India's global capability centre (GCC) industry recorded an estimated revenue of $98.4 billion in FY26, as the country hosts 2,117 GCCs operating 3,728 units nationwide, according to a joint report released on 19 August 2025 by Awfis Space Solutions and research and advisory firm Zinnov. The figures underscore India's accelerating position as the world's preferred destination for high-value offshore capability work.

Scale and Growth

The number of GCCs operating in India has grown nearly 32 per cent since FY21, with the sector now employing more than 2.36 million professionals. Notably, 506 Global 2000 companies currently run centres in the country. Adoption is no longer confined to large multinationals — private equity-backed firms, mid-market enterprises, and digital-native companies are increasingly establishing a footprint, broadening the sector's base significantly.

AI and R&D Taking Centre Stage

The report signals a clear shift in the nature of work being performed inside Indian GCCs. Complex problem-solving activities now account for 38.1 per cent of GCC work portfolios, and cutting-edge research and development work has doubled between 2015 and 2026. Nearly half of India's GCCs now undertake an equal or greater share of frontier work compared with their global headquarters — a striking reversal from the back-office stereotype that defined the sector a decade ago.

Companies building AI products place twice as much cutting-edge R&D work in India as organisations that primarily adopt third-party AI solutions. India's AI and machine learning talent base within GCCs is projected to nearly double to 250,000 professionals by 2026, reflecting surging demand for workers who combine technical depth with domain and business context.

What Industry Leaders Said

Amit Ramani, Chairman and Managing Director of Awfis Space Solutions, said India's GCCs are 'increasingly taking ownership of products, platforms and AI-led mandates, creating demand for workspace solutions that can scale quickly and provide operational flexibility.'

Nitika Goel, Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Partner at Zinnov, noted that 'the rapid industrialisation of AI is reshaping workforce requirements, with organisations increasingly seeking professionals who combine technical expertise, domain knowledge and business context.'

Office Space Demand Hits Record

The GCC expansion is also reshaping India's commercial real estate market. India recorded a record 20.7 million sq ft of office leasing in the first quarter of 2026, with GCCs accounting for 44 per cent — or 9.1 million sq ft — of that total. GCCs currently contribute 40–45 per cent of enterprise flexible seat uptake, and 67 per cent of GCCs plan to expand flexible office space to comprise more than a tenth of their real estate portfolio, signalling a structural shift toward agile workspace models.

What This Means Going Forward

The convergence of AI-led mandates, rising R&D intensity, and record office absorption suggests India's GCC story is entering a more sophisticated phase — one defined less by cost arbitrage and more by capability depth. As global enterprises increasingly treat their Indian centres as innovation hubs rather than support functions, the sector's revenue and talent metrics are likely to climb further in the near term.