted for 44 percent of total office absorption in Q1 2026.

This activity was primarily driven by American firms, which represented 73 percent of the overall GCC leasing. Sector-wise, the leading demand drivers included e-commerce (24 percent), BFSI (20 percent), technology (20 percent), and research, consulting, and analytics (19 percent).

Among major cities, Bengaluru led in GCC leasing with a 48 percent share, followed by Hyderabad at 19 percent and Delhi-NCR at 14 percent.

"We are observing a widening demand across both sectors and geographical locations," stated Ram Chandnani, Managing Director of Leasing Services, India at CBRE.